Conch restoration project report

Central repository for biodiversity related research and monitoring data from the Dutch Caribbean
Background:
Located in the Dutch Windward Islands, Saba Bank is a flat-topped seamount (20–45 m deep in the shallower regions). The primary goals of the survey were to improve knowledge of biodiversity for one of the world’s most significant, but little-known, seamounts and to increase basic data and analyses to promote the development of an improved management plan.
Methodology/Principal Findings:
Our team of three divers used scuba to collect algal samples to depths of 50 m at 17 dive sites. Over 360 macrophyte specimens (12 putative new species) were collected, more than 1,000 photographs were taken in truly exceptional habitats, and three astonishing new seaweed community types were discovered. These included: (1) ‘‘Field of Greens’’ (N 17u30.6209, W 63u27.7079) dominated by green seaweeds as well as some filamentous reds, (2) ‘‘Brown Town’’ (N 17u28.0279, W 63u14.9449) dominated by large brown algae, and (3) ‘‘Seaweed City’’ (N 17u26.4859, W 63u16.8509) with a diversity of spectacular fleshy red algae.
Conclusions/Significance:
Dives to 30 m in the more two-dimensional interior habitats revealed particularly robust specimens of algae typical of shallower seagrass beds, but here in the total absence of any seagrasses (seagrasses generally do not grow below 20 m). Our preliminary estimate of the number of total seaweed species on Saba Bank ranges from a minimum of 150 to 200. Few filamentous and thin sheet forms indicative of stressed or physically disturbed environments were observed. A more precise number still awaits further microscopic and molecular examinations in the laboratory. The expedition, while intensive, has only scratched the surface of this unique submerged seamount/atoll.
Findings:
Combining the findings of this study with that of other studies, the authors conclude that the coral assemblage on the Saba Bank is diverse and healthy; it is representative and typical of those found elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Coral Richness
Coral Condition
Management Recommendations
We recorded the first sighting and collection of the non-native, invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758]: Scorpaenidae) in the southern Gulf of Mexico, off the northern Yucatan Peninsula. In December 2009, two individuals were sighted (one of them speared) at 38 m depth over a reef formation, about 58 km northwest of the Alacranes Reef National Park, which is located 130 km off the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. More than 20 years after the introduction of P. volitans into the western Atlantic, specifically off the Florida and North Carolina coasts, the invasion circuit now appears to be closing in, since this new record was made about 800 km from the Dry Tortugas and Marquesas, Florida. This recording appears to be the first introgression of the P. volitans population into the Gulf of Mexico via larval transport.
Abstract
On the island Bonaire, eutrophication is a point of serious concern, affecting the coral reefs in the marine park. Eutrophication can cause altered balance of the reef ecosystem because algae can outcompete corals, leading to a disturbed composition and deterioration of the biodiversity of the reef. The reef of Bonaire faces nutrient input by various sources, of which enriched groundwater outflow from land to the reef is considered to be a substantial one. Groundwater is enriched with nutrients e.g. due to leaking septic tanks.
In order to reduce the input of nutrients on the reef via sewage water, a water treatment plant is being built on Bonaire. The treatment of sewage water will be extended in 2012 with a sewage system covering the so called sensitive zone, the urbanised area from Hato to Punt Vierkant. Based on the dimensions of the treatment plant and estimated connections to the plant, it can be assumed that a total of 17520- 35040 kg of Nitrogen a year is removed from the sensitive zone, and will not leach out to the sea at the western coast of Bonaire. No estimates are known of the contribution of other sources to the total nitrogen load.
At the moment limited information is available about concentrations of nutrients in the marine environment. Therefore, Rijkswaterstaat Waterdienst asked IMARES to conduct a monitoring study. The goal of this coastal monitoring study was to collect baseline water quality data to be able to study the effectiveness of the water treatment plant in coming years.
The study consisted of two phases and resulted in two reports:
1. recommendations for baseline monitoring in 2011,
2. monitoring, data evaluation, and recommendations
In this second report, monitoring data are presented and discussed, and recommendations for future monitoring are provided. Options for dissemination of data and data management are presented.
Monitoring:
In November 2011, field monitoring was performed at ten locations at the west coast, at two depths -6m and -20 m. Three of these locations lay with the “sensitive zone” and are suspect of enriched groundwater, being a diffuse source of nutrients. Other locations are regarded as relative reference locations, laying further offshore, north or south from the sensitive zone. The prevailing current is from south to north. The reference locations might be influenced indirectly by the (diffuse) source under study, or can be under pressure by other nutrient sources as e.g. the salt company in the south.
Monitoring data are compared to environmental threshold values for tropical ecosystems. In Figure I, a summary of this evaluation is presented. Data show that during this monitoring study, eutrophic conditions, based on DIN concentration, are observed at four out of ten locations: Habitat, Angel City, Cargill and Red Slave. No clear difference in eutrophic state between the sensitive zone and other locations is observed. Cargill, Red Slave and Angel city are influenced by percolation of enriched groundwater from the salt pans.
Nutrient concentrations in the “sensitive zone” do not clearly differ from reference observations at e.g. Playa Funchi, Karpata and Klein Bonaire, but bacteria counts do. Bacteria numbers at Habitat and Playa Lechi exceed EU, EPA and Caribbean Blue flag standards. Stable nitrogen isotope ratios in macro algae show large variability and low average values near background levels, and are not specifically indicative for nitrogen related to sewage sources. Along developed coastlines with e.g. addition of inorganic fertilizer with low δ15N values will complicate the study for a sewage signal. Analysing δ15N and organic N in groundwater should be considered in next monitoring in order to explain the low ratio found in this study. Statistical similarity analysis between locations shows no similarity and relation to position of the location (within sensitive zone or reference). Location “Habitat” showed a clear dissimilarity compared to the other nine locations, and it is assumed brine effluent from WEB could be a steering factor in this observation.
Conclusions:
The study of November 2011 leads to the following conclusions:
Management Recommendations:
Above mentioned preliminary conclusions need to be considered using additional monitoring. Based on a one time monitoring activity no definite conclusions are possible related to the treatment plant.
“Surveillance” monitoring in the coastal zone will identify areas at risk, determine long-term changes in water quality, and can be used to evaluate environmental risk assessment.
Indicators to include are: nutrients (NH4, NO2, NO3, DIN, PO4, Total P, organic (kjeldahl) nitrogen) bacteria, benthic composition. The added value of N15 is questioned because of the average low response and high variability. A reference locations further offshore has to be added.
A clear advise on minimum frequency cannot yet be given as seasonal and diurnal variance is evident, but the extent not yet identified. Seasonal and diurnal dynamics (and thus variance) in nutrient availability is common at reef systems. Factors steering this seasonal variance are e.g wet and dry season, dynamics in regional upwellings, atmospheric pressure, biannual tidal regime, and irregular discharge in both quality and quantity. Suggestions for getting grip on this variance is provided in the report. A minimum frequency of monitoring in dry (May/June) and wet season (October/November) is suggested by parties involved. This frequency is a starting point, but could however be too low to detect significant trends. Future data have to be evaluated and monitoring has to be adapted according to the new results. Integration of these data with benthic survey data is considered to be a priority.
“Investigative monitoring” should be directed to measurements and evaluation of the quantity and quality of the sources and can be used to establish causal relations. In relation to the effectiveness of the treatment plant, it is advised to direct “investigative” monitoring to:
Indicators to include are: BOD, COD, bacteria, nutrients (NH4, NO2, NO3, DIN, kjeldahl N, PO4, total P), and 15N. Scenarios for field work are presented and cost estimates provided in the report.
Synchronization and support of STINAPA research
Options to integrate and support ongoing research by STINAPA are discussed in the report. The processing of obtained data by the benthic surveys is time consuming and therefore not yet available. Second subject is the dissemination of results from project “light and motion” by the university of California. These data could very well fit into an exploration of remote sensing as a cost effective monitoring technique for water quality. Both subjects could contribute largely to the assessment of water quality in the coastal zone of Bonaire and aid management decisions. Data analysis via e.g. student projects should be considered as an option.
Data management and dissemination of results:
Regarding data management and dissemination of results it is advised to further explore and to contribute to the development of the WUR portal on BES data and use the ISO standard by SeaDataNet to describe metadata. The WUR portal provides the opportunity of storing all BES data in a format of choice. Excel tables and figures, including the reports can be uploaded, and could for the time being be suitable enough to disseminate the data. The portal is under development and options for dissemination will be gradually extended and improved. If chosen to describe the monitoring and data with a metadata format prescribed by international standards, in time, the (meta) data could be synchronised with any other system.
The location of the portal is http://scomp0703.wur.nl/bioplanbes/.
Management Recommendations:
Abstract
On the island Bonaire, eutrophication is a point of serious concern, affecting the coral reefs in the marine park. Eutrophication can cause altered balance of the reef ecosystem because algae shall outcompete corals, eventually leading to a disturbed composition of the reef.
The reef of Bonaire faces nutrient input by various sources, of which enriched groundwater outflow from land to the reef is considered to be a substantial source. Groundwater is enriched with nutrients due to the e.g. leaking septic tanks.
In order to reduce the input of nutrients on the reef via sewage water, a water treatment plant is being built on Bonaire. The treatment of sewage water will be extended in 2012 with a sewage system covering the so called sensitive zone, the urbanised area from Hato to Punt Vierkant. Based on the dimensions of the treatment plant and estimated connections to the plant, it can be assumed that a total of 17520- 35040 kg of Nitrogen a year will be removed from the sensitive zone, and will not leach out to the sea at the western coast of Bonaire.
At the moment limited information is available about the total amount of nutrients in the marine environment. Therefore, Rijkswaterstaat Waterdienst asked IMARES to conduct a monitoring study.The goal of this coastal monitoring study was to collect baseline water quality data to be able to study the effectiveness of the water treatment facility in coming years. No estimates are known of the contribution of other sources to the total nitrogen load.
The study consisted of two phases and resulted in two reports:
The aim of this first report was to define recommendations for the baseline monitoring the, expected positive, impact of the new sewage treatment system on the marine environment of Bonaire, with special emphasis on baseline monitoring. For this an evaluation was made of:
The use of satellite tracking for the fundamental and applied study of marine turtles began in the 1980s but has undergone rapid growth in recent years. To provide a background against which to judge the past success and future directions of these research efforts we carried out a comprehensive review of over 130 scientific papers on the use of this technique in this taxon. We show how satellite tracking has changed over time as well as outlining biases in spatial, species and lifestage coverage. Descriptions of migration routes and other habitats have offered novel insights into the basic life history patterns of some species, highlighted focal areas for conservation and reinforced the multi-national nature of the stakeholders of many populations. In foraging areas, knowledge is growing as to how animals move within dynamic seascapes, thus facilitating our understanding of 3-dimensional habitat use and seasonal patterns of behaviour. More experimental approaches have elucidated navigational capabilities and post-release survival following fisheries interaction and long-term captivity. In addition, through the Internet and other media, satellite tracking appears to have been effective in engaging public attention in many countries. Finally, we discuss why the use of the technique has increased so markedly over time and point out key areas of concern that we feel should be addressed by the community of researchers and donors who focus on sea turtles
While the scarcity of up-to-date data on beach litter contamination in the Caribbean has been stressed in several recent studies, we here point to the even greater paucity of published work on litter in mangroves and on the shallow tropical seafloor. During collection of baseline data on beach litter contamination on the Southeastern Caribbean island of Bonaire we also collected preliminary data that may serve to highlight the need for further studies on these largely neglected litter issues.
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Marine litter contamination is a wide-spread problem and considered to be one of the most serious threats to sustainable use of the region’s marine and coastal resources. Mangrove litter and shallow submerged litter contamination figure significantly in Bonaire and we have made practical recommendations to help address these problems in a separate report to government. In presenting this synopsis here, we aim to draw scientific attention to these largely neglected facets of the litter problem and hope to see further studies to assess the extent of these problems in the Wider Caribbean.