Download or read book Environmental Regimes in the Caribbean and Implications for the Dynamics and Distribution of Its Coral Reefs written by Iliana Carolina Chollett Ordaz and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over evolutionary time coral reefs have been exposed to the influence of diverse environmental forces which have determined their structure and function. However, the climate of the earth is changing, affecting many biological systems, including coral reefs. Through this thesis the static and dynamic environment of the Caribbean basin was characterized using remote sensing and in situ data sources. This information was used to understand how present environmental conditions have shaped reef ecosystems and how the changing climate might jeopardize them. Focusing on physical constraints that drive many aspects of coastal ecology, a region-wide categorisation of the Physical Environments of the Caribbean Sea (PECS) was developed. The classification approach is hierarchical; including a first level of 16 physicochemical provinces based on sea surface temperature, turbidity and salinity data; and a second level considering mechanical disturbance from wave exposure and hurricanes. The PECS categorisation will facilitate comparative analyses and inform the stratification of studies across environmental provinces in the region. Montastraea spp. forereef habitats have the highest biodiversity and support the largest number of ecosystem processes and services in the Caribbean. One of the aspects of the physical environment, wave exposure, was used to predict the distribution of these habitats in the Caribbean basin with high accuracy (79%). The distribution of the habitat is constrained in environments of high exposure, a pattern likely to be driven by high rates of chronic sediment scour that constrain recruitment. This approach constitutes a fast and inexpensive alternative to traditional habitat mapping and complements global efforts to map reef extent. Recent changes in temperature have impacted ecosystem function across the globe. However, the nature of the responses has depended upon the rate of change of temperature and the season when the changes occur, which are spatially variable. In the Caribbean Sea, temperature trends are highly variable in space (ranging from -0.20 to 0.54°C decade-1) and most of the warming has been due to increases in summer temperatures. The highly detailed spatial and temporal patterns assessed can be used to elucidate observed ecological responses to climatic change in the region. In the face of increased temperatures it has been suggested that reefs may become increasingly restricted to locations of naturally low thermal stress, such as upwelling areas. However, when analysing the degree to which seasonal upwelling reduces the local thermal stress experienced by corals, it is clear that upwelling areas do not always offer meaningful protection. Hypothesised areas need to be assessed individually in order to evaluate their capacity as a refuge against climate change. In this thesis large progress has been made in assessing the ocean climate of the Caribbean basin by quantifying spatial patterns and their rate of change. Although some insight into the consequences of these seascape patterns to the function and distribution of marine systems has been provided, more can be done to fully exploit the datasets produced.
Download or read book The Caribbean Coral Reef written by William K. Sacco and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-04-28 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a visual tour of Caribbean coral reefs between 1968 and 1978. They are the world’s second largest coral reef community and the most threatened. The Caribbean Coral Reef: A Record of an Ecosystem Under Threat offers a priceless historical record made by a photographer who set out to document the major reef species when those reefs were at their prime. Today, coral reefs are under threat as never before and, sadly, most of what is shown in the book's photographs is now gone forever. It is only by comparing the images in this book with what we see now that we are able to fully recognize what we have lost. With its stunning photography and precise, accurate scientific information, this book offers students of coral reefs a wealth of information about this rich, fragile ecosystem. It is also written accessibly for non-academic visitors to the Caribbean reef or anyone interested in the earth’s creatures. Many of the invertebrates will be unfamiliar to most people, and the author reveals fascinating insights into these otherworldly creatures and their lifestyles. Enjoy this field guide to the reefs that were, and savor the beauty of this vanishing environment and its organisms.
Download or read book Global Climate Change and Coral Reefs written by Clive R. Wilkinson and published by IUCN. This book was released on 1994 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A global overview of the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on coral reefs, and of the implications of such impacts for ecological sustainable use of coral reefs. Includes information on the status and trends of reef conservation and use around the world, and suggestions for management of reefs in a changing world.
Download or read book Beyond Sun and Sand written by Sherrie L. Baver and published by Rutgers University Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Annotation Bringing together ten essays by social scientists and activists, this book provides the most comprehensive exploration of the range of environmental issues facing the region, and the social movements that have developed to deal with them. The authors consider the role that global and regional political economies play in this process.
Download or read book Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean written by Lauretta Marie Burke and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many coastal communities in Latin America and the Caribbean depend on the resources provided by reefs for their livelihoods. The Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean project is a response to an information need. The primary goal is to raise awareness and improve management by improving the knowledge base on the status of and threats to coral reefs.
Download or read book Conservation of Tropical Coral Reefs written by Brian Joseph McFarland and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-12-16 with total page 771 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book critically engages with how the conservation of tropical coral reefs is financed. Beginning with the context of tropical coral reef degradation and loss, alongside an overview of tropical ecology, global environmental policy and finance, the book reviews several conservation financing instruments. These include ecotourism, debt-for-nature swaps, impact investments, and government domestic budgetary expenditures. From the Great Barrier Reef, to the Coral Triangle, to the Mesoamerican Reef, tropical coral reef degradation and loss are serious global environmental issues, contributing to loss revenue and food insecurity for coastal communities, and species extinction. Yet, many leading companies, individuals, and governments are making a positive impact on tropical coral reef conservation through the use of conservation finance. Conservation of Tropical Coral Reefs, using 30 case studies which span 23 countries and 6 continents, tells the history of international conservation finance and provides a variety of options for individuals, businesses, and governments to support conservation financing projects.
Download or read book Democratic Management of an Ecosystem Under Threat written by Kelly Dunning and published by Anthem Press. This book was released on 2023-07-11 with total page 141 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using case studies from Florida and the Caribbean region, this book summarizes the state of coral reef conservation today. The question this book answers is, what is the best way to protect the vulnerable coral reefs, with an ever-worsening climate crisis? The book’s contribution is looking closely at people’s avenues to participate in coral reef management, and how the public is increasingly making their voices heard in the management process.
Download or read book Bleaching of Coral Reefs in the Caribbean written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-11-13 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis, Volume 87 in the Advances in Marine Biology series, updates on many topics that will appeal to postgraduates and researchers in marine biology, fisheries science, ecology, zoology and biological oceanography. Chapters in this new release cover SCTL disease and coral population dynamics in S-Florida, Spatial dynamics of juvenile corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Surprising stability in sea urchin populations following shifts to algal dominance on heavily bleached reefs, Biophysical model of population connectivity in the Persian Gulf, Population dynamics of 20-year decline in clownfish anemones on coral reefs at Eilat, northern Red Sea, and much more. Reviews articles on the latest advances in marine biology Authored by leading figures in their respective fields of study Presents materials that are widely used by managers, students and academic professionals in the marine sciences
Download or read book Coral Reefs in the Anthropocene written by Michael Sweet and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every year, 10 outstanding Research Topics are selected as finalists of the Frontiers Spotlight Award. These shortlisted article collections each address a globally important field of research with the potential to drastically impact our future. They bring together the latest, cutting-edge research to advance their fields, present new solutions and foster essential, large-scale collaborations across multiple disciplines and research groups worldwide. This international research prize recognizes the most innovative and impactful topics and the winning team of editors receives $100,000 to organize an international scientific conference on the theme of their successful collection.
Download or read book People and Reefs written by United Nations Environment Programme and published by United Nations Environment Programme. This book was released on 2004 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report documents 13 coastal coral reef management initiatives, operated under the ICRAN framework. Before discussing these case studies some of the key issues of coral reef conservation are introduced as well as a description of the role of ICRAN and the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. Although the case studies raise a variety of issues, they all highlight the threats to coral reefs; management challenges and lessons learnt.
Download or read book Coral Reefs and Climate Change written by Jonathan Turnbull Phinney and published by American Geophysical Union. This book was released on 2006-01-10 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Coastal and Estuarine Studies, Volume 61. The effects of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and related climate change on shallow coral reefs are gaining considerable attention for scientific and economic reasons worldwide. Although increased scientific research has improved our understanding of the response of coral reefs to climate change, we still lack key information that can help guide reef management. Research and monitoring of coral reef ecosystems over the past few decades have documented two major threats related to increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2: (1) increased sea surface temperatures and (2) increased seawater acidity (lower pH). Higher atmospheric CO2 levels have resulted in rising sea surface temperatures and proven to be an acute threat to corals and other reef-dwelling organisms. Short periods (days) of elevated sea surface temperatures by as little as 1–2°C above the normal maximum temperature has led to more frequent and more widespread episodes of coral bleaching-the expulsion of symbiotic algae. A more chronic consequence of increasing atmospheric CO2 is the lowering of pH of surface waters, which affects the rate at which corals and other reef organisms secrete and build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Average pH of the surface ocean has already decreased by an estimated 0.1 unit since preindustrial times, and will continue to decline in concert with rising atmospheric CO2. These climate-related Stressors combined with other direct anthropogenic assaults, such as overfishing and pollution, weaken reef organisms and increase their susceptibility to disease.
Download or read book Coral Reefs of the Eastern Tropical Pacific written by Peter W. Glynn and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-12 with total page 666 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book documents and examines the state of health of coral reefs in the eastern tropical Pacific region. It touches on the occurrence of coral reefs in the waters of surrounding countries, and it explores their biogeography, biodiversity and condition relative to the El Niño southern oscillation and human impacts. Additionally contained within is a field that presents information on many of the species presented in the preceding chapters.
Download or read book A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-08-29 with total page 213 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are critical to ocean and human life because they provide food, living area, storm protection, tourism income, and more. However, human-induced stressors, such as overfishing, sediment, pollution, and habitat destruction have threatened ocean ecosystems globally for decades. In the face of climate change, these ecosystems now face an array of unfamiliar challenges due to destructive rises in ocean temperature, acidity and sea level. These factors lead to an increased frequency of bleaching events, hindered growth, and a decreasing rate of calcification. Research on interventions to combat these relatively new stressors and a reevaluation of longstanding interventions is necessary to understand and protect coral reefs in this changing climate. Previous research on these methods prompts further questions regarding the decision making process for site-specific interventions. A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs builds upon a previous report that reviews the state of research on methods that have been used, tested, or proposed to increase the resilience of coral reefs. This new report aims to help coral managers evaluate the specific needs of their site and navigate the 23 different interventions described in the previous report. A case study of the Caribbean, a region with low coral population plagued by disease, serves as an example for coral intervention decision making. This report provides complex coral management decision making tools, identifies gaps in coral biology and conservation research, and provides examples to help individuals and communities tailor a decision strategy to a local area.
Download or read book Global Environmental Governance and Small States written by Michelle Scobie and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2019 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Global Environmental Governance gives the perspectives of small states on some of the most important issues of the anthropocene, from trade, climate change and energy security to tourism, marine governance, and heritage. Providing an in depth analysis of global environmental governance and its impact on Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) Michelle Scobie explores which dynamics and contexts influence current policy and future environmental outcomes for one of the most biodiverse regions of the planet.
Download or read book Natural Resource Management for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean written by Ivan Goodbody and published by Canoe Press (IL). This book was released on 2002 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the International Earth Summit convened in Rio de Janeiro in 1994, all nations of the world were mandated to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations. This collection introduces the reader to the major issues involved in the management of a number of resources critical to Caribbean development. The chapters discuss the sustainability of water, fisheries and agriculture in the region from a variety of perspectives. Particular emphasis is also given to the use of energy, recreation and coastal resource management and their impact on the fragile ecosystem. The book makes a contribution to the ongoing debate of sustainable environmental management within the region and the world.
Download or read book Towards Marine Ecosystem based Management in the Wider Caribbean written by Lucia Fanning and published by Amsterdam University Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An approach that encompasses the human and natural dimensions of ecosystems is one that the Wider Caribbean Region knows it must adopt and implement, in order to ensure the sustainable use of the region's shared marine resources. This volume contributes towards that vision, bringing together the collective knowledge and experience of scholars and practitioners within the Wider Caribbean to begin the process of assembling a road map towards marine ecosystem based management (EBM) for the region. It also serves a broader purpose of providing stakeholders and policy actors in each of the world's sixty-four Large Marine Ecosystems, with a comparative example of the challenges and information needs required to implement principled ocean governance generally and marine EBM in particular, at multiple levels. Additionally, the volume serves to supplement the training of graduate level students in the marine sciences by enhancing interdisciplinary understanding of challenges in implementing marine EBM.
