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305 ≋ and long-term decline in the status of Caribbean coral reefs (Wilkinson 2008). The regional decrease in coral cover is alarming; coral cover has declined 80% in some places in the past 25 years (50% average in coral cover in 1977 decreased to 10% in 2001). Similar to other coral reef regions of the world, the Gulf of Mexico has a wide range of coral reef knowledge and environmental status of reef systems. Typically, where reefs in the Gulf are located offshore (Fig.17.1) away from human populations and development, as well as the influence of continental drainages, they are in good condition (the northwestern Gulf, Flower Garden Banks, and the southeastern Gulf, and Campeche Bank reefs). However, in close proximity to mainland population centers and drainages, reefs are moderately to highly impacted (eastern Gulf, Florida Keys, and southwestern Gulf reefs off Veracruz) (Tunnell et al. 2007). Most coral reefs in the southern Gulf of Mexico are platform-type reefs (Table 17.1). These reefs are flattopped , mountain-like structures arising from the continental shelf, either nearshore or offshore. Also on the shelf are some submerged reef banks, which do not reach the surface. Lastly, the remains of some onshore fringing reefs are in the Veracruz city area. Understanding the geology, ecology, and distribution of these reefs along with natural and anthropogenic stressors is paramount to management and conservation. Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and productive, as well as complex, ecosystems on earth. Additionally , they are important to local, regional, and global economies as sources of food and medicinal products, for protection of fragile shorelines from storm damage and erosion, as a heritage of cultural values and for great natural beauty, and vast revenues in tourism dollars. However , since the late 1970s and early 1980s, global concern over degradation and loss of this ecologically and economically valuable marine habitat has been increasing. Coral reefs are being destroyed at an alarming rate throughout the world, including the Gulf of Mexico. The latest report on the status of coral reefs of the world indicates that “coral reefs are probably the most endangered marine ecosystem on Earth” (Wilkinson 2008). According to the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network in 2008 (Wilkinson 2008), the world has effectively lost 19% of coral reefs, 15% are seriously threatened with loss in the next 10–20 years, and 20% are under threat of loss in 20–40 years. Coral reefs are tropical, shallow-water ecosystems primarily restricted to the low latitudes between 30°N and 30°S. Globally, they are far more abundant and have higher biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific Region from eastern Africa and the Red Sea to the central Pacific. Second in worldwide distribution and diversity is the Western Atlantic Region, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Recent evidence indicates a definite, consistent, 17 Coral Reef Management and Conservation in the Southern Gulf of Mexico John W. Tunnell Jr. and Ernesto A. Chávez 306 ~ Tunnell and Chávez shore (Tunnell 1992, 2007). In contrast to the southwestern Gulf, southeastern Gulf reefs are in a semiarid climate , surrounded by oceanic Caribbean waters from the Yucatan Channel, and are not affected by mainland drainage . Unlike other regional, low-energy coastal areas such as the Florida Keys and Belize, where mangroves line the shoreline and seagrasses predominate as submarine vegetation nearshore with scattered patch reefs, the southern Gulf reefs are scattered across the continental shelf. Shoreline areas of the mainland are moderate-energy sandy beaches or rocky shores (volcanic) in the southwestern Gulf and low-energy sandy beaches or rocky shores (limestone ) in the southeastern Gulf. The southwestern Gulf coral reefs are clustered in 2 systems, each within 2 subgroups: the Tuxpan Reef System (TRS) and the Veracruz Reef System (VRS). To the north are 6 emergent platform reefs in the TRS with 3 grouped off Cabo Rojo and 3 northeast of Tuxpan. Isla de Lobos Reef is the only one in the TRS that has an island and consequently is the best known because the island has served as an adequate base camp for extended expeditions Reef Distribution Forty-six named coral reefs exist in the southern Gulf of Mexico: 31 in the southwestern Gulf off the state of Veracruz (Veracruz Shelf Reefs, VSR), and 15 in the southeastern Gulf on Campeche Bank (Campeche Bank Reefs, CBR) (Table 17.1, Fig. 17.2; Tunnell 2007). Other named and unnamed shoals and banks are yet to be explored, which likely...

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