Extreme flooding, water quality and mass bleaching compounded impacts in wild and restored Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations in contrasting urban coral reefs in Puerto Rico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15517/0c15pc82Keywords:
Acropora palmata; marine heatwaves; mass bleaching; mortality; restorationAbstract
Introduction: Recurrent marine heatwaves, stronger hurricanes, and degraded water quality represent increasingly compounded threats to Caribbean coral reefs. These stressors may compromise the persistence of wild endangered Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) populations and the demographic performance of restored populations.
Objectives: This study examined three climate-driven impact scenarios affecting A. palmata in Puerto Rico: (1) extreme rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Isaías affecting wild A. palmata colonies at the urban reef of El Escambrón; (2) compounded bleaching events during 2023–2024 affecting restored colonies at El Escambrón; and (3) the 2024 bleaching event affecting restored colonies at Punta Melones, Culebra, previously fragmented by Hurricane Beryl.
Methods: Case 1 used line photo-transects from El Escambrón (2005-2022) to assess long-term spatial and temporal changes in benthic community structure and wild A. palmata populations. Cases 2 and 3 monitored restored colonies monthly across ten replicate plots per site, measuring survival, live tissue cover, size metrics, and colony condition. Coral metrics were correlated with water quality parameters.
Results: Across El Escambrón and Punta Melones, A. palmata colonies experienced catastrophic mortality of 98–100% associated with recurrent thermal stress, low-salinity urban runoff pulses, and compounded bleaching. Sea surface temperature anomaly, 2024 Bleaching Alert Level 4 conditions, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen were significantly associated with mortality.
Conclusions: Coral mortality reflects combined acute and chronic stressors, especially in shallow reefs with degraded water quality and reduced thermal tolerance. With limited recruitment, increasing colony isolation, and low genetic diversity, the species may approach functional extinction without a refugia-based restoration framework.
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