「Rocky reefs bottoms Ecosystems in Ecuador」

Dr. Nancy Cabanillas Terán (Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí)

Manabí province in Ecuador is one of the most important global ports for tuna fisheries. At the surroundings of the port, are sites with some species of scleractinian corals and gorgonians. Some of those communities are under anthropogenic impact.

Ecuatorian rocky reef ecosystems are quite important since they represent the most meridional distribution of tropical eastern pacific coral reefs. Studies about marine resources on rocky reef areas are scarce and there is no evidence of specific ecological interactions analysis, and on the other hand the zone is seriously threatened, due to the fisheries industry and other anthropogenic impacts.

My work is focussed on rocky reef  bottoms of the coastal area and on La Plata island and other small islets which are protected areas, in order to compare them to those at disturbed areas near to the Port where overfishing has been very intense.

My proposed research is trophic ecology, specifically use of stable isotopes of C and N to provide information on trophic level.  The initial aim is to distinguish the trophic complexity level of the litoral zone. In addition a study of Pocillopora extension rate is carried out and I want to start with a sclerochronology approach in Pavona clavus to obtain calcification rates.

The following aims of my project will include a study of gorgonians to assess how the sedimentation in the rocky bottoms near to the port are affecting coral rate growths.