CARIBBEAN CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM

This particular program, also known as CCRE, was a collaborative effort conceived by six scientists by the National Museum of Natural History in the 1970s.  Initially, researchers from the Smithsonian worked on disciplines essential to the study of reef ecology invertebrate and zoology, as well as paleobiology and carbonate geology.  Initially, the goal was to investigate Caribbean coral reefs, which then led into study of coastal environments.

After careful consideration, it was decided that dive surveys would be conducted at Belize’s barrier reef.  Of all structures being considered, the one at Belize turned out to be the most complex, specific to animal and plant species, as well as other habitat types.  The system is pristine with minimal disturbances from far-off landmasses.  Then in 1972, one acre on top of the southern part of the barrier reef was chosen as a field laboratory.

For the next 10 years, approximately 65 different scientists and students worked at the laboratory in which more than 100 papers on research were published on the fauna, flora, and geology of the Carrie Bow reef tract.  To assist with this study, various grants fro Central and South America were provided.  Then in the 1980s, a new ecological study of the Caribbean mangrove swamp began.  Called the Smithsonian Western Atlantic Mangrove Program or SWAMP, 18 staff scientists were dedicated to work on this study.

By the mid-1980s, research was strengthened by two specific programs in which the budget of the Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems was increased, encompassing the reef, mangrove, plankton, and sea grass meadow.  However, the attention on the Belize region, specifically the Carrie Bow Cay, remained the most important.  So much attention went into the study more than 500 scientific papers were published by 1996. 

The results of this study were compelling.  The coral consisting of small invertebrates related to sea anemones were live clusters of vibrant color.  However, it was found that coral reefs are extremely fragile and since they are alive, they can be killed.  In the Caribbean area, Fused-Staghorn, Staghorn, and Elkhorn coral are dominant.  Unfortunately, in the past 30 years, these three species of coral have seen up to 95% decline in certain portions of their range, which means coral coverage has greatly declined.

The study also reports that habitat designation and listing these species as “endangered” is a way of saving the coral.  One of the changes seen is that in 2004, a petition was filed by which NOAA Fisheries, the government agency that has been put in control of protecting the reefs, to take action while there is still time.  This means direct take of the coral would be prohibited and the critical habitat regions protected.  Additionally, Caribbean coral would have a plan implemented for recovery.