Estado de los arrecifes de coral del Parque Nacional Portobelo, Colón, Panamá.

Abstract

This study focuses on the coral reefs of Portobelo National Park, Panama, evaluating their population through measurements of abundance, diversity, coverage, and condition. The manta tow technique was used at 16 sampling sites, revealing an average coral coverage of 19%, with Agaricia sp. as the most dominant genus. Comparing with previous studies, a decrease in overall genus richness is observed, going from 24 hexacoral genera and 14 octocoral genera 20 years ago to 20 hexacoral genera and 7 octocoral genera today. Environmental conditions were also analyzed, showing a 0.42 °C increase in temperature since the 1990s, with an annual projected increase of 0.01 °C. Tourist data indicate a significant human presence, but its impact seems negligible compared to other factors that might influence coral decline. The aerial geomorphology assessment, conducted with a drone, highlights barrier and fringing reefs, sparse presence of mangroves, and a wall-like geomorphology with drop-offs; similarly, large sand patches are noted at depths between 5 and 10 meters. This study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and urges the consideration of additional parameters such as salinity, dissolved oxygen, and pH for a more concrete evaluation. The previous lack of information highlights the significance of this research, providing a valuable foundation for future conservation initiatives. Guía de corales del Parque Nacional Portobelo: Pardo Diaz, J. E. (2024). Guía de corales del Parque Nacional Portobelo. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12851284 Geomorfología de los sitios de muestreo del Parque Nacional Portobelo: Pardo Díaz, J. E. (2024). Geomorfología de los sitios de muestreo del Parque Nacional Portobelo. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13008032