Keck, J., Jouston, R. M., Purkis, S. J., Riegl, B.

Unexpectedly high cover of Acropora cervicornis on offshore reefs in Roatan (Honduras)

2005

Coral Reefs

24

509

"Extensive and previously unreported shallow coral communities occur on Smith Bank and Cordelia Shoal, two offshore reef structures southwest of Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras. The banks have been exploited by fishermen but not scientifically described or identified on reef maps. While coral cover and abundance at nearby sites on Roatan have declined significantly over the last 7 years due to the 1998 bleaching event, Hurricane Mitch, and anthropogenic activity (Keck 2004), Smith and Cordelia Banks maintain extensive coral cover. Communities between 1 and 6 m were dominated by Acropora cervicornis, Agaricia tenuifolia, Porites porites, Acropora palmata and Acropora prolifera. A. cervicornis was the most abundant species in the shallowest areas and covered an area of approximately 52 acres (21 hectares) at Smith Bank. The offshore banks are separated from the island by water exceeding 150 m, and strong currents parallel to Roatans coast may help to limit human influences. These sites may possess one of the largest remaining stands of Acropora cervicornis and may be a critical spawning source of propagules which could allow this species to repopulate reef communities in the region."

10.1007/s00338-005-0502-6

FY2005 CRCP Project ID 2008; Project Title: National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI); Principal Investigator: David Hilmer