Changes in the community structure of stony corals in the southern Mexican Caribbean

Abstract

The Mexican Caribbean coral reef ecosystem has endured the effects of global and regional stressors and, recently, the massive arrivals of the free-living, floating brown algae Sargassum spp. This study aimed to evaluate spatiotemporal changes in the stony coral community structure in the southern Mexican Caribbean by a temporal comparison of live coral cover and colony density using a data set collected in 2008-2009 and a recent survey in 2021 within a Protected Natural Area. A multivariate analysis approach was used to reveal spatiotemporal changes in coral cover and colony densities. Coral cover ranged from 6.9 to 8.9% in 2008-2009 to 6.5% in 2021, the lowest values recorded for the area. Coral colony density ranged from 0.68 to 0.78 colonies m^-1 in 2008-2009 to 0.68 colonies m^-1 in 2021. The present results appear to represent subtle changes during the last decade.

Keywords: Community composition; Coral reefs degradation; Protected natural area; Sargassum brown tide; Spatiotemporal change.