Coral reefs under fire

Antonius, Arnfried; Weiner, Arthur

Compared the health of coral reefs in the Virgin Islands (including Virgin Islands National Park and Buck Island Reef National Monument) with reefs off the east end of Puerto Rico which are in a bombing range. Found damage from bombs was negligible compared with damage from storms and humans. The coral reefs at the U.S. Navy bombing range at eastern Vieques (Puerto Rico) were compared to very similar reefs at the U.S. Virgin Islands which are under no military impact. Over 10 km of 1m-interval point-transects were recorded in the Viequen reefs, and over 6 km in the Virgin Islands. 14 categories of substrate (including military debris) were distinguished, as well as over 50 species of benthic plants and animals. Diseased and dead animals were assessed, and also coral breakage and military impact. In terms of health, the Viequen reefs (1% diseased, 9% dead animals) were found to be superior to those of the Virgin Islands ( 4% diseased, 15 % dead), coral breakage was less in Vieques (13%) than in the Virgin Islands (15% ), and sample points representing military impact were only 14 out of almost 5000 ( = 0%) in Vieques. Thus, no deterioration due to military activity could be detected in the eastern Viequen coral reefs. On the contrary, they seem to benefit from the complete absence of tourism in the area.

Coral reefs under fire

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