Abstract

Coral reefs in the Dominican Republic currently face a number of threats that compromise their survival. Among the top ones, is the coastal development to support the ever-growing tourism industry, one of the main revenue source for the local economy. Coral reef health data collected from 1995 to 2018 was analyzed from three locations along the southeast portion of the island to assess how coastal development, or the lack of it, has affected these ecosystems over the past two decades. Data consisting of percent coverage of the bottom by live coral and macroalgae, as well as parrotfish densities were compared over time between locations developed or not for tourism, and their protection status was considered. The three locations selected vary greatly in both management approaches and socio-economic backgrounds. Results showed clear differences in reef health trends over time and between locations. Reefs located in areas of less coastal development proved to be more resilient as these recovered better after major impacts such as hurricanes and bleaching events. These results provide the first long-term local evidence on how coastal development can reduce coral resilience and negatively impact the health of coral reefs. This information is crucial for the development of better management strategies for the sustainable use of these resources and the environmental services they offer in tropical islands.

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