Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

El Golfo de Papagayo, en los últimos años, ha experimentado un acelerado desarrollo socioeconómico que puede ejercer presión sobre sus espacios y recursos naturales, y contribuir, así, al deterioro de su zona marino-costera. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue identificar las principales fuentes terrestres de contaminación que puedan ejercer efectos negativos sobre el ambiente y la calidad higiénico-sanitaria de las aguas de sus playas. Para recolectar información sobre la producción y el manejo de los residuos sólidos y líquidos, generados por las actividades socioeconómicas que se desarrollan en los distritos costeros de Nacascolo y Sardinal, se aplicaron 81 encuestas a locales comerciales durante los años 2016 y 2017. Además, se realizaron cuatro muestreos de agua en diferentes playas. Los resultados indican que el 76% de establecimientos comerciales y el 50% de hoteles disponen los residuos sólidos por medio del sistema de recolección de basura municipal; el 24% de comercios y el 81% de hoteles utilizan tanque séptico para la disposición de aguas residuales. Lo anterior, debido a que, por la naturaleza de las actividades, los residuos generados se consideran de tipo ordinario. Con respecto a las concentraciones de coliformes fecales, para determinar la calidad higiénico-sanitaria se establecieron tres categorías: excelente (< 10), buena (10-100) y regular (101-240). Para el caso de Enterococcus su concentración indica que todas las playas son aptas para la recreación. En general, las concentraciones de estos dos parámetros aumentaron en su mayoría durante la época lluviosa, probablemente debido a la escorrentía superficial.

As a result of a series of projects, a comparative analysis was conducted from October to December 2016 between four natural cockle (Anadara tuberculosa) banks located in the provinces of Esmeraldas (bordering with Colombia) and El Oro (bordering with Peru) in order to determine the reproductive condition of the species and its size distribution. A total of 2474 samples were collected and measured with a digital caliper. To determine their sex and sexual maturity, gonads were macroscopically observed by making a transversal cut to the visceral mass. The Mann- Whitney nonparametric test was used to compare extraction sites by size distribution. Average sizes according to extraction sites were: Coronera (47.82 mm) and Feliciano (44.02 mm) in Esmeraldas and Grabadora (45.44 mm) and Bravito (43.42 mm) in El Oro. The reproductive condition was predominantly the spawning stage during the period from October to December. The calculation of the Chi-square indicates that the temperature observed in the months analyzed did not influence the stage of maturity in Esmeraldas (P=0.18) or in El Oro (P=0.83). Comparing extraction sites exhibited significant differences (P<0.05) in size structure between the provinces of Esmeraldas and El Oro. However, it cannot be assumed that these differences in cockle size of the natural banks are due solely to their geographical separation. No clear relationship was found between water temperature and spawning in the present study.

The presence, distribution, and abundance of macroalgae are related to the fluctuations of physical and chemical parameters; the increase in macroalgae biomass is associated with nutrient enrichment of the coastal zones derived from anthropogenic activities. Macroalgae blooms are usually comprised of one or more ephemeral macroalgae species with rapid growth. In the present study, changes in the composition and biomass of macroalgae blooms of a coastal lagoon are described.  Physicochemical variables were measured in 5 sites of El Carmen lagoon, Cárdenas, Tabasco in an annual cycle during 3 seasons, rainy (October, 2015), north winds (February, 2016), and dry (July, 2016). Macroalgae biomass was also measured using a transect-quadrat method. Differences in variables and biomass between seasons and sites were estimated with an ANOVA. In addition, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted in order to observe the relations between environmental variables and biomass. A total of 7 species were found to be important. The highest total biomass corresponded to G. blodgetti (4225.1 g), followed by A. spicifera (794.6 g). Macroalgae blooms were found only in sites 1 and 5, and their species composition and biomass varied depending on site and season. The PCA showed that macroalgae biomass was related to physicochemical variables depending on the species. In the region, the anthropogenic activities surrounding the lagoons heavily affect them; therefore, this type of study is important to monitor the lagoon. This is the first study of macroalgae blooms in the region.

Seagrass meadows are considered one of the most valuable ecosystems of the biosphere. In the Northern Keys of the Ciego de Ávila province, seagrass showed structural and composition damages due to hurricane Irma’s impact. The state of seagrass meadows was evaluated at Las Coloradas and El Paso beaches in November 2017 after the hurricane, based on a characterization conducted in June 2017. For both samples, three 50 m transects were located parallel to the coast.  Along each transect, 12 0.25 m2 frames were placed. The predominant marine angiosperm was T. testudinum, and S. filiforme at a lower scale. A total of 25 macroalgae species and four stony coral species were identified. The most predominant invertebrate species found were O. reticulatus and L. gigas, while the most abundant fish species were H. bivittatus and G. cinereus. In November, S. filiforme disappeared, the diversity of invertebrates associated with seagrasses declined, and no ichthyofauna was recorded. Hurricane Irma was an extreme meteorological event that changed the composition and structure of seagrass meadows at Las Coloradas and El Paso beaches, because of its impact in the decrease of the relative abundance and shoot density of T. testudinum, the height of dossal, and the epiphytism percentage of the species, as well as the decrease in seagrass fauna. Seagrass sites must continue to be monitored to study their level of recovery over time.

The genus Lobotes extends across tropical and subtropical areas of oceans such as the Atlantic and the Pacific; it is extracted in artisanal fisheries, and its aquaculture production technology is still under investigation. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the growth and fillet yield of L. pacificus in recirculated systems. In 2014, for a 100-day period, 132 juveniles were placed in six 10m3 tanks (22 fish/tank), D1 (ranging 5-13 g, x̄ = 8.8 ± 1.9 g, n = 66), and D2 (ranging 14-80 g, x̄ = 44.7 ± 16.4 g, n = 66). Fish were fed to satiety, D1 with artificial feed and D2 with sardines. The weight-length relationship was calculated for each group. Fish had a final weight of 47.7 ± 20.3 g and 612.2 ± 238.7 g in groups D1and D2, respectively, while survival was 98.3% and 72.7% in groups D1 and D2. The whole fish and fillet yields (whole eviscerated fish yield of 89.0 ± 0.5% and fillet yields without skin of 36.1 ± 0.6%) from group D2 were considered acceptable and competitive. The 100 days of culture indicated that L. pacificus reached commercial sizes in less time than other similar fish species; however, the use of sardines as the only source of food was not recommended. This study showed that L. pacificus has high yield potential for aquaculture.

Research on Honduran coral reef fish has been isolated and scattered. A list of fish species related to coral reefs was consolidated to establish a compiled database with updated taxonomy. The study was conducted between October 2017 and December 2018. Using primary and secondary sources, all potential species in the Western Atlantic were considered, and their actual presence was confirmed using catalogued records published in peer-reviewed journals that included Honduras. In addition, the specimens kept in the Museum of Natural History of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras were added. Once the list was consolidated, the taxonomic status of each species was updated based on recent literature. A total of 159 species and 76 genera were registered in 32 families. The family with the most species was Labrisomidae with 27 species (17%). Five families had more than five 5 genera registered, while four 4 were represented by more than 16 species, which is equivalent to 42% genera and 51% species. Gobiidae was represented by 10 genera (13%) and 21 species (13%), of which two 2 were endemic: Tigrigobius rubrigenis and Elacatinus lobeli. In turn, Grammatidae was represented by one endemic species Lipogramma idabeli (1.8%). The species Diodon holocanthus and Sphoeroides testudineus represent the first catalogued records for Honduras.

Marine debris generates negative impacts on marine ecosystems and human communities, which is why the solution to this relevant problem has been included in the Sustainable Development Goal No. 14. The aim of this study was to identify and assess the negative impacts of marine debris pollution on the mangrove ecosystem in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), in the Colombian Caribbean. Impacts were identified through in situ observation (observed impacts) during field trips made in February 2018 and after reviewing the secondary information (potential impacts). Observed impacts were assessed based on the methodology proposed by Fernández-Vítora (2010), which takes into consideration the following criteria: intensity, extent, momentum, reversibility, recoverability, synergy and accumulation. In total, 10 impacts were identified in the field together with 11 potential impacts caused by marine litter in the CGSM mangroves. Presence, accumulation, and degradation of marine debris generate moderate, severe and critical impacts in the CGSM mangroves. Highlighted impacts due to their potential hazard to the ecosystem include microplastics accumulation, limitation of the propagules establishment, seedling growth, and physical changes in the soil. These results are useful for environmental authorities to take preventive measures and significant debris reduction actions and contribute to mangrove recovery and its environmental services.

This research was conducted between 2015 and 2018. The objective was to evaluate the effect of blue crab fishery management on the resource sustainability and provide a base for the implementation of corrective measures. Blue crab fishery changed in 2002 when fishermen stopped using fish traps and began using longlines, which rapidly increased successful fishing and significantly reduced size selectivity. A gradual reduction of carapace width and the extraction of immature individuals were evident; growth (L∞) is lower compared to fishery in the Chesapeake, Delaware, and Chetumal Bays, and the Gulf of Mexico, and fishing mortality (F) was significantly high. The exploitation rate (E) equivalent to 0.75 indicates overfishing. Fishermen do not fully respect the current legislation, do not receive financial support, and face personal insecurity. This activity contributes every day less to the family economy.  In addition, the government has failed to register data, assess the habitat, or manage the resource. This combination of elements has conditioned current overexploitation and threatened this type of fish.