Lista actualizada de los peces arrecifales del sistema arrecifal más meridional del Caribe, con notas sobre la invasión del pez león

Chocó-Darien is an important biogeographic realm, as it is a terrestrial biodiversity hotspot and the southern limit of the Caribbean reefs. However, to date there are no compiled data on the reef fish assemblage of this region. We provide an updated checklist of marine fishes from the Chocó-Darien reef system (Colombia), with comments on their geographic distribution and conservation status. Peer-reviewed studies, unpublished data and in situ visual censuses were surveyed to compose this checklist. A total of 212 reef fish species across 57 families were compiled, eight of which had no previously published records, one of which (Trachinotus falcatus) is recorded for the first time. The most speciose families were Labridae (n = 21), Gobiidae (n = 18) and Serranidae (n = 17). Fourteen threatened species were recorded, including one critically endangered (Epinephelus striatus) and two endangered (Balistes vetula and Scarus coelestinus). This study contributes to fill the knowledge gaps on the reef fish diversity of the Caribbean southern limit and raises concern on the spread of the lionfish invasion into the Chocó-Darién reef system.El Chocó-Darién es una importante área biogeográfica, pues es un hotspot de biodiversidad terrestre y el límite sur de los arrecifes del Caribe. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha no existen datos compilados actualizados sobre las especies de peces de arrecife de esta región. En este trabajo proporcionamos una lista actualizada de peces marinos del sistema arrecifal del Chocó-Darién (Colombia), con comentarios sobre su distribución geográfica y estado de conservación. Para la elaboración de esta lista se consultaron publicaciones, datos no publicados y censos visuales in situ. Se recopilaron 212 especies de peces de arrecife de 57 familias. Ocho de estas especies no tenían registros previos publicados, y una de ellas es registrada por primera vez (Trachinotus falcatus). Las familias con mayor número de especies fueron Labridae (n = 21), Gobiidae (n = 18) y Serranidae (n = 17). Se registraron 14 especies amenazadas, entre ellas una en peligro crítico (Epinephelus striatus) y dos en peligro (Balistes vetula y Scarus coelestinus). Este estudio contribuye a complementar las lagunas de conocimiento sobre la diversidad de los peces de arrecife del límite sur del Caribe y plantea la preocupación de la invasión del pez león en el sistema arrecifal del Chocó-Darién

Effects of Seasonality and Upwelling on Coral Reef Functioning in Tayrona National Natural Park, Colombian Caribbean

The Tayrona National Natural Park (TNNP) is located at the Northeast coast of Colombia and belongs to the biodiversity hotspots in the Colombian Caribbean. Especially the effects of alternating rainy and dry seasons, going along with seasonal upwelling on the reef ecosystem are unknown. This dissertation therefore deals with the seasonal effects on local coral reefs addressing each component of the reef ecosystem: water column, marine sediments and benthic communities. Global (e.g. temperature-induced coral bleaching) and local threats (e.g. water quality decline and lionfish invasion) for TNNP coral reefs were investigated. Results suggest that while threats of global warming may be counteracted by the presence of seasonal upwelling coinciding with highest heat stress, the effects of local threats may only be avoided by improved management actions and conservation. The dissertation highlights that TNNP is a unique environment in which coral reefs, naturally exposed to harsh seasonal changes, likely have developed an increased local resilience to climate change and anthropogenic disturbances

Reef fish community in presence of the lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

ABSTRACT Objective. Fish species community structure and benthic organisms coverage were studied in five localities in Santa Marta where the lionfish is present. Materials and methods. Abundance of fish species, including lion fish, was established using 30 m random visual censuses and video transects; trophic guilds were established according to available references. On the other hand benthic coverage was evaluated using the software Coral Point Count (CPCe) 4.0. Results. Families with higher species numbers were Serranidae, Labridae, and Pomacentridae. Lionfish abundances were low (2.6±2.1 ind/120 m2), but in any case Pterois volitans was observed as the eleventh more abundant species, surpassing species of commercial value such as Cephalopholis cruentata. Species that were found in larger numbers (>100, Thalassoma bifasciatum, Haemulon aurolineatum, Canthigaster rostrata, Abudefduf saxatilis, Chromis cyanea, and Stegastes partitus) were mainly invertebrate eaters, planctivores, and territorial herbivores. Coral coverage showed higher coral percentages in Chengue (69.9%) and Cinto (27.4%), larger sponge percentages in Morro (32.7%); Isla Aguja and Remanso showed the larger figures for abiotic substrate (41.6 and 37%, respectively); corals, sponges, and gorgonians were the components best explaining fish community, but not for the lion fish, which inhabit all studied reef formations. Conclusions. Lion fish is ranked between the 20 more abundant species, with none commercially important species larger, hence no species may qualify as a natural control. Lion fish has as well become a relatively abundant species in Santa Marta reefs, independent of benthic coverage

Biology and ecology of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Corales de Profundidad Natural National Park, Colombian Caribbean.

En el ambiente mesofótico se observaron 237 especímenes de Pterois, mayoritariamente en la zona mesofótica superior. Los machos fueron más grandes que las hembras con modelos de crecimiento diferenciados. Se identificaron 16 ítems de presas, siendo los peces Acanthuridae y Monacanthidae y los camarones Penaeidae las más importantes. La media de δ13C fue -17,08 ± 0,36 y la de δ15N fue 8,68 ± 0,46 , no detectándose diferencias entre sexos. La especie ocupa un nicho isotópico menos extenso que en sectores someros, tiene traslapo entre sexos y hábitos tróficos especialistas (Levin = 0,22). En hembras el factor de condición (FC), el índice gonadosomático (IGS) y el índice hepatosomático (IHS) aumentaron con el desarrollo gonadal alcanzando pico en fase de desove activo, y disminuyendo en regresión. Los machos tuvieron un FC similar al de hembras en desove, pero el IGS y el IHS fueron menores. Lionfish was studied in the mesophotic environment. 237 specimens were observed, most in the upper mesophotic zone. Males were larger than females and differences between sexes in growth models were found. Sixteen prey items were identified, the most important being the teleost families Acanthuridae and Monacanthidae, and the crustacean Penaeidae. The mean of δ13C was -17.08 ± 0.36 and δ15N was 8.68 ± 0.46 , with no differences between sexes. Lionfish occupies a less extensive isotopic niche in mesophotic environment than in shallow sectors; there is an isotopic niche overlap between sexes. Likewise, lionfish has specialized trophic habits. All specimens were mature and in females regression phase predominated. In females, condition factor (CF), gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) increased with gonadal development, reaching peak in the active spawning phase, and decreasing in regression. Males had a condition factor similar to spawning females, but IGS and IHS were lower

Invasiones biológicas en ambientes marinos tropicales: El caso del pez león (Pterois volitans)

[spa] El pez león (Pterois volitans) inició una propagación sin precedentes en rapidez y magnitud a partir de Florida, Estados Unidos de América, y quizás las Bahamas hace más de dos décadas. Actualmente se ha establecido en el Atlántico occidental, el Caribe, el golfo de México y más recientemente en Brasil. En 2008 se detectó su llegada a Colombia, específicamente a la isla de Providencia y un año después se registró en la costa continental del Caribe colombiano. Debido al éxito de esta invasión biológica y los posibles impactos que puede causar en los ecosistemas marinos su estudio es fundamental para generar bases científicas para su manejo y control. Se estudió la biología y ecología del pez león en el Caribe sur en ambientes someros y mesofóticos, y se evaluó la relación con las potenciales presas ícticas y los peces mesodepredadores nativos en formaciones coralinas. La mayoría de los ejemplares capturados superaron la talla media la primera madurez sexual y los peces más grandes tendieron a encontrarse en ambientes mesofóticos y en oceánicos someros. En general, la biomasa total se incrementó relativamente rápido con la longitud total propiciando un crecimiento alométrico positivo. La densidad del pez león en el Caribe colombiano es media al compararse con otras regiones del área invadida, pero superó la abundancia de la mayoría de los peces mesodepredadores del Caribe colombiano. La mayoría de las hembras evidenciaron actividad reproductiva en gran parte del ciclo anual independientemente de las distintas condiciones climáticas presentes. Los isótopos δ15N y el δ13C indican que el pez león, independientemente de su tamaño, ha tendido a ampliar su nicho isotópico con el tiempo y no se evidencia segregación trófica entre tamaños. Los modelos de mezcla basados en los isótopos estables de δ15N y δ13C revelaron que la contribución de las presas a la dieta del pez león en el sector del Magdalena se basó principalmente en el consumo de peces planctívoros y herbívoros mientras que en el sector de Bolívar se centró en peces planctívoros, lo que denota su plasticidad trófica. Las especies que más aportaron a la dieta asimilada por el pez león se encuentran entre las más comunes y abundantes en los arrecifes coralinos siendo indicio de que el invasor puede estar enfocando su depredación sobre las especies más abundantes y por ende favoreciendo una mortalidad de presas dependiente de la densidad. El pez león exhibió una segregación trófica sustancial de recursos alimentarios con la mayoría de los mesodepredadores nativos, que se evidencia especialmente en un patrón diferencial en el uso de los recursos de carbono. La mayor probabilidad de competencia por alimento del pez león se encontró con los pargos nativos Lutjanus synagris y L. mahogoni. No se detectó una influencia significativa entre la abundancia del pez león y la abundancia y presencia de las especies presas y mesodepredadores ícticas nativas. Las variaciones en la estructura de los peces nativos están más relacionadas con los componentes bióticos del sustrato que propician tridimensionalidad (corales, esponjas y gorgonáceos). Finalmente, la ingesta de metilmercurio semanal por persona y el máximo consumo de pescado sin efectos adversos indican que el consumo del pez león no genera afecciones a la salud por mercurio.[eng] The lionfish (Pterois volitans) had an unprecedented spread in terms of speed and magnitude from United States of America and maybe the Bahamas more than two decades ago. In the present day, it has established itself in the western Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and more recently, in Brazil. Its arrival to Colombia was detected in 2008 in Providence Island, and a year later, it was registered in the continental coast of the Colombian Caribbean. Due to the success of this biological invasion and the possible impacts that it can generate in the marine ecosystems, its study is fundamental to generate scientific bases for its management and control. The biology and ecology of the lionfish was studied in the southern Caribbean in shallow and mesophotic areas and the relation between the potential fish prey and the mesopredator fish native to the coral formations was evaluated. Most of the captured samples surpassed the median size of maturity and the bigger fish tend to be found both in mesophotic and shallow oceanic environments. In general, the total biomass increases relatively quickly with the total size propitiating a positive allometric growth. The density of lionfish in the Colombian Caribbean is median when compared to other regions in the invaded area but surpasses the abundance of most of the mesopredator fishes in the Colombian Caribbean. A majaroty of the females have reproductive activity in most of the annual cycle regardless of the climatic conditions of the region. The isotopes δ15N and δ13C show that lionfish, regardless of its size, has tended to expand its isotopic niche as time passes and no trophic segregation between sizes is evidenced. The mixed models based on stable isotopes δ15N and δ13C show that the contribution of preys to the lionfish diet in Magdalena is based mostly on the consumption of planktivorous and herbivorous fishes whereas in Bolivar it is focused on planktivorous ones, which evidences its trophic plasticity. The species that contribute the most to the diet assimilated by the lionfish are among the most common and abundant in coral reefs being an indication of the invader focusing its depredation on the most abundant species and therefore benefitting the mortality of prey depending on the density. The lionfish exhibits a substantial trophic segregation of food resources with most of the native mesopredators, that is evidenced specially in the differential pattern of carbon resource use. The most likely probability of competition for food of the lionfish was found with the native snappers Lutjanus synagris and L. mahogoni. No significant influence between the abundance of lionfish and the abundance and presence of native prey and mesopredators was found. The variations in structure of native fishes is most related with the biotic components of the substrate that encourages three-dimensionality (corals, sponges and gorgonians). Finally, the weekly ingestion of methylmercury per person and the maximum consumption of fish without any adverse effects indicate that the consumption of lionfish does not generate any effects on health due to this toxic heavy metal

El pez león Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae) como estudio de caso de invasiones biológicas marinas: aspectos biológicos y ecológicos en el Caribe occidental insular colombiano

En los últimos años se ha reconocido la problemática causada por especies invasoras, consideradas el segundo causal de pérdida de diversidad después de la degradación del hábitat. El pez león (Pterois volitans), una especie originaria del Pacífico occidental, fue visto por primera vez al sur de la Florida en 1985. A partir de 2000 se ha dispersado y establecido en la costa este de EEUU, Bermudas, las Bahamas, y desde el 2007 se ha expandido por el Caribe, registrándose en localidades oceánicas y continentales de Colombia en 2008 y 2009, respectivamente. Esta especie se ha constituido en una seria amenaza para los deteriorados arrecifes colombianos y es considerada altamente perjudicial. La única forma de combatirla con alguna posibilidad de éxito es estudiándola. Dado que la invasión al Caribe oceánico es reciente, San Andrés permite profundizar en el conocimiento de los diferentes aspectos de esta invasión y se constituye en un experimento natural para entender cómo se comporta una población cuando coloniza un lugar. Estimar la abundancia y densidades, estructura de tallas, así como conocer la comunidad íctica acompañante en el ambiente insular del Caribe colombiano, permitirá hacer aproximaciones válidas a estrategias que mitiguen el efecto deletéreo del invasor. Se muestrearon 1200 m2 repartidos en tres estaciones en la isla. Se propuso la captura recaptura mediante fotoidentificación como metodología alternativa para la estimación poblacional y de monitoreo; de lo cual se hallaron densidades de 2333 ind/ha para una población de 6751702 individuos. Igualmente se estimó este parámetro mediante censos visuales con densidades de 379 ind/ha para una población de 1096826 individuos. Se encontró una talla promedio de 29 cm. En los transectos muestreados fueron censadas 100 especies de peces. Adicionalmente se llevó a cabo el monitoreo de una zona de manglar y pastos marinos en el costado oriental de la isla en donde no fue detectado ningún individuo de la especie. Se propone y recomienda el uso de la captura-recaptura como alternativa de monitoreo de especies invasoras en el ámbito invadido.Maestrí

Marine Biodiversity in the Caribbean: Regional Estimates and Distribution Patterns

This paper provides an analysis of the distribution patterns of marine biodiversity and summarizes the major activities of the Census of Marine Life program in the Caribbean region. The coastal Caribbean region is a large marine ecosystem (LME) characterized by coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, but including other environments, such as sandy beaches and rocky shores. These tropical ecosystems incorporate a high diversity of associated flora and fauna, and the nations that border the Caribbean collectively encompass a major global marine biodiversity hot spot. We analyze the state of knowledge of marine biodiversity based on the geographic distribution of georeferenced species records and regional taxonomic lists. A total of 12,046 marine species are reported in this paper for the Caribbean region. These include representatives from 31 animal phyla, two plant phyla, one group of Chromista, and three groups of Protoctista. Sampling effort has been greatest in shallow, nearshore waters, where there is relatively good coverage of species records; offshore and deep environments have been less studied. Additionally, we found that the currently accepted classification of marine ecoregions of the Caribbean did not apply for the benthic distributions of five relatively well known taxonomic groups. Coastal species richness tends to concentrate along the Antillean arc (Cuba to the southernmost Antilles) and the northern coast of South America (Venezuela – Colombia), while no pattern can be observed in the deep sea with the available data. Several factors make it impossible to determine the extent to which these distribution patterns accurately reflect the true situation for marine biodiversity in general: (1) highly localized concentrations of collecting effort and a lack of collecting in many areas and ecosystems, (2) high variability among collecting methods, (3) limited taxonomic expertise for many groups, and (4) differing levels of activity in the study of different taxa

The effect of mangrove development on coral reef fish in Bocas del Toro, Panama and global mangrove management methods

Mangroves provide a variety of ecosystem services to humans, such as timber for construction and a place for tourists to visit. They are also important nursery habitats for juvenile fish that migrate to nearby coral reefs, providing humans fish for food and recreation. In this study, 50-meter transects were conducted in Bocas del Toro, Panama, on coral reefs near coastlines under three categories: (1) with intact mangroves, (2) with mangroves interspersed with development, and (3) without mangroves. Transects were used to determine species richness, species diversity, and biomass of reef fish. The results showed a statistically significant difference in species richness, species diversity, and biomass of reef fish on coral reefs near intact and degraded mangroves when compared to coral reefs without mangroves. The results indicate that the development of mangroves in Bocas del Toro at these sites has minimized harm to reef fish because it has not removed many mangroves and has potentially provided an alternative habitat for juvenile fish. Studies need to be conducted on the relationship between the anthropogenic impact on mangroves and reef fish because mangroves face increasing disturbance due to rises in population and tourism. In addition to the sites in Bocas del Toro, this thesis also examines global mangrove management practices, including the role that ecotourism plays in mangrove conservation. It demonstrates that education about mangroves in local communities, combined with bottom-up management and research through multiple academic disciplines, is the most effective way to conserve mangrove habitats for both local and tourism opportunities