Abstract

The coral reefs in the South Mexican Caribbean are considered to be in a healthy condition, but they are about to suffer a dramatic increase in the anthropogenic pressure on their resources. The cause of the increase in the use of resources is the rapid deveIopment of the zone, as the new "ecotouristic" attraction of Quintana Roo.\The health of the fore reef coral community at Mahahual Quintana Roa, in Mexico, was assessed using a videotransect method. Videotransects were filmed for the months of: May 1997, July 1998, and November 1998, after hurricane 'Mitch" and a massive bIeaching event The community analysis was classified by its 'Morph-Functional Groups' values of cover, dominance, diversity, and eveness. MFG's have been shown to be an accurate descriptor of coral communities. The change of the structure of the coral reef community due to anthropogenic pressure could be stated from year to year, as well as the consequences of the stochastic events which occur months later.\This study is part of a comparative analysis of several coral reef communities in Quintana Roo, in order to gather information about the state of the resources and to suggest management strategies.

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