'%Healthy Reefs for Healthy People - A Guide to Indicators of Reef Health and Social Well-being in the Mesoamerican Reef Region%'%by Melanie McField and Patricia Kramer%

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Usefulne s s

Usefulness

reef. Average sedimentation rates were approximately

4 - 11 mg/cm2/day, although a maximum of 58 mg/

Sedimentation rate data are fairly easy and inexpensive

cm2/day was recorded in one sediment trap. High

to collect using basic lab equipment. Data collection

variability was also noted among the ten traps during

and analysis require a moderate investment of time.

each sample period, possibly related to their proximity

to highly trafficked areas along the regular snorkeling

Sedimentation data can be especially useful when

routes35.

used to monitor for effects of a specific activity

Data

Data Needs

(e.g., dredging operation, shrimp trawling, high-

volume snorkeling or diving activity). The sampling

No regional data are available at present. We

design should include both impact and control sites

recommend establishing a meta-database of all such

(unaffected but physically similar sites) and should

data collected in the MAR, possibly through the MBRS

be initiated before the activity begins and continue

Synoptic Monitoring website.

at least several months after the activity ends (for

periodic events like dredging or pier construction).

Some site-level data should be available, although

Status

St atus

there is little such information in readily accessible

publications. Some sedimentation rate data have

A variety of different monitoring sites are needed to

been collected through the MBRS SMP and several

provide representative data on sedimentation rates

other groups. A regional synthesis and meta-analysis

in the MAR. However, some insight into the variability

of these existing data would be useful. Additional

of these data within one site (the Hol Chan Marine

study sites and a longer time-series of data are likely

Reserve, in Belize) is illustrated by a small study

needed to establish regional reference values.

(covering four 2-week intervals of measurement in

Data from sedimentation and resuspension studies

1992).

should be analyzed in conjunction with complementary

Ten sediment traps were deployed around the highly

water transparency data.

visited reef near the channel and in the adjacent back

Melanie McField / WWF

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