Abstract
Reef fish assemblages of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) are threatened by overfishing and reductions in coral reef habitat. Over 1 million people depend on the ecosystem services provided by the MBRS. Wildlife populations must be protected to ensure that the MBRS remains healthy.
Akumal is located near a fringe reef section of the MBRS. Akumal has experienced large expansions in urban development and tourism over the last few decades. Data accumulated within the past two decades reveal declines in coral cover and fish populations. Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA) has monitored the health of Akumal’s reefs since 2006 and has been outplanting Acroporids (Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis) since 2015 to improve the health of Akumal’s reefs. Data began being recorded into databases and spreadsheets in 2008. All monitoring data was placed in databases using the AGRAA data entry format.
There is little data focused on the relationship between Akumal’s fish assemblages and their responses to the presence of coral restoration areas. The biomasses and densities of Akumal’s fishes may be higher in reef sites containing outplanted coral fragments (“nursery sites”) than sites that lack them (“non-nursery sites”). This project is based on a null hypothesis stating that the characteristics of fish assemblages (average biomass and average density) will be similar between all study sites regardless of whether there are outplanted corals present.
The results of this experiment reveal that, within the timeframes specified, the average biomasses and densities of Akumal’s fish families did not increase significantly or continuously after restoration began. Additionally, few families see significantly higher biomasses/densities in nursery sites compared to non-nursery sites. Data from a larger collection of sites shows that that, throughout the region of Quintana Roo, the biomasses and densities of herbivores and commercially important species (CIS) have not changed significantly over time. A comparison of juvenile fishes found at each site shows which families could have more notable increases in density in upcoming years. Finally, an investigation of the locations of sea urchins in 2021 displays where herbivorous activity may be weaker/stronger in upcoming years.