History of the Mesoamerican Reef
As the largest barrier reef on the Western Hemisphere, the Mesoamerican reef spans 700 miles (13). This reef extends from the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula down to the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, and northern Honduras (3).
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| Map of the Mesoamerican Reef
(http://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/caribbean_rpt/SCRBH2005_05.pdf)
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Across these 700 miles, various types of coral provide shelter and food for hundreds of species of fish, sharks, and marine turtles (13). Due to the scenic beauty of the Mesoamerican reef, the reef itself has become a prime tourist destination, changing the state of the ecosystem. Before the introduction of humans in this area, an ecosystem full of diversity, the Mesoamerican reef contained an abundance of aquatic life and coral reefs (12). Prior to the arrival of humans, there were about 60 types of hard corals, over 500 different fish species, five species of marine turtles, and a vast array of whale sharks in this barrier reef (13).
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| Example of a preserved part of the Mesoamerican Reef (http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/5/19/1305796562909/reef-collaboration-001.jpg) |
Among these species, six were endangered and five were critically endangered (3). Over time, scientists have seen a deterioration of the Mesoamerican reef in the last twenty five years (11). The historical state of the Mesoamerican reef has drastically declined, leading to food webs and natural processes being disrupted, and species being obliterated (12).
Biodiversity and Endemic Species of the Mesoamerican Reef
With more than fifty species of coral and over 500 species of fishes, the coasts along Mesoamerica contain a relatively high biodiversity (1). Among the second longest barrier reef in the world, the Mesoamerican reef contains many atoll-like reefs with a high biodiversity of fish, sea turtles, and plants. This high biodiversity allows the reef to be more resilient to disturbances than those with less species (3).
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| Example of the biodiversity in the Mesoamerican reef (http://jrsbiodiversity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/15_-Seethrough-Roatan.jpg) |
Coral species serve as the foundation of the entire ecosystem, and a decrease in coral richness can make the reefs more susceptible to disturbances, like diseases. Over the last twenty years, the diversity in corals has diminished due to high coral mortality (11). As the different coral species contribute to the other species in this ecosystem, fish also contribute to the health as well. There are some species of fish that serve as a “driving” species, playing a critical role in the functions of the Mesoamerican reef. On the other hand there are some species that act as “passenger” species that don’t serve as big as a role in the ecosystem (3). The condition of the biodiversity of fish is fairly good, but is somewhat lacking in abundance (16).
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| Sea turtle in the Mesoamerican reef region (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/mesoamerican-reef/img/03-loggerhead-turtle-grazes-sea-grass-a-670.jpg) |
What Are the Benefits of the Mesoamerican Reef?
The Mesoamerican reef serves as a habitat for fish, birds, turtles and other wildlife. Some of the most important benefits of the Mesoamerican reef are economic: over one million local people depend on them for food and their economies (13). Resources from the reef, such as fish, are exported as part of the local economy (20). The reef is also a major tourist attraction due to its aesthetic beauty, and tourism is a major source of revenue for the region (13). The reef and its neighboring mangroves help protect the shoreline by protecting it from tropical storms and reducing erosion (20).
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| (http://jrsbiodiversity.org/hri-releases-2015-report-card/) |
What Are The Main Threats?
Coral is made up of a polyp, a jellyfish-like creature that latches onto a hard surface, and zooxanthellae, algae that provides a source of sugar and acids for the coral (19). Sewage and agricultural runoff from cities off the coast of the Mesoamerican reef cover zooxanthellae and prevent them from photosynthesizing (14). The zooxanthellae allow coral to have an advantage in tropical waters where nutrients are scarce and without it the coral cannot survive (6).
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| (http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/what-coral-coral-polyp-and-zooxanthellae) |
The sewage and agricultural runoff also causes an increase nitrogen and phosphorus, which provide the perfect environment for microalgae to grow. Microalgae is an invasive species that competes with coral for space in the Mesoamerican reef (14). Parrotfish and certain types of sea urchins eat microalgae, however both species of sea creatures were almost hunted to extinction by local fisheries (9).
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Parrotfish
(http://fishbreeds.net/parrotfish/)
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Historically, there were no lionfish in the Mesoamerican reef, so with the accidental introduction of lionfish the ecosystem will undergo changes. Since the lionfish is a venomous carnivore with no natural predators in the Caribbean it could drive other species of fish to extinction and decrease the biodiversity of the Mesoamerican reef (4).
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| Lionfish (http://www.groupersandwich.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/lionfish1.jpg)
Climate change and natural disasters have also had a negative impact on the Mesoamerican reef. In 1995, Hurricane Mitch destroyed 50% of the live coral in the Mesoamerican reef area (18). Later, in 1998 and 2005, additional hurricanes as well as large-scale coral bleaching further worsened the stability of the ecosystem. Coral bleaching occurs when water temperatures get too hot for coral, so the coral begins to die (7). Overall, temperatures around the world have increased 1.4 degrees in the last ten years and the last twelve years have included the hottest temperatures. Coral bleaching in the Mesoamerican reef region is the result of global warming and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has predicted that global temperatures will continue to rise, which will cause more damage to the Mesoamerican reef (6).
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| Result of coral bleaching in the Mesoamerican Reef (http://assets.worldwildlife.org/photos/778/images/story_full_width/Threats.jpg?1345530107) |
Ocean acidification, a result of increased levels of carbon dioxide, is destroying the Mesoamerican reef as well. Increases in carbon dioxide are caused by human actions such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. The carbon dioxide enters into the ocean, resulting in ocean acidification (16). Many species of corals that make up the framework of the Mesoamerican reef can no longer grow as well as they used to, resulting in the destruction of the ecosystem (10).
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| Ocean acidification (http://www.reefresilience.org/images/Stressors_OAchemistryFig_large.png) |
Offshore oil exploration and drilling has led to the stress of the coral in the Mesoamerican reef. Oil often leaks from offshore oil platforms and can destroy corals and mangroves when it comes into contact with them. Specifically, oil stunts the growth and development of coral and can even prevent coral from reproducing (16). Oil spills in the ocean also affect other types of organisms, such as mammals and birds. The insulating-ability of mammals is hindered and birds’ feathers can no longer repel water as well when they come into contact with oil, causing these animals to die from hypothermia. Additionally, animals that ingest oil become poisoned and die (7).
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| Offshore oil drilling in Belize (http://www.belizehub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/offshore-drilling-in-belize.jpeg) |
What Have People Done to Help?
Areas along the coast of the Mediterranean reef have taken action to improve the overall quality of the ecosystem. In 2009, the government of Belize began protecting microalgae eating parrotfish. Since then, there has been a greater abundance of parrotfish in this area. In 2011, bottom trawling, a damaging fishing method that involves dragging a large net along the ocean floor and destroying much of the ecosystem, was mostly abandoned as an acceptable way of fishing (5). Many fishing organizations in Mexico and Guatemala have established “no-take” zones, where people cannot fish. This has resulted in an increase of diversity in the Mesoamerican reef (14).
The government of Belize has created incentives for fisherman to fish intelligently so that they won’t deplete the fish population. Belize has also created a system of access-based rights so that local fisherman will be guaranteed a good supply of fish. Since these rules have been set into place, Belize has seen a growth in the overall fish population and fishermen get better catches (17).
In fact, much of the Mesoamerican reef has become protected. Namely, the Bay Islands of Honduras is protected by the government of Honduras. Despite being nestled in between two cruise ship docks, this area is in good shape and scientists frequent the area to study coral (13).
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| Bay Island of Honduras (http://www.aquarianadventures.com/the_islands/images/roatan1.jpg) |
Humans have a direct impact on climate change and our actions are indirectly affecting the Mesoamerican reef in a negative way. 31% of global warming comes from coal, 31% from petroleum, 13% from natural gas, and 23% from deforestation. Governments have tried to limit our impact on climate change by passing new laws that put restrictions on individuals as well as large companies. “Cap and trade” was created to make a market for carbon─companies are given a cap on how much carbon they can produce and if they exceed that amount then they have to offset the amount of carbon they are producing (6). The carbon tax was created to make emissions of carbon dioxide more expensive as a way to encourage companies to turn to better alternatives for fuel. Consumers see the tax at work everyday when the gas prices increase. Once gas prices reached $4, consumers began to buy more fuel efficient cars (15).
Belize has taken steps to prevent oil drilling in the Mesoamerican reef. In 2005 and 2007 the government of Belize made six offshore oil drilling contracts but in 2015 the Supreme Court of Belize ruled that those contracts were illegal because the government had not evaluated the possible environmental impacts of the contracts. It was also determined that the oil drilling companies had not been practicing safe drilling techniques (2).
What Will Happen to the Mesoamerican Reef in the Future?
Researchers predict that the state of the Mesoamerican reefs will worsen in the future due to global warming and other stressors. Every degree increase in water temperatures due to global warming will cause “extensive damage” to reefs (21). Impacts of global warming will include higher instances of drought and flood and increases in sea level and water temperature (13). Severe storms resulting from global warming will also have a negative impact on coral reefs. The United Nations has determined that Central America is “one of the areas most vulnerable to natural disasters” (21). Chronic stress to coral reef’s will reduce their capacity to recover from coral bleaching (3). Stressors such as coral diseases, over-fishing, pollution and sedimentation increase algae growth and reduce the coral’s capacity to recover from bleaching. Increasing levels of ocean acidification will also have a negative impact on reefs by disrupting the coral’s calcification and reducing skeletal growth (3).
Further destruction of coral reefs will worsen fishing yields, leading to food scarcity and economic problems for local communities (13).
What Can You Do To Help?
Plant mangroves! Mangroves are an important part of this ecosystem─they guard against damage from storms, decrease runoff, provide a breeding ground for fish, and decrease impacts of climate change (21).
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| Mangroves (http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/mesoamerican-reef/img/13-funk-cay-mesoamerican-mangroves-a-670.jpg) |
Get involved with your government by implementing a conservation strategy or lobbying for the creation of marine protected areas. The more people become interested in the cause, the more the Mesoamerican reef will be allowed to recover.
Establish programs to inform people about the importance of complying with environmental regulations. Worldwide compliance with environmental regulations will bring us one step closer to restoring the Mesoamerican reef to its former glory.
Sources
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