Abstract

A catastrophic warming event occurred during 2005 through the northeastern Caribbean Sea that caused a mass coral bleaching event in Puerto Rico that was followed by an unprecedented mass mortality of star coral species complex (Montastraea annularis and M. faveolata), among other species. It resulted in a severe net physiological fragmentation of coral colonies. A dramatic change in fish species assemblages was simultaneously documented, with a significant reduction in abundance and biomass of many taxa, including cleaning gobies (Gobiosoma spp.). Permanent photo-stations were established in 4 - 6 m deep reef terraces dominated by Montastraea spp. at four sites in Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. Digital photography was used to document changes in benthic community structure and in cleaning gobies populations before (2005) and after (2007) this event. All coral colonies bleached during 2005. Mass coral mortality caused a 60 to 95% decline in % living tissue cover in both species. Also, tens of physiological tissue fragments were formed in each colony, usually in sizes below 50 cm2. There was no significant difference in mean fragment size and abundance among sites. There was also a total collapse in cleaning gobies populations within monitored sites. There are not known precedents through the Caribbean of events of this magnitude and its consequences in coral reef community structure may risk coral reef ecosystem resilience.

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