Resumen
La comunidad de pastos marinos de Buccoo Reef/ Parque Nacional Bon Accord Lagoon, dominado por Thalassia testudinum, mide 0.5 km2 y es parte de un complejo de arrecifes, lechos de pastos marinos y manglares en el suroeste de Tobago. La cobertura, productividad y tasa de recambio de T. testudinum fueron medidas de febrero 1998 a febrero 1999 en cuatro localidades, mientras que la biomasa total de T. testudinum fue medida en dos localidades en la laguna, entre 1992-2002. La productividad y la tasa de recambio variaron espacialmente y estacionalmente. Fueron mayores en la parte trasera del arrecife que en el manglar y la laguna del arrecife marginal, y fueron menores en localidades cerca de un emisario de aguas negras. La cobertura de T. testudinum tuvo un ámbito de 6.6% en la laguna a 68.5% en la parte trasera del arrecife, mientras que la productividad tuvo un ámbito de 3.9 a 4.9 g peso seco m-2 d-1. La productividad y las tasas de recambio fueron mayores en la época seca (enero a junio) que en la época lluviosa (julio-diciembre). La productividad tuvo un ámbito entre 3.0 en la época húmeda y 5.0 g peso seco m-2 d-1 en la época seca, mientras que las tasas de recambio variaron entre 4.2 y 5.6%. La biomasa total de Thalassia y la productividad en Bon Accord Lagoon fueron comparadas con seis sitios similares en el Caribe que también participan en el Programa de Productividad Marino-Costera del Caribe (CARICOMP). La comunidad de pastos de Bon Accord Lagoon está siendo afectada negativamente por enriquecimiento de nutrimentos.Citas
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Derechos de autor 2005 Revista de Biología Tropical