Abstract Summary
Tropical cyclones can cause a wide variety of damage to the reef ranging from mild, partial damage and even total damage that includes death of many organisms. Hard corals most affected by hurricanes and tropical storms in the Mexican Caribbean are Acropora palmata, Acropora cervicornis, and some boulder species. These species are key in coastal protection. Without any intervention, broken coral colonies can be dragged by the current and swell, and buried under the sediment, suffer tissue loss, abrasion and further damage. If rehabilitation response actions are performed immediately after a cyclone, the risk of subsequent damage to the impacted corals is reduced. These actions include removing debris from disaster generated by the cyclone; right and secure overturned and dislodged boulders; reattach broken fragments; stabilize structural fractures; unearth buried colonies; and secure loose rubble. The success of the timely response to such event is essential to initiate the process of restoring the function and structure in the reef and to enhance subsequent restoration efforts. Given that Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, located in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is an area with a high incidence of tropical cyclones, a practical protocol has been designed to respond immediately to these events. The Early Warning and Immediate Response Protocol aims to guide park managers and response brigades on the actions that must be considered before, during and after a tropical cyclone, in order to minimize the impact on coral reefs.
