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Coral recruitment is a key ecological process for the maintenance and recovery of natural populations in coral reefs. To determine the number of coral recruits, in the Jardines de la Reina National Park, a frame (0.25 m x 0.25 m) was used. The frame was placed every 2 m, in 10 m long transects, until 50 squares were completed in each study site. A total of 12 sites on reef crests and 24 sites on slopes were studied. On the reef crests, the sites were distributed among three reserve zones and on the slopes, the sites were distributed among five reserve zones. On the crests, the average density of recruits did not show significant differences for the areas of the reserve (p<0.292). Six species were identified, predominantly Porites astreoides at the Reserva Oeste zone (4.8 colonies/m²) and Agaricia spp. in the Reserva Extremo Oeste (3.8 colonies/m²). On the slopes, significant differences were observed, mainly, between the Reserva Extremo Este and the Reserva Extremo Oeste (p<0.009). Nineteen species were identified, predominantly Agaricia spp. (13.1 colonies/m²) and Siderastrea siderea (14.1 colonies/m²) in the Reserva Oeste. The highest density of coral recruits is found towards the West of the park, and in particular, it was on slopes where the highest densities prevailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jardines de la Reina National Park is regarded as the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean. To determine the efffect of the protection gradient that stretches from the central reserve to the east and west ends of the park, on the status of the communities of corals and coralline costrose algae, 12 sites in the reef crests and 24 sites in the slopes were surveyed during September and October, 2017. Crests were sorted out into three reserve zones and the slopes into five. To determine the status of corals, the ecological indicators number of species, percent cover, recent mortlity and old mortality were used. In the case of algae, only percent cover was measured. Regarding the number of coral species, no significant differences were observed among the reserve zones. In the reef crests, Millepora complanata, Porites astreoides and Acropora palmata prevailed among the 20 species recorded. Coral cover and recent mortality showed no significant differences among the reserve zones, unlike old mortality (p<0.015) and algal cover (p<0.015). In the reef slopes, 32 species were identified with prevalence of Siderastrea siderea and Agaricia agaricites. Coral cover (p<0.000) and algal cover (p<0.000), showed significant differences among the reserve zones, but not recent mortality and old moratlity. The effect of the protection gradient on the status of corals and crustose coralline algae of the park was not evident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research goal was to evaluate the health reef in a sector of the National Park Jardines de la Reina (PNJR) and the Golfo de Ana María (GAM). Four stations were established in to the PNJR and two in GAM on February of 2015. The selected biotopes were terrace border and coral patch. The selected ecologic indicators to evaluate the reef's health were: coral health, coral density and the most abundant species, as well as coral, algal and sponge cover. To evaluate the health and density was used the belt transect method with 10 m long for 1 m of wide, and for the cover it was used the 10 m long lineal transect. Ten sample units for stations were placed. Coral health was affected mainly by bleaching (17.7% of bleached colonies). The most affected due to the blanching were Siderastrea sidereal (Ellis y Solander, 1786) y Agaricia agaricites (Linnaeus, 1758). Yellow blotch disease affected to Orbicella annularis (Ellis y Solander, 1786). Old mortality mainly affected to O. annularis y O. faveolata (Ellis y Solander, 1786). Coral density varied between 35.2 colonies/10 m2 and 92.2 colonies/ 10 m2. Porites astreoides (Lamarck, 1816) was the specie that showed highest density. Live coral cover varied between 9% and 55%. The results permit conclude that even though the Marine Protected Areas aren't invulnerable to global impacts, the ecological indicators evaluated and related with health, density and coral cover shows better results than for others Cuban and Caribbean reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was carried out in October, 2011 and March, 2012. Follow image satellite analyses 41 sites were selected in Ana Maria gulf, south region of Cuba. At these sites an inventory of the corals, gorgonians and sponges were carried out. Health status was analysed for corals. Inventories were carried out in mangrove, seagrass and coral reefs (patch reefs and sand-rocky bottom biotopes) ecosystems. Species richness for corals was 41, 23 for gorgonians and 41 for sponges. More abundant corals species were Porites astreoides, Millepora alcicornis, Siderastrea siderea, Siderastrea radians, Agaricia agaricites and higher diversity was detected in patch reefs (41 species). More abundant gorgonians were Gorgonia ventalina, Erythropodium caribaeorum, Briareum asbestinum and the sponges were Mycale laevis, Cliona aprica, Iotrochota birotulata. Main affectation to coral health was bleaching (21 species experienced bleaching in some degree and only in 51% of sites). In Rabihorcado key and Algodón Grande key, were detected higher recruit abundance. Higher corals species richness was observed in: Algodón Grande key, Manuel Gómez key, Bergantines and Palomo keys. Having these results as base, this paper proposes research corals priorities relate to growth of colonies, connectivity among populations and health status of such populations in Ana Maria gulf-Jardines de la Reina ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]