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The reef crests of the Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP) are largely formed by Acropora palmata, but colonies of A. cervicornis and the hybrid A. prolifera are also present. This study shows spatial distribution of colonies, thickets and live fragments of these species in the fore reefs. Snorkeling was used to perform the direct observations. The maximum diameter of 4,399 colonies of A. palmata was measured and the health of 3,546 colonies was evaluated. The same was done to 168 colonies of A. cervicornis and 104 colonies of A. prolifera. The influence of the location and marine currents on a number of living colonies of A. palmata was analyzed. For such purpose, reef crests were divided into segments of 500 m. The marine park was divided into two sectors: East and West. The Caballones Channel was used as the reference dividing line. The park was also divided into five reserve zones. We counted 7,276 live colonies of Acropora spp. 1.4% was A. prolifera, 3.5% A. cervicornis and 95.1% A. palmata. There were 104 thickets of A. palmata, ranging from eight to 12 colonies, and 3,495 fragments; 0.6% was A. cervicornis and the rest A. palmata (99.4%). In the East sector, 263 colonies (3.8% of the total), six thickets (5.8%) and 32 fragments (1%) of A. palmate were recorded. In the same sector, there were 11 fragments (50%) of A.cervicornis and two (2%) colonies of A. prolifera. Health of A. palmata was evaluated as good and not so good in the study area. Health of A. cervicornis was critical and health of A. prolifera was good in all five reserve zones. There was a significant increase in the number of colonies from east to west (Χ2 = 11.5, gl = 3.0, p = 0.009). This corroborates the existence of an important abundance differences between the eastern and the western region of the JRNP. A negative relationship was observed between the number of colonies and the distance from the channel (Χ2 = 65.0, df = 3.0, p < 0.001). The influence of the channel, for the live colonies of A. palmata is greater within the first 2,000 m. It then decreases until approximately 6,000 m, and no significant increase beyond. The orientation of the reef crests significantly influenced the abundance of the colonies (Χ2 = 15.5, df = 2.9, p = 0.001). The results presented here provide a baseline for future research on the status of the populations of Acropora spp., considering that there has been a certain recovery of the species A. palmata during the last 10-16 years. Given the current status of the populations of Acropora spp., conservation actions focusing A. cervicornis should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, was examined how to changes in the time the abundance and distribution of the fishes a channel, belonging to Laguna Larga, Cayo Coco, Cuba. The channel was divided at two zones 30 m for separated. Visual census and behavioral notes in free diving covered, in the 2007, 2008 and 2009. Was estimated the individuals' number and size for all fishes and measure the shadow and refuge area in the channel. The density, size and biomass were calculated and the relative frequency too. 52 fish species of 24 families were assessed. The communities of mangrove fish in the studied vary space and temporarily. The observed space variations are due to the characteristics of the habitat and the distance between the channel and the open sea. The temporary variations seem to be related with the mobility, reproduction and recruitment of the fish. The main variation time scales of fish are the months, followed by the seasons. This supports the need to take into account in studies of these variations over time scales small areas and so particularize the management of natural resources for each site in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several researches have been carried out in the northern coast of Ciego de Avila province, central region of northern coast of Cuba, from 1995 to 2012, in order to study biodiversity and ecology. Among conspicuous fauna, fishes have been targeted by research and the first inventory on this group of islands has been prepared. The species identification was mainly in situ using SCUBA and snorkelling techniques. The inventory includes 214 species. The best represented families of fishes are Serranidae, Carangidae, Haemulidae and Scombridae. Low abundance of large size top predators of Serranidae, Lutjanidae, Sphyraenidae, Carangidae and sharks are reported in the northern coast of Ciego de Avila province. There occurs 19 % of the Cuban ichthyofauna, 20 % of the strictly marine fish, 15 % of the Chondrichthyes and 20 % of the Actinopterygii. Diversity of taxa in the northern coast of Ciego de Avila province is higher than that in northwestern and northeastern regions of Cuba, but lower than that in Jardines de la Reina, while the most diverse families are generally the same among regions although they rank different among them. [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]