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Background: The long-time study of coral reefs with low human impacts can provide information on the effects of regional pressures like climate change, and is an opportunity to document how these pressures are reflected in coral communities. An example of minimal local anthropogenic impacts are the Guanahacabibes coral reefs, located in the westernmost region of Cuba. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate the temporal variability of six benthic biological indicators of coral reefs, and to explore the possible relationship between predictive abiotic variables and biological response variables. Methods: Four coral reef sites were sampled between 2008 and 2017, to analyze biological indicators (living coral cover, fleshy algae index, coral species richness, coral species abundance, coral trait groups species abundance, Functional Reef Index). Seven abiotic variables (wave exposure, sea surface temperature, degree heating week, chlorophyll-a concentration, particulate organic carbon, photosynthetically available radiation, and the diffuse attenuation coefficient) were compiled between 2007 and 2016, from remote sensing datasets, to analyze their relationship with the biological indicators. Permanova statistical analysis was used to evaluate trends in biological variables between sites and years, and Routine Analysis Based on Linear Distances (DISTLM) was used to explore some dependencies between biotic and abiotic variables. Results: We found significant variability in the temporal analysis, with a decrease in living coral cover, a decline in the predominance of the branching and massive framework reef-building species, a decline in Orbicella species abundance, and an increase in the fleshy algae index. Some abiotic variables (average of degree heating weeks, standard deviation of the diffuse attenuation coefficient, average of the sea surface temperature, among others) significantly explained the variability of biological indicators; however, determination coefficients were low. Conclusions: Certain decrease in the functionality of the coral reef was appreciated, taking into account the predominance of secondary and nom-massive framework reef-building species in the last years. A weak association between abiotic and biological variables was found in the temporal analysis. The current scenario of the condition of the coral reefs seems to be regulated by the global effects of climate change, weakly associated effects, and in longer terms.

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The feeding activity of herbivorous fishes and their impact on coral reefs with different levels of anthropogenic degradation. The feeding activity of three herbivorous fishes (Sparisoma viride, Scarus iserti and Acanthurus coeruleus) and its impact on two coral reefs were studied during the dry (February) and rainy (August) seasons of 2006 in Cuba. One of the reef stations is at the "Acuario" dive point in the Guanahacabibes National Park, and is relatively pristine. The second one is located at the north coast of Havana City facing the Instituto de oceanología (IdO) and is subject to pollution and fishing pressures. Herbivore fish composition was analized, and foraging intensity was measured for all Acanthurid and Scarid species, by counting fish bites in 1 m²during five minute intervals (25 replicates). Concurrently, species foraging intensity was measured for juvenile, intermediate, and adult phases, counting fish bites during 10 minutes intervals (10 replicates). Algal consumption rate was estimated using a coefficent of consumed biomass per bite, for each size class. The algal cover was sampled at 20 m linear transects with four replicates at each site. Food items were assessed sampling algae at the observed bitten substrates. Compared to Acuario, herbivores in IdO showed lower species richness and higher density of small size fishes, but large-sized parrotfish was almost absent due to intense fishing. The highest bite rate was observed for the smallest fish size, but net consumption rate was three times greater for medium and great size fishes, which were more abundant in the protected area. Algal cover was lower in Acuario, while in IdO it was very high, and coral cover was very low. In both locations epiphytic algae were the preferred food. These results support generalizations referring to the importance of great size herbivores fishes in controlling excesive algal proliferation on coral reefs. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (3): 687-697. Epub 2009 September 30.

Estudiamos la actividad alimentaria de tres peces herbívoros (Sparisoma viride, Scarus iserti y Acanthurus coeruleus) y su impacto, en dos arrecifes de coral de Cuba, durante la época seca (febrero) y la lluviosa (agosto) del 2006. una de las estaciones en los arrecifes está en el lugar de buceo "Acuario" en el parque nacional Guanahacabibes, y es relativamente prístina. La segunda está en la costa norte de la Habana al frente del Instituto de oceanología (IdO) y es objeto de presiones de contaminación y pesca. La composición de los peces herbívoros fue analizada, y la intensidad de búsqueda de alimento ("forrajeo") medida para todas las especies de acantúridos y escáridos, contando los mordiscos de peces en 1 m2 durante intervalos de cinco minutos (25 repeticiones). La intensidad de forrajeo fue medida para las fases joven, intermedia, y adulta, contando los mordiscos de peces durante intervalos de 10 minutos (10 repeticiones). La tasa de consumo de algas se estimó usando un coeficiente de biomasa consumida por mordisco, para cada clase de tamaño. La cobertura de algas fue muestreada en transectos de 20 m en línea con cuatro repeticiones en cada sitio. Las piezas de comida fueron evaluadas por medio de muestreo de algas en los sustratos observados con mordiscos. En comparación con Acuario, los herbívoros en IdO mostraron riqueza de especies más baja y mayor densidad de peces pequeños, pero los peces loro de gran tamaño estuvieron casi ausentes debido a la pesca intensiva. La tasa de mordisqueo más alta se observó para los peces de tamaño más pequeño, pero la tasa neta de consumo fue tres veces mayor para los peces de mediano y gran tamaño, los cuales fueron más abundantes en el área protegida. La cobertura de algas fue más baja en Acuario, mientras que en IdO fue muy alta, y la cobertura de coral fue muy baja. En ambas localidades las algas epífitas fueron el alimento preferido. Estos resultados apoyan las generalizaciones con respecto a la importancia de los peces de gran tamaño para controlar la proliferación excesiva de algas en arrecifes de coral.

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