Coral health and its research in the Caribbean and Cuba: Coral health in the Caribbean and Cuba
The health of corals is a topic of great importance in the Caribbean and in Cuba since these marine ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and the economy of the region. Coral reefs house a wide variety of marine species. However, they constitute an ecosystem under threat due to the combination of di...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | Spanish |
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Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, Universidad de La Habana, Cuba.
2024
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.uh.cu/rim/article/view/8020 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10999192 |
| Summary: | The health of corals is a topic of great importance in the Caribbean and in Cuba since these marine ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and the economy of the region. Coral reefs house a wide variety of marine species. However, they constitute an ecosystem under threat due to the combination of different factors, such as climate change, pollution, overfishing and ocean acidification. The Caribbean is considered a "Hotspot" for diseases, due to the rapid appearance and virulence of new syndromes in the region in recent decades. Cuba is not exempt from this panorama, even so, studies have shown that the percentages of disease affectation are low, and the number of diseases reported for its reefs is also low compared to what is reported for other Caribbean sites. This is why the following work aims to collect updated information on the health status of the corals in the Caribbean and in Cuba. The systematicity and constancy in the monitoring of the reefs constitutes an urgency to know the state of health in which they are, manage them sustainably and thus avoid irreparable damage that leads to their definitive loss. Conservation plans that combine effective management with citizen science initiatives, have proven to be sustainable and beneficial for both reefs and society. Received: 25 .10. 2023 Accepted: 28.02.2024 La salud de los corales es un tema de gran importancia en el Caribe y en Cuba, ya que estos ecosistemas marinos son vitales para la biodiversidad y la economía de la región. Los arrecifes de corales albergan una gran variedad de especies marinas. Sin embargo, constituyen un ecosistema bajo amenaza debido a la combinación de diferentes factores, como el cambio climático, la contaminación, la sobrepesca y la acidificación del océano. El Caribe es considerado un “hotspot” para las enfermedades, debido a la rápida aparición y virulencia de nuevos síndromes en la región en las últimas décadas. Cuba no se encuentra exenta de este panorama, aun así, los estudios realizados han demostrado que los ... |
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