Abstract

Coral reefs are extraordinarily diverse and have complex ecological dynamics. Variables
such as structural diversity, geological age, physical conditions, oceanographic
properties, and geographic isolation can ultimately render each reef unique. Major
disturbances due to natural phenomena (e.g. El Nino, hurricanes) and human impacts
(e.g. ocean acidification, eutrophication and global warming) alter these variables and
cause the reef to continually change over time. After a major disturbance, whether it be
a hurricane, bleaching event, or disease outbreak, coral cover generally declines sharply
while algae colonizes dead coral. A reef that recovers rapidly from a disturbance and
limits the extent to which algae inhibits future coral recruitment and growth (resilience)
should be considered healthier than a reef with simply moderate to high coral cover.
Cayos Cochinos, a nearly 500km2 marine protected area as of 1993, and Utila, a major
dive training destination, both sit at the southern end of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef
System as part of the Honduran Bay Islands. Honduran reefs are little studied; the
increased threats facing Caribbean reefs and the local importance of these particular
reefs are the rationale for this planned longitudinal study. Coral heads 6‐8 meters deep
with 10‐50 individual coral colonies were mapped and photographed at 9 sites per reef,
then each colony was photographed perpendicular to its maximum dimensions.
Individual colonies were identified to species, colony area (cm2) was measured, and the
degree of interaction with surrounding corals, sponges, macroalgae, and turf algae was
be calculated based on the percentage of the colony periphery in direct contact with
them.
Species distributions were biased towards Montastrea sp. All statistical analyses (3‐
factor PERMANOVA) on the effects on colony area and competition (% contact),
between location, site nested within location, competitor group, and coral group, the
only significant differences found were on % contact between competitors within
certain sites. Macroalgae sp and turf algae were the strongest competitors. The same
coral heads will be reanalyzed annually for the next 5‐10 years to assess coral growth
and mortality, coral recruitment, changes to coral diversity, and changes to the
interaction with competitors. Large scale assessments of reef health or resilience can
not yet be determined.