A decade of study on the condition of western Cuban coral reefs, with low human impact.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The long-time study of coral reefs with low human impacts can provide information on the effects of regional pressures like climate change, and is an opportunity to document how these pressures are reflected in coral communities. An example of minimal local anthropogenic impacts are the Guanahacabibes coral reefs, located in the westernmost region of Cuba. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate the temporal variability of six benthic biological indicators of coral reefs, and to explore the possible relationship between predictive abiotic variables and biological response variables.

Methods

Four coral reef sites were sampled between 2008 and 2017, to analyze biological indicators (living coral cover, fleshy algae index, coral species richness, coral species

SUBMITTER: Caballero-Aragon H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10475277 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature