Checklist of invertebrates and conspicuous fishes in rocky reefs and Sargassum beds in the North Pacific of Costa Rica

Introduction: The marine biodiversity is well known in some areas and for some marine ecosystems of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The marine sector of Área de Conservación Guanacaste, in the North Pacific of the country, is a priority area for conservation of marine and coastal biodiversity. Objective: Our aim was to increase the knowledge of marine biodiversity in a conservation priority site in Costa Rica and in poorly or scarcely studied marine ecosystems, such as rocky reefs and Sargassum beds, respectively. Methods: The study was conducted in Bahía Salinas and Golfo de Santa Elena in 2013. In January, four rocky reefs were visited; while in February three rocky reefs and one Sargassum bed were visited. We identified the macroinvertebrates and conspicuous fish species through underwater visual census methods (timed swim and band transects). The mean density of each species was estimated through band transects method. Results: A total of 25 invertebrates and 34 fish species were identified. We found a high number of species of invertebrates (23) and fish species (33) in rocky reefs, but few species on Sargassum beds (eight invertebrates and ten fish species). Species composition differed between marine ecosystems. Conclusions: Our study further evidence the limited knowledge of invertebrates and fish communities in these marine ecosystems in the North Pacific of Costa Rica. Considerably more surveys and field work are required to support management decisions that are backed by sound scientific knowledge.

Introducción: La biodiversidad marina es bien conocida en algunas áreas y para algunos ecosistemas marinos de la costa Pacífica de Costa Rica. El sector marino del Área de Conservación Guanacaste, en el Pacífico norte del país, es un área prioritaria para la conservación de la biodiversidad marina y costera. Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo fue el de incrementar el conocimiento de la biodiversidad marina en un sitio prioritario de conservación de Costa Rica y en ecosistemas marinos poco o nulamente estudiados, como son los arrecifes rocosos y mantos de Sargassum, respectivamente. Métodos: El estudio se realizó en Bahía Salinas y Golfo de Santa Elena en el 2013. En enero, cuatro arrecifes rocosos fueron visitados; mientras que en febrero tres arrecifes rocosos y un manto de Sargassum fueron visitados. Identificamos las especies de invertebrados y peces conspicuos a través métodos de censos visuales submarinos (buceos cronometrados y transectos de banda). La densidad promedio de cada especie se estimó mediante el método de transectos de banda. Resultados: Se registró un total de 25 invertebrados y 34 especies de peces. Encontramos un mayor número de especies de invertebrados (23) y peces (33) en los arrecifes rocosos, pero pocas especies en el manto de Sargassum (ocho especies de invertebrados y diez de peces). La composición de especies difirió entre ecosistemas marinos. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio evidencia el limitado conocimiento de las comunidades de invertebrados y peces en estos ecosistemas marinos en el Pacífico Norte de Costa Rica. Considerablemente más encuestas y trabajo de campo son requeridos para apoyar decisiones de manejo que sean respaldados por conocimientos científicos solidos.

An interdisciplinary evaluation of community-based TURF-reserves.

Coastal marine ecosystems provide livelihoods for small-scale fishers and coastal communities around the world. Small-scale fisheries face great challenges since they are difficult to monitor, enforce, and manage, which may lead to overexploitation. Combining territorial use rights for fisheries (TURF) with no-take marine reserves to create TURF-reserves can improve the performance of small-scale fisheries by buffering fisheries from environmental variability and management errors, while ensuring that fishers reap the benefits of conservation investments. Since 2012, 18 old and new community-based Mexican TURF-reserves gained legal recognition thanks to a regulation passed in 2012; their effectiveness has not been formally evaluated. We combine causal inference techniques and the Social-Ecological Systems framework to provide a holistic evaluation of community-based TURF-reserves in three coastal communities in Mexico. We find that, overall, reserves have not yet achieved their stated goals of increasing the density of lobster and other benthic invertebrates, nor increasing lobster catches. A lack of clear ecological and socioeconomic effects likely results from a combination of factors. First, some of these reserves might be too young for the effects to show (reserves were 6-10 years old). Second, the reserves are not large enough to protect mobile species, like lobster. Third, variable and extreme oceanographic conditions have impacted harvested populations. Fourth, local fisheries are already well managed, and while reserves may protect populations within its boundaries, it is unlikely that reserves might have a detectable effect in catches. However, even small reserves are expected to provide benefits for sedentary invertebrates over longer time frames, with continued protection. These reserves may provide a foundation for establishing additional, larger marine reserves needed to effectively conserve mobile species.

A user-friendly tool to evaluate the effectiveness of no-take marine reserves.

Marine reserves are implemented to achieve a variety of objectives, but are seldom rigorously evaluated to determine whether those objectives are met. In the rare cases when evaluations do take place, they typically focus on ecological indicators and ignore other relevant objectives such as socioeconomics and governance. And regardless of the objectives, the diversity of locations, monitoring protocols, and analysis approaches hinder the ability to compare results across case studies. Moreover, analysis and evaluation of reserves is generally conducted by outside researchers, not the reserve managers or users, plausibly thereby hindering effective local management and rapid response to change. We present a framework and tool, called "MAREA", to overcome these challenges. Its purpose is to evaluate the extent to which any given reserve has achieved its stated objectives. MAREA provides specific guidance on data collection and formatting, and then conducts rigorous causal inference analysis based on data input by the user, providing real-time outputs about the effectiveness of the reserve. MAREA's ease of use, standardization of state-of-the-art inference methods, and ability to analyze marine reserve effectiveness across ecological, socioeconomic, and governance objectives could dramatically further our understanding and support of effective marine reserve management.