Abstract

Coral reef degradation is a critical world-wide management issue. Improved conservation strategies that prevent further degradation are imperative, and they should include an understanding of the life history of reef organisms, especially larval dispersal. Larval dispersal determines the connectivity of disparate reefs. It may therefore impact greatly on coral population dynamics and hence determine conservation strategies. We decided to obtain pre-competence, competence and longevity periods of the two most important Caribbean reef building corals (Montastraea annularis and M. faveolata) and couple that information with an advanced hydrodynamic model with a Lagrangian transport block based on the “random-walk” technique for sea-surface tracers. Twenty-nine coral reef areas were geographically positioned and the dispersal trajectories determined from there for competence and longevity times. Predictions from the model were tested by placing submerged panels at six stations on San Andres’ reefs and monitoring the recruitment of corals. Our results demonstrate that long-distance connectivity between Caribbean coral populations exists and the existence of at least three clearly defined intra-connected eco-regions in the Caribbean: A) Eastern Caribbean, B) Western Caribbean and C) Panama-Colombia Gyre. These eco-regions will need trans-national conservation strategies to be implemented to ensure the future and sustainability of their reefs

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