Proyecto Tres Golfos (P3G) is an integration of new and existing CariMar research lines around a central theme of the conservation of marine species and habitats connected along the largest and highly productive three gulfs in Cuba, on its the southern and northwestern coasts. The multi-year research plan combines basic research of patterns and processes (e.g. map of biotopes, species diversity, genetic connectivity, historical ecology) with conservation targets such as ecosystem health, threats, education, and the enforcement and enhancement of marine protected areas. Gathering such a large-scale, comprehensive ecological picture of this region has not been attempted before. However understanding the patterns of connectivity within and among these ecosystems is paramount for more accurate predictions of future ecological change in the southern and western regions of Cuba.
We are working in the three largest enclosed marine ecosystems on the southern and western coasts: Golfo de Batabanó (GB), Golfo de Ana María (GAM) and Golfo de Guanahacabibes (GG). A major research cruise to the Gulf of Guanahacabibes took place with CIM and CariMar scientists in May/June 2014.
We are working in the three largest enclosed marine ecosystems on the southern and western coasts: Golfo de Batabanó (GB), Golfo de Ana María (GAM) and Golfo de Guanahacabibes (GG). A major research cruise to the Gulf of Guanahacabibes took place with CIM and CariMar scientists in May/June 2014.
The P3G research plan combines basic research of patterns and processes with conservation targets such as ecosystem health, threats, education, and the enforcement and enhancement of marine protected areas. Special emphasis will be given to ensuring Cuban scientists are being trained in cutting edge protocols introduced by CariMar, WHOI and UMD, further building the capacity of Cuban marine scientists. WHOI and UMD’s objective to study water column and coral-associated microbial communities is a new component of P3G.
The specific research objectives of the P3G involve:
1. Diversity patterns at the regional scale (species richness, abundance, distribution, turnover diversity) for corals, fish, invertebrates and microorganisms
2. Reef water microbial biogeochemistry and functioning, and how the seawater microbial biogeochemistry of the gulfs differs within and between gulfs and between Cuban and Florida Keys reefs
3. Tracking and comparing historical land-use inputs and other anthropogenic effects to Cuban reefs using stable isotopes from coral cores; climatic reconstructions using coral geochemical proxies from coral cores
4. Genetic connectivity of populations across several taxa along the three gulfs (e.g., stony corals, fish, microbial communities)
5. Relative assessment index of habitat health across the gulfs (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves)
6. Population parameters of key threatened or endangered species such as sharks and groupers
WHOI Collaboration Brings New Research Techniques
The collaboration with WHOI/UMD, made possible by CariMar, is bringing new methods in Cuba to investigate how the microbial loop functions on healthy reefs as compared to degraded ones. They are interested in what processes drive the microbial loop in Cuba and compare these to their findings in the Florida Keys. WHOI will work with CIM scientists to integrate measurements of reef water biogeochemistry and microbial functioning into their current research framework. Analyses will focus on processes preformed by planktonic protists, bacteria and archaea. Microbes evolve rapidly and can show signatures of the recent past and present conditions - and are therefore could be an important indicator of reef health. WHOI is also interested in examining the identity and identifying the location of bacteria within corals using microscopy.
The specific research objectives of the P3G involve:
1. Diversity patterns at the regional scale (species richness, abundance, distribution, turnover diversity) for corals, fish, invertebrates and microorganisms
2. Reef water microbial biogeochemistry and functioning, and how the seawater microbial biogeochemistry of the gulfs differs within and between gulfs and between Cuban and Florida Keys reefs
3. Tracking and comparing historical land-use inputs and other anthropogenic effects to Cuban reefs using stable isotopes from coral cores; climatic reconstructions using coral geochemical proxies from coral cores
4. Genetic connectivity of populations across several taxa along the three gulfs (e.g., stony corals, fish, microbial communities)
5. Relative assessment index of habitat health across the gulfs (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves)
6. Population parameters of key threatened or endangered species such as sharks and groupers
WHOI Collaboration Brings New Research Techniques
The collaboration with WHOI/UMD, made possible by CariMar, is bringing new methods in Cuba to investigate how the microbial loop functions on healthy reefs as compared to degraded ones. They are interested in what processes drive the microbial loop in Cuba and compare these to their findings in the Florida Keys. WHOI will work with CIM scientists to integrate measurements of reef water biogeochemistry and microbial functioning into their current research framework. Analyses will focus on processes preformed by planktonic protists, bacteria and archaea. Microbes evolve rapidly and can show signatures of the recent past and present conditions - and are therefore could be an important indicator of reef health. WHOI is also interested in examining the identity and identifying the location of bacteria within corals using microscopy.