The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the need for permanent mooring buoys at the popular off-shore islands of Pattaya, Thailand. By investigating the ecological, social and economic gains and losses of installing such buoys, the project aims to examine whether such buoys would help support a more sustainable development in the area. In order to fulfil the aims and objectives of the project, a literature study, two different questionnaires, interviews, line intercept transects (LIT) and a boat traffic survey were performed.  The results prove that every dive store operator, 71% of the dive instructors/dive masters and 65% of the tourist divers that took part in the interviews or questionnaires have observed anchor damages in the area. This is supported by the results of the LITs, which, although differing greatly between depths, reveal a top score of 44% damaged corals (of which 20% were apparent anchor damages) at snorkelling depth at site 3. At diving depth the damage indexes were generally lower, revealing a top score of 38% damaged corals at Site 2, but no definite anchor damages. The boat traffic survey showed that 192 boats were active in the area, of which 47 used an anchor, during a 3 hour period a Saturday morning. The results also prove that dive store operators and questionnaire participants generally agree that divers wish to see healthy reefs and great aquatic biodiversity when visiting a dive site. The interviews showed that all dive store operators have a positive attitude towards an installation of mooring buoys in the area, which could protect the local reefs and thereby their own business. 85% of the tourist divers that took part in the questionnaires stated they would be willing to pay extra (where a majority of those with a WTP would be willing to pay 7-13 USD) if they could be guaranteed to see healthy coral reefs and a great diversity in species and 88% stated they would be willing to pay extra (where a majority of those with a WTP would be willing to pay 0.7-1.7 USD)  to support a permanent mooring buoy system.  The interviews and the questionnaires also prove that healthy coral reefs hold a special sentimental value, providing invaluable recreational opportunities to humankind.  Conclusively the results indicate that there is a need for permanent mooring buoys in the area. The ecological, social and economic gains of installing permanent mooring buoys seem to overshadow the cost of installation and maintenance of the buoys, meaning the buoys would most certainly improve the conditions for a more sustainable development in the area.

In 1988 data on coral reef community composition were collected from two areas, Akumal and Chemuyil, Quintana Roo, Mexico, ranging from 5-35m depth. These areas were revisited in 2005 and data were collected by the same methods and at the same depths as in 1988. Data from 1988 and 2005 were compared to determine if the coral reefs had undergone significant changes, and what specific changes had occurred. Chi-square analysis determined that community composition data collected in 1988 are significantly different from data collected in 2005 at all sites and depths within the categories of corals, gorgonians, sponges, and macroalgae. Mann-Whitney U analyses were performed on abundance data for coral, gorgonians, sponges, macroalgae, crustose coralline algae, erect coralline algae/calcareous algae, filamentous/multi-species turf algae, and non-living substrate. Results from the Mann-Whitney U analysis varied between sites; however significant trends of increasing macroalgae, crustose coralline algae and filamentous/multi-species turf, and declining non-living substrate were observed at almost all sites. H' biodiversity indices J' evenness values and species number (S) were calculated for all sites over the two time periods, with no discernable trends observed. Increases in crustose coralline algae and filamentous/multi-species turf algae suggest that eutrophication and overfishing may be responsible for the trends observed on the reefs at Akumal and Chemuyil. Anecdotal accounts also suggest that eutrophication from septic water flowing through the highly porous karst limestone of the Yucatan Peninsula may be the largest malefactor causing the observed changes. The increase in filamentous/multi-species turf algae exhibited by the data suggests that eutrophication is predominantly responsible for the alternate states of the reefs. Furthermore, evidences indicative of other forms of stress on the reefs, such as bleaching, scraped or broken coral heads, disease, and sedimentation, were rarely observed.

High-latitude reefs have been postulated as refugia, centers for resilience or the first areas to undergo re-organization under climate change. The Southeast Florida Reef Tract (SEFRT) is a high-latitude reef system (>25 °N) running parallel to the highly urbanized coastline of southeast Florida. With a benthic community comprised of a mixture of coral reef associated assemblages, the SEFRT is towards the northern limit of stony coral cover due to temperature constraints. This study analyzed spatial variations in benthic cover, spatiotemporal changes in the benthic community and the impact of spatial and temporal fluctuations in temperature on benthic cover on the SEFRT, from 2007-2016. Photographic data from two long term monitoring projects was used to calculate the percent cover of taxonomic assemblages in the benthic community. In situ temperature data and modelled data from HYCOM were used in combination to assess the impact of temperature fluctuations and thermal stress events. Data was split on a latitudinal gradient into six defined ecosystem regions based on biogeographic boundaries and at major port channels. These accounted for any possible range expansion and spatiotemporal variations on the SEFRT. Statistical analysis via generalized linear models (GLM) identified significant changes in the major benthic taxa, stony coral, octocoral, sponges and macroalgae. Ecosystem regions showed strong clustering by their taxonomic composition and this was in part created by temperature variation. Stony coral cover significantly declined on the SEFRT and a concomitant significant increase in macroalgae cover may create a negative feedback loop which hinders recovery. Spatiotemporal variations in benthic cover were found between ecosystem regions and thermal stress events, both hot and cold, had immediate and latent impacts on benthic cover. This has resulted in biotic homogenization on the SEFRT with a retraction of outlier regions towards the mean. Anthropogenically influenced high-latitude reefs are significantly impacted by thermal stress. As oceans continue to warm, populations expand, coastlines continue to develop and pollutants persist, the benefits of potential thermal refugia are negated.

<p> Increasing human activity and population pressure on coastal marine resources, especially coral reefs, in Ambon have caused significant stresses on coral communities requiring careful management. A suitable environmental management strategy for this complex ecosystem, however, must be based on an accurate assessment of the state of these resources, natural variability, and the impact of human activities. Consequently, baseline research is needed to describe reef areas and to provide data about environmental changes.</p> <p> One control site (Tanjung Setan) and three affected sites (Hila, Wayame and Wailiha) on Ambon were observed to assess the condition of the reefs. Coral cover, coral growth rate, species richness and environmental parameters such as suspended particulate matter (SPM), resuspended sediment, salinity, temperature, dissolved nutrients (NO3 and PO4), δ15N, and water clarity were measured to assess reef condition and to determine the possible causes of reef degradation.</p> <p> Average coral cover in the control site (Tanjung Setan) is higher (64%) than that in affected sites: Hila (27%), Wayame (36%) and Wailiha (11%). Also, the greatest number of species was found in Tanjung Setan (101 spp.) followed by Hila (66 spp.), Wayame (62 spp.) and Wailiha (43 spp.).</p> <p> Coral growth rates show different trends from coral cover and number of species. Corals in Tanjung Setan have higher growth rate (1.61 cm/year) than those in Hila (1.45 cm/year) and Wayame (1.31 cm/year), but corals in Wailiha show almost the same growth rate (1.57 cm/year) with that in Tanjung Setan. The surprisingly rapid growth rates at Wailiha are probably caused by high nutrient availability and rapid growth of corals to keep pace with high sedimentation rates.</p> <p> The δ15N content of coral tissue was analyzed at each site to trace the sewage (nutrients) loading from the land. Relatively high ratio of δ15N found in Wailiha and Wayame indicated sewage (nutrients) inputs to the reefs in these areas. In addition, limited lignin testing on corals from Wailiha showed positive results, indicating that the plywood factory adjacent to the reef influences the corals there.</p> <p> High SPM and resuspended sediment values, high dissolved nutrients and δ15N content, and turbid water in Wayame and Wailiha indicated that these reefs are under siltation and sewage (eutrophication) stress. Hila mainly suffered from physical disturbance such as fish blasting and coral collecting, suggested by bomb craters and coral fragments. Conversely, no significant evidence of human impact was found in the control site (Tanjung Setan), where SPM, resuspended sediment, dissolved nutrients, and δ15N values are all low, and water clarity is very high.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

In tropical seascapes, coral reefs often exist in proximity to marine vegetated habitats such as seagrass, mangroves, and macroalgae. This habitat mosaic offers the possibility for connection and exchange of both organisms and nutrition between habitats, mediated by biological and physical processes. This dissertation examines flows of organisms and nutrition between coral reefs and tropical vegetated habitats in the central Red Sea through 3 different mechanisms: 1) Use of multiple habitat types by tropical marine fishes, 2) Transport of algal material to coral reefs via the foraging behavior and movements of herbivorous fishes, and 3) Physical flow of water between coastal habitats. The results of this thesis suggest that coastal tropical habitats maintain a variety of ecological links at different spatial and temporal scales. A large fraction (36%) of fish species found on coral reefs are also found in at least one marine vegetated habitat in the central Red Sea, with many species mainly living in vegetated habitats as juveniles. This demonstrates the value of mangrove, seagrass, and macroalgae habitats to coral reef fishes, and suggests that many species make ontogenetic migrations between reef and non-reef habitats through their lives. Two species of herbivorous reef fishes (Naso elegans and N. unicornis) were found on coral reefs with algae in their guts which likely originated from nearby Sargassum-dominated macroalgae canopies, representing a fish-mediated, cross-habitat flux of nutrition from macroalgae habitats to coral reefs. Finally, we used a combination of remote sensing, a dye tracer study, and in-water measurements to observe water movement from shallow seagrass and mangrove habitats to nearby lagoon and coral reef habitats. Water exiting seagrass and mangrove habitats had altered concentrations of various nutrients (such as increased particulate organic carbon or decreased dissolved nutrients), suggesting that Red Sea mangroves and seagrasses change nutrient concentrations in water and the movement of water from these habitats to coral reefs could supply reefs with an allochthonous source of nutrition. These various linkages, controlled by a range of physical and biological processes, highlight the interconnected nature of tropical coastal ecosystems, and thereby the need to conserve whole habitat mosaics in the pursuit to protect coral reefs and maintain healthy and functioning coastal ecosystems.

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Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Vita. / Includes bibliographies. / by Robert Sherman Detrick, Jr. / Ph.D.

The need for a broader geographical and functional perspective in managing natural resources of the Belize barrier reef system was examined. The small country of Belize in Central America is struggling to increase its economic development and growth. It has an excellent natural resource base, the most dramatic component being the extensive barrier reef system just offshore. The research identified key economic and environmental issues relative to Belize’s reef complex, and analyzed resource management policies and actions taken to date. Development and conservation needs suggest a multiple use strategy aimed at economic and environmental sustainability. Due to areal extent and ecological complexity, the present reactive, small-scale and piecemeal approach is not adequate to realize sustainable utilization of the area’s resources. This research shows the need for a broad spatial and interdisciplinary “coastal zone" perspective, leading to a comprehensive and integrated strategy upon which to base resource planning and management. A strategy for the reef system must be accomplished within the broader context of a national resource management strategy, integrating concerns of economic development and environmental protection. As a component of this national policy, the proposed strategy for the barrier reef system is based on principles of multiple use of resources, coastal zone scope, and sustainability. The research supports a reef system-wide protected area, using a biosphere reserve framework and a customized model planning process to implement the strategy. / Master of Science