More than 70 per cent of some coral species suffered extreme damage

An Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) coral with many broken off branches in Man of War Shoal Marine Park.

COLE BAY–Intense impacts from Hurricane Irma have been recorded on certain coral species inside and outside of Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. However, also some reef recovery has already been recorded, said Nature Foundation this week.

  To qualitatively assess the reefs and the Marine Park, the Nature Foundation will start up reef monitoring according to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Protocol (GCRMN) in the coming month. Data from before Hurricane Irma and data from last year will be used to determine the detailed impacts and damage on the reefs.

  The Foundation has been continuously monitoring coral reefs both inside and outside of the Protected Area to determine the impact of Hurricane Irma.

  Acropora coral (Elkhorn and Staghorn) were hit the hardest by Irma: this particular group of species is very sensitive to intensive water movement, which has caused large pieces to break off. Besides the major break-off of coral fragments, also large die-offs have been recorded in those particular coral colonies.

  Many parts of especially Elkhorn coral colonies (A. palmata) died due to direct impacts of the swell or sediment cover, light reduction or water quality reduction. About 80 per cent of Elkhorn coral colonies on the reefs are affected by and have died off directly and indirectly due to Irma.

  Staghorn (A. cervicornis) coral colonies have shown even more damage due to the storm surge; hardly any coral fragments have been found and entire colonies have been wiped out. Some 95 per cent of the Staghorn coral colonies have been destroyed by Irma. No colony has been found or only small fragments remain.

  The loss of these Acropora species will have large negative impacts on the reefs due to their importance as reef builders.

  Acropora corals decreased tremendously in the 1980s and are currently already listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems and Species. Until the 1980s, Acropora coral species dominated the near-shore zone of many Caribbean islands, including St. Maarten.

  Even before Hurricane Irma these coral reef zones had almost disappeared from most islands in the region due to diseases, climate change, pollution and habitat destruction. The increased loss of these Acropora corals due to Hurricane Irma will have even larger negative effects on biodiversity, biomass of fishes, coastal protection and tourism.

  Also Pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) colonies have been significantly affected by Irma. Pillar colonies have been reduced by about 70 per cent due to Irma. Colonies at the dive sites Mikes Maze and Hen and Chicks which were known to reach up to five feet are now reduced to not much more than a foot. 

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71236-more-than-70-per-cent-of-some-coral-species-suffered-extreme-damage