Kathleen Sullivan Sealey is a marine biologist, researcher and conservationist focused in the Caribbean for past 45 years. She spends most of time thinking about how to restore or mitigate the damage that people have done to our coasts
Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and oc... more Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and occurs at a faster rate than population growth. This paper develops the hypothesis that modern financial instruments and the creation of tools that increase reliance on debt have the undesirable consequences of runaway land-use change, particularly in residential home construction. After reviewing the factors leading to increased housing development and land use change, the paper elucidates the role of modern financial instruments in driving rapid land conversion. The theory is based upon accounting of sources and uses of capital. Financial innovations, especially in credit creation and trading through global capital markets, can help explain the link between land-use change and finance. Available data from a study of modern real estate development supports the role of financial debt as the primary driver for land use change in South Florida. The mechanisms behind development financing address key policies and practices that have led to unsustainable land cover change. We encourage work on land-use change that focuses on a better understanding of the mechanisms linking land developers to financial markets, and cross-disciplinary research that recognizes linkages between financial innovations and ecological health, and that leads to the development of better policies.
The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using ... more The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using a combination of visual survey techniques including transects and roving diver surveys. It was found that when combined, both methods provided a more complete overall species assessment than either method was able to provide in isolation. Being able to conduct rapid species assessments is becoming increasingly more important as a conservation tool. Data on species composition , sighting frequency, and abundance of all fishes were collected using both methods. Abundance was recorded in four logarithmic-based categories (roving diver method) while the number of fishes were counted within 40-m 2 transects (transect method). Both methods were similar in recording the most abundant species, while a greater number of rare species (especially fishery-targeted species) were recorded with the roving diver method. The most abundant groupers were Cephalo-pholis cruentata and C. fulva. The most abundant parrotfishes were Scarus taeniopterus, Sparisoma auro-frenatum, and Scarus iserti. The most conspicuous differences between fishes off southeastern Hispaniola and elsewhere in the tropical western Atlantic were the low abundance and smaller size of harvested species such as groupers, snappers (Fam. Lutjanidae), and grunts (Fam. Haemulidae). With the roving diver method, more time could be spent surveying (instead of placing transect lines), resulting in a greater number of species being recorded. Additionally, well-trained volunteers can adopt the roving diver method as part of their regular diving program. Transect surveys were able to provide information such as length (biomass) and actual density measures that were not recorded in roving diver surveys. Thus, these methods were complementary and should be used in conjunction when conducting rapid assessments of fish assemblages, especially to detect the effects of overfishing.
ABSTRACT There was a significant inshore to offshore pattern in grouper species composition and d... more ABSTRACT There was a significant inshore to offshore pattern in grouper species composition and density on Florida Keys coral reefs. Red grouper Epinephelus morio and black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci were most abundant on inshore patch reefs. Graysby Cephalopholis cruentata was most abundant on offshore reef types. Density among sites ranged from 0 to 0·43, 0 to 0·26 and 0 to 1·23 100 m−2 for red grouper, black grouper, and graysby, respectively. Grouper density exhibited no consistency among sites within similar reef types. The densities of red and black grouper were correlated significantly with either physical or biotic habitat parameters. Graysby were observed in microhabitats with whose benthic features differed significantly from the surrounding habitat. This species was observed in high-relief areas with significantly less octocoral species and colony densities. Larger graysby were observed in areas of higher relief and less octocorals than smaller graysby. Habitat was one of several important factors influencing the distribution of groupers among coral reefs types in the Florida Keys.
We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major isla... more We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major islands of The Bahamas to determine the effects of various environmental features on benthic flora assemblages. Assemblages were analyzed at species and functional group levels of resolution. Multivariate analyses indicated that each island hosted a very distinct assemblage. Island-specific differences were ob- served along north-south and east-west gradients, suggesting that climate, geomorphology, and oceanogra- phy may play a fundamental role in shaping coastal benthic flora assemblages. Wave energy and substrate significantly affected the occurrences and/or abundances of benthic flora at Eleuthera and North Andros sites, with responses most often detected at the species level. The abundances of functional groups varied among different islands and, within North Andros, among different substrate and wave energy levels. Coastal terrestrial features related to nutrient and sediment regulatio...
Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and oc... more Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and occurs at a faster rate than population growth. This paper develops the hypothesis that modern financial instruments and the creation of tools that increase reliance on debt have the undesirable consequences of runaway land-use change, particularly in residential home construction. After reviewing the factors leading to increased housing development and land use change, the paper elucidates the role of modern financial instruments in driving rapid land conversion. The theory is based upon accounting of sources and uses of capital. Financial innovations, especially in credit creation and trading through global capital markets, can help explain the link between land-use change and finance. Available data from a study of modern real estate development supports the role of financial debt as the primary driver for land use change in South Florida. The mechanisms behind development financing address key policies and practices that have led to unsustainable land cover change. We encourage work on land-use change that focuses on a better understanding of the mechanisms linking land developers to financial markets, and cross-disciplinary research that recognizes linkages between financial innovations and ecological health, and that leads to the development of better policies.
Back reef environments present a particular challenge in terms of characterization and management... more Back reef environments present a particular challenge in terms of characterization and management. Shallow near shore and lagoonal habitats associated with reef systems are the first areas to be impacted by land-based sources of pollutants and disturbances, defined as “stressors”. Stressors are a link in the chain of events that lead to environmental change or “phase shifts” in natural systems. Stressors as “damaging stimuli” need to be defined in terms of thresholds for both populations of organisms, and ecological communities. Stressors alter the abundance and dynamics of individual populations of organisms, and thus impact the community structure and function. Microbial communities are key to processing nutrients and pollutants from land-based sources, but poorly characterized. The effects of changes in microbial communities usually go unnoticed until visual signs of change occur in macro-organisms (death, disease or a shift in predominate species). Because microbial communities have a major influence on the transformation of nutrients as well as a protective influence, short-term stressors often can result in latent changes in larger back reef communities. The most notable changes in back reef environments from stressors include: 1) Changes in coastal species abundance and diversity (including local extirpation), 2) Changes in natural community structure, 3) Changes in coastal water quality (or the dynamic” habitat), and 4) Changes associated with exotic species invasion. Advances in technologies and research have facilitated the detection of stressors and stress responses. Recent researches in stable isotopes signatures as indicators of nutrient flux across the land-sea interface have helped identify eutrophication sources. Detection of pathogens, advances in microbial ecology (genetic probes), and disease ecology, bleaching and pollutant studies (e.g. pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals) have helped identify chronic stressors to back reef systems. Historical ecology and studies of long-term environmental change remain key to understanding the nature of change and chronic degradation of complex coastal systems. Although we understand the basic ecology of tropical marine systems in a general sense, researchers need to initiate programs to look at integrated processes across the shoreline, particularly in terms of ecosystem function in back reef environments.
We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas... more We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas. To this end we use the physical characteristics of a set of synthetically generated storms to estimate local wind and storm surge exposure and couple with these damage functions. Employing these to a unique set of properties on the island of Great Exuma we then calculate out likely losses, in terms of loss of real estate value as well as potential income, due to the storms. Our analysis suggests that while annual expected losses are small, this disguises low probability storms that could cause considerable damage. Moreover, we find that most of the losses are due to storm surge rather than strong winds. This may be particularly important for low-lying islands like The Bahamas facing future challenges of sea-level rise.
Three methods of evaluating stony coral com munities were used on selected reefs in the Exuma Ca... more Three methods of evaluating stony coral com munities were used on selected reefs in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (24°22', 77°30'W) in the central Bahamas. Shallow reefs (< 4 meters depth) were selected from aerial surveys based on size, location, and physical setting, and grouped into three community types: (1) channel patch reefs, (2) soft-coral-sponge patch reefs and (3) fringing reefs. Marine Parks play a critical role as research and reference sites in the study of coral reefs under protection and minimal disturbance. Three survey techniques used to evaluate the stony coral communities were a) species presence and absence lists, b) linear percentage and c) line transects using 1m x 1 m grids. Data collected from these survey methods was used to calculate coral colony density, species area coverage, and species diversity based on colony number and based on linear (em) coral cover. The linear percentage sampling was considered too conserva tive in determining distribution patterns of a reef community; this technique takes into account the massive reef framework species such as M. annularis. The line transect technique can account for both colony number and area coverage, thus is a better method for characterizing reef communities. Sample size considerations are discussed for future applications of survey techniques for ground-truthing digital images of small, shallow reef communities.
With the expanding exploration and transportation of petroleum products through Bahamian waters, ... more With the expanding exploration and transportation of petroleum products through Bahamian waters, a growing gap in coastal protection is an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping dataset of the entire archipelago. The resources required for coastal classification, ranking, and GIS mapping for one island, Great Exuma, are documented as a costeffective methodology to protect all Bahamian shorelines. The ESI mapping follows international conventions for oil spill response planning, but because of the lack of a national coastal management structure, a relational database was developed to bring together field photographs, geology, and wildlife occurrence information to initiate the mapping process. The final product for Great Exuma was 13 ESI maps for one island environs, each map covering about 120 square km. The ESI mapping requires three types of expertise: (1) GIS (ESRI ArcMap 10.2) and relational database (Microsoft Access) expertise; (2) coastal ecology and geomorphology expertise; and (3) local resource management and natural history expertise. After initial field work of 14 days on the island, the GIS and coastal classification datasets required about 5 weeks for compilation. The datasets are dynamic and can be updated as new information becomes available. The ESI maps and coastal classification database are easily shared and revised moving forward. The process could be facilitated by the participation of citizen scientists to contribute photographs and local reports on status and changes to coastal resources. The overall ESI mapping product can provide a valuable management tool not only for oil spill response but for better integrated coastal zone management.
Abstract Invasive species may exhibit higher levels
of growth and reproduction when environmental... more Abstract Invasive species may exhibit higher levels of growth and reproduction when environmental conditions are most suitable, and thus their effects on native fauna may be intensified. Understanding potential impacts of these species, especially in the nascent stages of a biological invasion, requires critical information concerning spatial and temporal distributions of habitat suitability. Using empirically supported environmental variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), our models predicted habitat suitability for the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a platformfor themodeling process allowed us to quantify correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in the above variables and the spatial distribution of five discrete habitat quality classes, whose ranges are supported by statistical deviations from the apparent best conditions described in prior studies. Analysis of the resulting models revealed little fluctuation in spatial extent of the five habitat classes on a monthly basis. Class 5, which represented the area with environmental variables closest to the best conditions for lionfish, occupied approximately one-third of Biscayne Bay, with subsequent habitats declining in area.Akey finding from this study was that habitat suitability increased eastward from the coastline, where higher quality habitats were adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and displayed marine levels of ambient water quality. Corroboration of the models with sightings from the USGS-NAS database appeared to support our findings by nesting 79 % of values within habitat class 5; however, field testing (i.e., lionfish surveys) is necessary to confirm the relationship between habitat classes and lionfish distribution.
The ability for small islands to meet sustainability goals is exacerbated by the costs of transpo... more The ability for small islands to meet sustainability goals is exacerbated by the costs of transporting goods on, and then, wastes off the islands. At small scales, recycling can be prohibitive and complicated by labor costs; the need to profitably recycle and manage solid waste output from tourism is complicated by scale and available technologies. A multi-year study documents the amount of solid waste generated on Great Exuma (Exuma), The Commonwealth of The Bahamas since 2010 with one year of benchmarking, then limited recycling of food waste generation by an all-inclusive resort, Sandals Emerald Bay (SEB). For the island of Exuma, the rapid increase in the rate of accumulation of solid waste associated with a large destination resort has led to an increase in pests such as rats and flies, along with an increased occurrence of fires associated with unburied solid waste. Solid waste has accumulated faster than the island solid waste management can absorb. SEB kitchen and hotel operations contributes an estimated 36% of all solid waste generated on the island, about 1752 t1 out of a total of 4841 t generated on the island in 2013 (exclusive of vegetation waste). Based on 4 weeks of benchmarking, 48.5% of all the waste coming out of the SEB resort is compostable, organic waste, but waste composition varies widely over time. Exuma Waste Management (EWM) and Recycle Exuma (RE), both privately-held Bahamian businesses, worked for one year (2012–2013) with SEB resort to implement a benchmarking and pilot recycling project to meet Earth Check green resort certification requirements. This paper outlines the costs and resources required for food waste recycling and some barriers to implementing more effective solid waste management for the tourism industry on small islands.
The British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos
Islands lies at the southern end of the Ba... more The British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands lies at the southern end of the Bahamian archipelago in the tropical north-west Atlantic between 21° and 22°N and 71° and 72° 30″ W (Fig. 9.1 ) The territory itself is made up of three separate carbonate bank systems: the Caicos Bank, the Turks Island Bank and the Mouchoir Bank.
Caribbean archaeologists have tended to focus exclusively on the prehistory of the largest island... more Caribbean archaeologists have tended to focus exclusively on the prehistory of the largest islands, perhaps because large islands are believed to provide the landmass necessary to support long-term population growth and cultural development. Yet, as research here and elsewhere, e.g., the Pacific, is showing, small islands provided access to resources and landscapes that were not always readily available on the larger islands. Small islands often have superior terrestrial and, especially, marine resources; isolated ritual spaces; and more easily defended locations; although they are susceptible to more rapid overexploitation. This paper examines in detail human needs with regard to island size, demonstrating that small islands were crucial in the development of pre-Columbian Caribbean societies. Four case studies are presented to illustrate that small islands often were preferred over large islands throughout the Caribbean archipelagoes. Finally, these studies show that the prehistoric exploitation and overexploitation of small islands can provide significant insights for establishing baselines that can be used for modern management and conservation efforts.
Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and oc... more Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and occurs at a faster rate than population growth. This paper develops the hypothesis that modern financial instruments and the creation of tools that increase reliance on debt have the undesirable consequences of runaway land-use change, particularly in residential home construction. After reviewing the factors leading to increased housing development and land use change, the paper elucidates the role of modern financial instruments in driving rapid land conversion. The theory is based upon accounting of sources and uses of capital. Financial innovations, especially in credit creation and trading through global capital markets, can help explain the link between land-use change and finance. Available data from a study of modern real estate development supports the role of financial debt as the primary driver for land use change in South Florida. The mechanisms behind development financing address key policies and practices that have led to unsustainable land cover change. We encourage work on land-use change that focuses on a better understanding of the mechanisms linking land developers to financial markets, and cross-disciplinary research that recognizes linkages between financial innovations and ecological health, and that leads to the development of better policies.
The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using ... more The relatively little-studied fish fauna off southeastern Hispaniola was rapidly assessed using a combination of visual survey techniques including transects and roving diver surveys. It was found that when combined, both methods provided a more complete overall species assessment than either method was able to provide in isolation. Being able to conduct rapid species assessments is becoming increasingly more important as a conservation tool. Data on species composition , sighting frequency, and abundance of all fishes were collected using both methods. Abundance was recorded in four logarithmic-based categories (roving diver method) while the number of fishes were counted within 40-m 2 transects (transect method). Both methods were similar in recording the most abundant species, while a greater number of rare species (especially fishery-targeted species) were recorded with the roving diver method. The most abundant groupers were Cephalo-pholis cruentata and C. fulva. The most abundant parrotfishes were Scarus taeniopterus, Sparisoma auro-frenatum, and Scarus iserti. The most conspicuous differences between fishes off southeastern Hispaniola and elsewhere in the tropical western Atlantic were the low abundance and smaller size of harvested species such as groupers, snappers (Fam. Lutjanidae), and grunts (Fam. Haemulidae). With the roving diver method, more time could be spent surveying (instead of placing transect lines), resulting in a greater number of species being recorded. Additionally, well-trained volunteers can adopt the roving diver method as part of their regular diving program. Transect surveys were able to provide information such as length (biomass) and actual density measures that were not recorded in roving diver surveys. Thus, these methods were complementary and should be used in conjunction when conducting rapid assessments of fish assemblages, especially to detect the effects of overfishing.
ABSTRACT There was a significant inshore to offshore pattern in grouper species composition and d... more ABSTRACT There was a significant inshore to offshore pattern in grouper species composition and density on Florida Keys coral reefs. Red grouper Epinephelus morio and black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci were most abundant on inshore patch reefs. Graysby Cephalopholis cruentata was most abundant on offshore reef types. Density among sites ranged from 0 to 0·43, 0 to 0·26 and 0 to 1·23 100 m−2 for red grouper, black grouper, and graysby, respectively. Grouper density exhibited no consistency among sites within similar reef types. The densities of red and black grouper were correlated significantly with either physical or biotic habitat parameters. Graysby were observed in microhabitats with whose benthic features differed significantly from the surrounding habitat. This species was observed in high-relief areas with significantly less octocoral species and colony densities. Larger graysby were observed in areas of higher relief and less octocorals than smaller graysby. Habitat was one of several important factors influencing the distribution of groupers among coral reefs types in the Florida Keys.
We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major isla... more We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major islands of The Bahamas to determine the effects of various environmental features on benthic flora assemblages. Assemblages were analyzed at species and functional group levels of resolution. Multivariate analyses indicated that each island hosted a very distinct assemblage. Island-specific differences were ob- served along north-south and east-west gradients, suggesting that climate, geomorphology, and oceanogra- phy may play a fundamental role in shaping coastal benthic flora assemblages. Wave energy and substrate significantly affected the occurrences and/or abundances of benthic flora at Eleuthera and North Andros sites, with responses most often detected at the species level. The abundances of functional groups varied among different islands and, within North Andros, among different substrate and wave energy levels. Coastal terrestrial features related to nutrient and sediment regulatio...
Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and oc... more Land-use change in the United States is a significant factor in environmental degradation, and occurs at a faster rate than population growth. This paper develops the hypothesis that modern financial instruments and the creation of tools that increase reliance on debt have the undesirable consequences of runaway land-use change, particularly in residential home construction. After reviewing the factors leading to increased housing development and land use change, the paper elucidates the role of modern financial instruments in driving rapid land conversion. The theory is based upon accounting of sources and uses of capital. Financial innovations, especially in credit creation and trading through global capital markets, can help explain the link between land-use change and finance. Available data from a study of modern real estate development supports the role of financial debt as the primary driver for land use change in South Florida. The mechanisms behind development financing address key policies and practices that have led to unsustainable land cover change. We encourage work on land-use change that focuses on a better understanding of the mechanisms linking land developers to financial markets, and cross-disciplinary research that recognizes linkages between financial innovations and ecological health, and that leads to the development of better policies.
Back reef environments present a particular challenge in terms of characterization and management... more Back reef environments present a particular challenge in terms of characterization and management. Shallow near shore and lagoonal habitats associated with reef systems are the first areas to be impacted by land-based sources of pollutants and disturbances, defined as “stressors”. Stressors are a link in the chain of events that lead to environmental change or “phase shifts” in natural systems. Stressors as “damaging stimuli” need to be defined in terms of thresholds for both populations of organisms, and ecological communities. Stressors alter the abundance and dynamics of individual populations of organisms, and thus impact the community structure and function. Microbial communities are key to processing nutrients and pollutants from land-based sources, but poorly characterized. The effects of changes in microbial communities usually go unnoticed until visual signs of change occur in macro-organisms (death, disease or a shift in predominate species). Because microbial communities have a major influence on the transformation of nutrients as well as a protective influence, short-term stressors often can result in latent changes in larger back reef communities. The most notable changes in back reef environments from stressors include: 1) Changes in coastal species abundance and diversity (including local extirpation), 2) Changes in natural community structure, 3) Changes in coastal water quality (or the dynamic” habitat), and 4) Changes associated with exotic species invasion. Advances in technologies and research have facilitated the detection of stressors and stress responses. Recent researches in stable isotopes signatures as indicators of nutrient flux across the land-sea interface have helped identify eutrophication sources. Detection of pathogens, advances in microbial ecology (genetic probes), and disease ecology, bleaching and pollutant studies (e.g. pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals) have helped identify chronic stressors to back reef systems. Historical ecology and studies of long-term environmental change remain key to understanding the nature of change and chronic degradation of complex coastal systems. Although we understand the basic ecology of tropical marine systems in a general sense, researchers need to initiate programs to look at integrated processes across the shoreline, particularly in terms of ecosystem function in back reef environments.
We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas... more We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas. To this end we use the physical characteristics of a set of synthetically generated storms to estimate local wind and storm surge exposure and couple with these damage functions. Employing these to a unique set of properties on the island of Great Exuma we then calculate out likely losses, in terms of loss of real estate value as well as potential income, due to the storms. Our analysis suggests that while annual expected losses are small, this disguises low probability storms that could cause considerable damage. Moreover, we find that most of the losses are due to storm surge rather than strong winds. This may be particularly important for low-lying islands like The Bahamas facing future challenges of sea-level rise.
Three methods of evaluating stony coral com munities were used on selected reefs in the Exuma Ca... more Three methods of evaluating stony coral com munities were used on selected reefs in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park (24°22', 77°30'W) in the central Bahamas. Shallow reefs (< 4 meters depth) were selected from aerial surveys based on size, location, and physical setting, and grouped into three community types: (1) channel patch reefs, (2) soft-coral-sponge patch reefs and (3) fringing reefs. Marine Parks play a critical role as research and reference sites in the study of coral reefs under protection and minimal disturbance. Three survey techniques used to evaluate the stony coral communities were a) species presence and absence lists, b) linear percentage and c) line transects using 1m x 1 m grids. Data collected from these survey methods was used to calculate coral colony density, species area coverage, and species diversity based on colony number and based on linear (em) coral cover. The linear percentage sampling was considered too conserva tive in determining distribution patterns of a reef community; this technique takes into account the massive reef framework species such as M. annularis. The line transect technique can account for both colony number and area coverage, thus is a better method for characterizing reef communities. Sample size considerations are discussed for future applications of survey techniques for ground-truthing digital images of small, shallow reef communities.
With the expanding exploration and transportation of petroleum products through Bahamian waters, ... more With the expanding exploration and transportation of petroleum products through Bahamian waters, a growing gap in coastal protection is an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) mapping dataset of the entire archipelago. The resources required for coastal classification, ranking, and GIS mapping for one island, Great Exuma, are documented as a costeffective methodology to protect all Bahamian shorelines. The ESI mapping follows international conventions for oil spill response planning, but because of the lack of a national coastal management structure, a relational database was developed to bring together field photographs, geology, and wildlife occurrence information to initiate the mapping process. The final product for Great Exuma was 13 ESI maps for one island environs, each map covering about 120 square km. The ESI mapping requires three types of expertise: (1) GIS (ESRI ArcMap 10.2) and relational database (Microsoft Access) expertise; (2) coastal ecology and geomorphology expertise; and (3) local resource management and natural history expertise. After initial field work of 14 days on the island, the GIS and coastal classification datasets required about 5 weeks for compilation. The datasets are dynamic and can be updated as new information becomes available. The ESI maps and coastal classification database are easily shared and revised moving forward. The process could be facilitated by the participation of citizen scientists to contribute photographs and local reports on status and changes to coastal resources. The overall ESI mapping product can provide a valuable management tool not only for oil spill response but for better integrated coastal zone management.
Abstract Invasive species may exhibit higher levels
of growth and reproduction when environmental... more Abstract Invasive species may exhibit higher levels of growth and reproduction when environmental conditions are most suitable, and thus their effects on native fauna may be intensified. Understanding potential impacts of these species, especially in the nascent stages of a biological invasion, requires critical information concerning spatial and temporal distributions of habitat suitability. Using empirically supported environmental variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), our models predicted habitat suitability for the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a platformfor themodeling process allowed us to quantify correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in the above variables and the spatial distribution of five discrete habitat quality classes, whose ranges are supported by statistical deviations from the apparent best conditions described in prior studies. Analysis of the resulting models revealed little fluctuation in spatial extent of the five habitat classes on a monthly basis. Class 5, which represented the area with environmental variables closest to the best conditions for lionfish, occupied approximately one-third of Biscayne Bay, with subsequent habitats declining in area.Akey finding from this study was that habitat suitability increased eastward from the coastline, where higher quality habitats were adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and displayed marine levels of ambient water quality. Corroboration of the models with sightings from the USGS-NAS database appeared to support our findings by nesting 79 % of values within habitat class 5; however, field testing (i.e., lionfish surveys) is necessary to confirm the relationship between habitat classes and lionfish distribution.
The ability for small islands to meet sustainability goals is exacerbated by the costs of transpo... more The ability for small islands to meet sustainability goals is exacerbated by the costs of transporting goods on, and then, wastes off the islands. At small scales, recycling can be prohibitive and complicated by labor costs; the need to profitably recycle and manage solid waste output from tourism is complicated by scale and available technologies. A multi-year study documents the amount of solid waste generated on Great Exuma (Exuma), The Commonwealth of The Bahamas since 2010 with one year of benchmarking, then limited recycling of food waste generation by an all-inclusive resort, Sandals Emerald Bay (SEB). For the island of Exuma, the rapid increase in the rate of accumulation of solid waste associated with a large destination resort has led to an increase in pests such as rats and flies, along with an increased occurrence of fires associated with unburied solid waste. Solid waste has accumulated faster than the island solid waste management can absorb. SEB kitchen and hotel operations contributes an estimated 36% of all solid waste generated on the island, about 1752 t1 out of a total of 4841 t generated on the island in 2013 (exclusive of vegetation waste). Based on 4 weeks of benchmarking, 48.5% of all the waste coming out of the SEB resort is compostable, organic waste, but waste composition varies widely over time. Exuma Waste Management (EWM) and Recycle Exuma (RE), both privately-held Bahamian businesses, worked for one year (2012–2013) with SEB resort to implement a benchmarking and pilot recycling project to meet Earth Check green resort certification requirements. This paper outlines the costs and resources required for food waste recycling and some barriers to implementing more effective solid waste management for the tourism industry on small islands.
The British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos
Islands lies at the southern end of the Ba... more The British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands lies at the southern end of the Bahamian archipelago in the tropical north-west Atlantic between 21° and 22°N and 71° and 72° 30″ W (Fig. 9.1 ) The territory itself is made up of three separate carbonate bank systems: the Caicos Bank, the Turks Island Bank and the Mouchoir Bank.
Caribbean archaeologists have tended to focus exclusively on the prehistory of the largest island... more Caribbean archaeologists have tended to focus exclusively on the prehistory of the largest islands, perhaps because large islands are believed to provide the landmass necessary to support long-term population growth and cultural development. Yet, as research here and elsewhere, e.g., the Pacific, is showing, small islands provided access to resources and landscapes that were not always readily available on the larger islands. Small islands often have superior terrestrial and, especially, marine resources; isolated ritual spaces; and more easily defended locations; although they are susceptible to more rapid overexploitation. This paper examines in detail human needs with regard to island size, demonstrating that small islands were crucial in the development of pre-Columbian Caribbean societies. Four case studies are presented to illustrate that small islands often were preferred over large islands throughout the Caribbean archipelagoes. Finally, these studies show that the prehistoric exploitation and overexploitation of small islands can provide significant insights for establishing baselines that can be used for modern management and conservation efforts.
Hurricane Matthew not only destroyed homes and public infrastructure , but also accelerated the r... more Hurricane Matthew not only destroyed homes and public infrastructure , but also accelerated the rate of coastal erosion, dumped more trash, including plastics into the ocean, and increased the pollution loading to near shore marine habitats. The environmental impacts of hurricanes can be documented, and addressed through a national citizen science program. Community participation in coastal zone management can implement remediation and restoration based on storm impact data. This report outlines the major coastal impacts from Hurricane Matthew through a coastal ranking system. Coastal remediation recommendations are provided to show how to reduce hurricane impacts from future storms and build island resilience. Disaster response and recovery is a critical component to meet the challenges of island sustainability as outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The Hurricane Matthew Project illustrates how community partnerships can be part of a solution to identify and resolve coastal management issues.
Following the unprecedented passing of Hurricane Matthew, a team of scientists and students creat... more Following the unprecedented passing of Hurricane Matthew, a team of scientists and students created a project to assess the damage done by Hurricane Matthew to coastal communities on the most populous island of New Providence, The Bahamas. The Team conducted a rapid impact assessment to document damage from the hurricane to the coastal zone, looking specifically at developed and protected coastal environments along the southern and western coasts. The project produced maps showing the extent and severity of damage to use for future mitigation and monitoring. Hurricane impact maps created with citizen scientists create tools for data-driven policies and strategies for communities to inform rebuilding or relocating in the face of hurricane disasters.
Coastal development on small islands should be resilient to natural hazards such as flooding, as ... more Coastal development on small islands should be resilient to natural hazards such as flooding, as well as be designed to prevent damage to adjacent natural resources in the sea. Great Exuma is the most beautiful island in The Bahamas, and home to the largest natural harbor in the wider Caribbean, Elizabeth Harbour. Great Exuma, like all Bahamian islands, is low-lying with many coastal wetlands and small offshore cays and rocks that protect the shoreline from wave energy. Unfortunately, flooding from extreme rainfall events and storm surge can threaten poorly-planned development; coastal hazard risks are increasing in a period of sea-level rise and global warming. This report outlines three criteria for assessment of coastal development by examining Master Harbour as a case study.
The project hypothesis, developed through nearly two decades of research on reef fish and the st... more The project hypothesis, developed through nearly two decades of research on reef fish and the structure of reef habitats in the Bahamas, is that coastal development increases movement of nutrients and pollutants from the land into the sea. This impacts the diversity of near shore marine habitats, which in turn decreases the integrity of these habitats and, for example, their ability to support important fisheries populations. In short, human activities in the coastal zone of small islands place a heavy toll on ecosystem health.
It is possible to develop a flood vulnerability model, which reflects expressed concerns
about fl... more It is possible to develop a flood vulnerability model, which reflects expressed concerns about flooding, by factoring in elevation, substrate type, and infrastructure exposure. With the current state of global climate change and sea level rise, it is more important than ever to determine areas of vulnerability to flooding in SIDS. Sustainable development requires long- term plans that take into account the increasing flood vulnerability over the next century. Storms and flood damage can be costly, and require years for recovery on islands; the best plan of action is to plan for flood resilience, and a flood-resistant infrastructure. The creation of flood vulnerability models will help determine the best areas for development and contribute to managing the coastline. Coastal management is a paramount issue in SIDS because of the states’ dependence on the ocean for economic as well as natural resources.
The invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish to Bahamian waters raises considerable concern due to t... more The invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish to Bahamian waters raises considerable concern due to the uncertainty of its ecological impacts and its potential threats to commercial fisheries, tourism and human safety. Lionfish have been reported throughout the archipelago and are the focus of several research and monitoring initiatives. The Bahamas has a National Invasive Species Strategic Plan, but marine invasions require unique partnerships for small islands developing states to develop realistic management goals and actions. The Government of The Bahamas has limited funds to address major resource management issues; hence, collaboration with non-governmental agencies and tertiary education institutions is imperative. The establishment and spread of lionfish has created a novel opportunity for the formation of innovative public-private partnerships to address the ecological, economic and social impacts of biological invasions.
Biological invasions include both human and nonhuman
mediated forms of dispersal in which an exot... more Biological invasions include both human and nonhuman mediated forms of dispersal in which an exotic or non-native species successfully arrives, survives and reproduces in a novel locality and then rapidly spreads throughout a region. On the one hand, species that disperse without the aid of humans into an area where they were not previously found are referred to as range expansions. On the other hand, species that have been released outside of their native range and have spread due to human activity are referred to as species introductions (Carlton, 1989). The recent invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans*) throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, including The Bahamas, is generally considered to be the result of several species introductions associated with both the intentional and unintentional release of specimens from private aquariums followed by the natural dispersal process (Hare and Whitfield, 2003; Ruiz-Carus et. al., 2006).
Presentation on Lionfish Response Planning - 2008 given by Nicola Smith (Now at Simon Fraser Univ... more Presentation on Lionfish Response Planning - 2008 given by Nicola Smith (Now at Simon Fraser University, BC completing her doctorate)
In The Bahamas, there are no on-going monitoring programmes that track the status of spiny lobste... more In The Bahamas, there are no on-going monitoring programmes that track the status of spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) recruitment, population dynamics or spawning activity in either the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) or fishing grounds. Spiny lobsters are both a key commercial fishery target species and an essential component of tropical marine ecosystems responsible for nutrient recycling. Spiny lobsters are fast-growing, fecund, as well as feeding and habitat generalists (Davis and Dodrill 1989); lobsters have great potential for sustainable fishery yields. However, even the spiny lobster requires management across the over 100,000 square kilometers of shallow water marine ecosystems of the Bahamian archipelago. Coastal ecosystems around the globe have been impacted by a combination of land-base sources of pollution, habitat destruction, over-fishing and invasive alien species; the Bahamian archipelago is no exception (Jackson et al.2001). Yet, there are no systematic assessments of habitat loss or trends in spiny lobster populations in the country other than stock assessments based on fisheries-dependent data (landings). Overfishing has been identified as a leading ecological and socio-economic problem for marine systems, including the Bahamian archipelago (See Worm et al. 2005 and Worm et al. 2009). Understanding and protecting spiny lobster populations within The Bahamas requires a comprehensive assessment of populations in fished and unfished (MPAs) areas of the archipelago. Finding areas not impacted by fishing, and appropriate to monitor to understand fishing impact is difficult due to the lack of established MPAs to serve as control areas (Pauley et al 1998; Roberts et al.2001). The lack of large areas that have not been fished for years to decades are limited in a young country such as the Bahamas1. In addition, there is limited historical baseline information on spiny lobsters, with more research needed on the impact of lobster fishing contrasting the various methods of fishing used in the country. Fishing methods used for commercial and recreational lobster fisheries include, listed by order of importance: Condos or “casitas” put out by fishers across sandy open areas of the Bahama Banks to attract and aggregate lobsters; Spearing with surface supplied air (hookah), and Baited traps. Within The Bahamas, there are two types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can replenish spiny lobster stocks: National Parks managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and marine replenishment reserves managed by the Department of Marine Resources. The collective MPAs can offer the opportunity to look at a range of biological characteristics to help inform both the stock assessment of spiny lobster (e.g., density of animals equivalent to virgin biomass, natural mortality and growth rates) as well as the ecological impacts of fishing (e.g., use of “casitas” or condos on benthic habitats vs. MPA habitat). Not all National Parks within The Bahamas include a marine component nor have “no take” zones. A list of the pertinent MPAs for spiny lobster populations is discussed. Figures 1 and 2 provide maps of The Bahamas illustrating the spatial distribution of national parks (Figure 1) and marine replenishment preserves (Figure 2).
This report is not exhaustive, but aims to highlight the most important areas of IUU fishing in ... more This report is not exhaustive, but aims to highlight the most important areas of IUU fishing in the Bahamian lobster fishery that require attention to move the MSC certification process forward. The goal was to provide an assessment particularly for illegal and unreported spiny lobster fishing in national waters. The “benchmark” used in this assessment was the known export of 5.2 million pounds of lobster tails (this translates into 12.5 million individual lobsters). These 5.2 million pounds of exported lobster is based on a four-year average from 2005-2008, provided by the Department of Marine Resource Management, Government of The Bahamas1. The value of the Bahamian lobster fishery can be estimated at near $100 million dollars in terms of export, employment and in-country tourism2. Table 1 provides a summary of the current exports of lobsters and estimated IUU fishing from in-country recreational fishers, commercial fishers, and foreign fishing vessels operating in The Bahamas to determine the total biomass of lobsters taken from Bahamian waters. Illegal and unreported catches are the current uncertainties in the Bahamian lobster fishery. To date, little or no information is available on the scale and intensity of illegal fishing or for legal, non-commercial fishing. “Illegal” fishing is the taking of lobster by any means that is in violation of the existing laws and regulations. “Unreported” fishing includes fishers whose activity and information is not available to the relevant national authority or regional organisation. The organization of this report focuses on three stakeholder groups: 1) restaurants, resorts and resident consumers of lobsters, 2) recreational lobster fishers (residents and visitors), and 3) commercial fishers primarily selling lobsters to licensed processors. The surveys of restaurants and resorts revealed that most large restaurants serve legal sized lobster from known wholesalers, and overall, the potential risk for undersized lobster to be consumed in the restaurant industry is only 5% of the current export quantities. Interviews throughout the Bahamas of recreational fishers and tourists revealed a much larger potential for illegal landings. The growing population and increased yachting and overnight tourism on the Out Islands of The Bahamas create the potential for increased IUU fishing, and should be more closely monitored. Residents admit to a low level of regulatory compliance when fishing small amounts of lobsters for local consumption or sale. However, the population of The Bahamas is only 326,000 people (2010 Department of Statistics, Government of The Bahamas), thus the larger illegal conduit for seafood consumption lies to the south on the populous and hungry island of Hispaniola.
The Bahamian archipelago unique ecological system, with real limitations to the scope and scale ... more The Bahamian archipelago unique ecological system, with real limitations to the scope and scale of development that can occur without irreversible changes to the environment. The primary environmental sensitivities are related to water use, nutrient cycles and island hydrology, linked to coastal stability and impact on adjacent marine resources. The Bahamas, while not a major contributor to global climate change, is certainly vulnerable to economic impacts of both sea level rise, variability in rainfall and increased severity of storms. Long Island represents an important southern Out Island highly dependent on coastal marine resources for fishing, farming and tourism development. Tropical Storm Noel hit the island in November 2007 with unprecedented rainfall and flooding. Natural disasters combined with anthropogenic changes to the coastal environs can result in catastrophic changes to natural resources. The long‐term sustainability of development will depend on careful attention to flooding and storm events with efforts to minimize property damage while protecting coastal resources and shoreline stability. This report provides an overview of the state of the coastal environment and condition of near shore marine resources of Central Long Island. Surveys were completed on Long Island in June and July of 2008. The Coastal Ecology surveys ranked 25 sites along the east and west coast of Long Island, and the results indicated: • Tropical Storm Noel had devastating impact on the marine resources along the western coast of Central Long Island. All sites ranked “Medium” or “High” for coastal impacts; • Near shore reefs off Central Long Island’s Atlantic coast had relatively limited development, and were ranked “Low” impacts from land‐based pollution sources. However, the reefs were impacted by marine debris and destructive fishing methods. Coral cover is low, but recruitment of staghorn (Acropora palmata) and lettuce (Agaricia spp.) corals was evident; • Like other islands in the Bahamian archipelago, there is growing challenge with invasive species, such as the Indo‐Pacific Lionfish. Small and large individuals were evident along the ocean (eastern) side of Long Island; • Use of Malathion and other chemicals in some areas has greatly reduced the populations of land crabs particularly the soldier crab or common land hermit crab (Coenobita clepeatus). All land crab populations appear to be impacted by both the flood and land use practices.
Islands are, by their nature, only pieces of a larger whole. The past two decades have produced i... more Islands are, by their nature, only pieces of a larger whole. The past two decades have produced important research on island ecology in the tropical Atlantic that illustrates the integration of ecological function across land-sea boundaries, and the critical value of the coastal environments in stabilizing shorelines, processing pollutants, and supporting near shore production of important fisheries species. Unfortunately, islands of the wider
Caribbean have been undergoing profound environmental change for over 500 years with human alterations of the coastal zone. A significant problem in the current development
of coastal management policies and evaluation of environmental studies is the lack of synoptic method for the classification and ranking of human impacts for islands. This
paper presents a method for characterization and assessment of the coastal zone in The Bahamas to address the status of Andros and South Andros Islands in terms of their ecological health.
This ecoregional plan provides an approach to natural resource management and conservation. The ... more This ecoregional plan provides an approach to natural resource management and conservation. The chain of islands and shallow-water banks of the archipelago falls under the jurisdiction of three countries: the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Dominican Republic. The central tasks of this project comprised (i) the identification of conservation targets that included both natural communities and species, (ii) the compilation of existing data on these targets, including the mapping of species’ and communities’ occurrence, abundance and population viability, (iii) the identification of conservation goals based on data review and interviews with professionals and experts with specific and local knowledge, and (iv) the development of conservation strategies, sites and priorities, and (v) the organization of a core planning team and regional experts to review available information and develop the ecoregional plan for future implementation. It must be understood, that this Plan can only be effective if it is supported and properly executed by all stakeholders in the region. We compiled and catalogued existing information on individual species, natural communities and unique features of the archipelago, such as Blue Holes. Ultimately, we chose 15 targets as focal points for future conservation efforts that promote, and if protected, will preserve large parts of the natural processes that shape the marine and/or terrestrial environment in the archipelago. For each target we developed conservation goals and strategies based on the review of available information and consultation with local and foreign experts. We also produced an atlas of maps and spatial data sets that present the distribution of each target, based on historical and current research efforts. Critical conservation strategies, including geographical preferences, were identified for each target as well. A major challenge to landscape-scale conservation is the classification of natural communities, and identifying key physical and environmental processes determining patterns of biological diversity. Priority sites were chosen based on a classification system of the banks throughout the archipelago. Twenty-three bank systems were divided into 5 types based on energy exposure and island geography. In addition there is a significant latitudinal gradient to the banks, covering 6 degrees of latitude. Northern islands tend to be larger and wetter than their southern counterparts. Conservation planning needs to encompass areas no smaller that individual bank systems. The priority-setting analysis combined all target viability scores to rank the bank systems within the five types. Obvious gaps in information exist for the Island-Occupied Banks and Fully-Exposed Banks. The ranking process can be updated as more information about these areas becomes available. Currently, there are only a limited number of conservation programs in place, and they are mostly directly toward a few of the island systems and bank types. A total of seven bank systems are listed as high priority sites for conservation. These include the Western
Chapter 1: Marine Parks and the goals of the Exuma Grouper Project
Chapter 2: Assessment of marin... more Chapter 1: Marine Parks and the goals of the Exuma Grouper Project Chapter 2: Assessment of marine habitats Chapter 3: Assessment of Grouper Assemblages Chapter 4: Management Recommendations and Future Research
A previous short paper (Sealey, 2012) outlined the definition and ecological impacts of eutrophic... more A previous short paper (Sealey, 2012) outlined the definition and ecological impacts of eutrophication as any “increase in the rate of supply of organic matter to an ecosystem” (Nixon 1995). The key nutrients that lead to eutrophication are nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and iron (Fe). Coastal eutrophication has increased in the Bahamian island ecosystems with the increase in human coastal development in The Bahamas. There is clear evidence that eutrophication is occurring throughout The Bahamas. In Victoria Pond, Exuma, signs of chronic eutrophication were evident since 1997 when water quality surveys throughout the Elizabeth Harbour system detected areas of seasonal oxygen depletion and elevated nutrients (See Figure 1). Nassau Harbour and Marsh Harbour experience chronic hypoxia of bottom water, and acute hypoxia throughout the water column with storm events. Current standards in marina and harbor construction review the design, storm water management and flushing time to minimize nutrient loading and local hypoxia. Long-term studies of the near shore waters around the Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club (BBC) indicate clear signs of eutrophication in the constructed marina, likely a consequence of the dredging during construction, deep basins within the marina, and run-off from coastal development (Figures 2 and 3). Although surface circulation throughout the marina is facilitated by the flushing channel, deeper areas of the marina experience periodic hypoxia and high turbidity. Chronic eutrophication off the newly constructed golf course and building sites around the island is being investigated by • Studying island hydrology and the seepage of freshwater through karst geology to the sea, which is facilitated by caverns and sink-hole wetlands on land; • Documenting patterns and changes in near shore macro-algae assemblages in the near shore environments along the Sea of Abaco shoreline, especially in the vicinity of Hole 9; and • Constructing a nitrogen budget for the island looking at modeled inputs and recycling of nitrates and nitrites through constructed wetlands, the golf course and coastal buffer zones.
The Bahamas is an independent country situated as an archipelago with 30 major settlements and t... more The Bahamas is an independent country situated as an archipelago with 30 major settlements and towns on different islands. The islands of The Bahamas are very vulnerable to overdevelopment, primarily from alterations to linked nutrient and hydrological cycles. The threats to the islands from land-based sources of pollution include not only a loss of terrestrial species, but also a loss of marine species, fisheries production and undersea habitats.
PRESENTATION FROM ABACO SCIENCE ALLIANCE IN 2010
THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UNEXPECTED
From Oct... more PRESENTATION FROM ABACO SCIENCE ALLIANCE IN 2010
THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UNEXPECTED
From October 2004 to December 2009, a collaborative partnership between the University of Miami Environmental Management Team and Discovery Land Corporation has worked to document the research, monitoring and outreach activities needed to manage a small island resort development as a case study in sustainable tourism in The Bahamas. The overall goal of the contract was to establish and document environmentally-sound standards and develop management models for future developments on Out Islands in The Bahamas. A major component of the research was to establish measurable ecological criteria for development sustainability. This is a brief report on results through 2009 – since then Bakers Bay has abandoned any pretense of an environmental management programme.
Living on small tropical islands poses a unique set of constraints made even more poignant when c... more Living on small tropical islands poses a unique set of constraints made even more poignant when challenged with a proposed client base of wealthy, foreign homeowners and holiday-makers. Potential clients are capable of paying high prices for beauty, and thus expect a concomitant level of personal comfort. A supply of adequate freshwater and achievement of proper waste disposal (particularly sewage), are widely recognized challenges. Furthermore, high temperatures, humidity, and the presence of biting insects can all serve to reduce the attractiveness of the resort as a venue and, in the absence of effective solutions, could render the project unsuccessful from a business standpoint. Additionally, the presence of pests and parasites (such as rats, cats, and scale insects) capable of displacing or decimating native flora and fauna pose a significant threat to the goal of conserving and promoting biodiversity on the property. The Baker’s Bay Club (BBC) Development project on Great Guana Cay, Abacos, The Bahamas prioritizes the incorporation of modern and environmentally-sensitive technologies to minimize negative impacts on natural communities (EIA, 2005). To facilitate these priorities, the project developers ((Discovery Land Company (DLC)) are working with the Biology Department at the University of Miami to implement an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) created for the BBC (Sealey et al, 2005). The EMP focuses on sustainable development and minimizing and monitoring potential ecological impacts from construction, waste disposal and pest management. The Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) developed for BBC addresses the problem of biting insect, rat, cat, and plant-parasite insect populations. The IPM presents guidelines for the project to achieve acceptable low levels of pest populations without compromising the environmental integrity or project goals.
The BBC Environmental Management Team initiated the feral cat trapping project, as part of the In... more The BBC Environmental Management Team initiated the feral cat trapping project, as part of the Integrated Pest Management Plan, at the southern end of the Bakers Bay Property and Guana Seaside beginning 8 July 2006. Shenique Albury picked up 15 traps from Mr. David Knowles in Abaco prior to the arrival of the UM Environmental Monitoring Team and Earthwatch volunteers, who set and monitored nine traps to establish a protocol and synopsis of trapping methods. The traps received were large “Humane Box Traps” (Safeguard Brand 52842) measuring 42”x15”x18”H. The manufacturer suggests a smaller trap for cats; the traps employed in this initial project were designed for large raccoons.
Over the past two years, the UM EMT has recorded first the presence of feral cats around the Guana Seaside resort, and since January of 2006, a noticeable increase in cats not only around the resort but on the BBC property proposed preserve. The opening of roads and increased human activity on the BBC property may have facilitated feral cats to move north. The cats were seen as a significant threat to wildlife on the BBC property, particularly birds and small herpifauna. The EMT was particularly concerned with the threat of cats in the coastal buffer zone to emerging turtle hatchlings and nesting shore birds. The Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) calls for the removal and control of both feral cats and rats on the BBC property. Although cats may not be an immediate threat to Bahamas parrots on Guana
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas developed a National Wetland Policy in 2005, yet few guidelines e... more The Commonwealth of The Bahamas developed a National Wetland Policy in 2005, yet few guidelines existed for local implementation throughout an archipelago nation. The Victoria Pond restoration project sought to demonstrate local government utilization of the National Wetland Policy to restore flow through a mangrove wetland while reducing land-based sources of pollution. Victoria Pond, a large mangrove lake in the center of George Town, Great Exuma was selected based on ecological degradation, and on community interest to improve wetland protection and flooding. Historic land use changes around Victoria Pond over the past 245 years were reversed through the removal of fill, replanting of mangroves, development of storm water management, and public participation in clean-up campaigns. Public concern for wetland protection was linked to economically important parameters such as fisheries and tourism. Assessment methods addressed: 1) historical changes in land use; 2) water quality and acute hypoxia events, and 3) wetland restoration techniques. From 1996 to 2009, researchers with local partners documented ecological degradation, especially decreased circulation and declining fish abundance. The restoration project was initiated in 2009 to create a local mangrove preserve and improve intrinsic tourism attractions in George Town through nature trails, boardwalks and vistas over a ten year period.
PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT
Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, an... more PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and Exuma residents have worked to clean Lake Victoria, and restore the natural wetland environment in the center of historic George Town. Lake Victoria (aka “the Pond”) has suffered from a lack of coordinated management and poor coastal development practices; Victoria Pond was polluted and had been altered by roads, filling of wetlands and development for over 200 years. The Victoria Pond restoration project aims to eliminate the very real public health threat of rats, mosquitoes, and leaching of raw sewage into protected wetlands and waterways, and provides an opportunity to inspire residents. Victoria Pond was the largest and deepest of a series of connected mangrove lakes that provided a critical habitat for wildlife like tarpon, bonefish, herons, egrets, and osprey, and that provided controlled flooding along the eastern ridges of Great Exuma. The overall vision for the Victoria Pond restoration project is to demonstrate that a highly-altered coastal wetland can be restored and can regain ecological function. The project is designed to show the value of a protected wetland and coastal environment within a populated settlement; demonstrating that people can live alongside mangroves and their associated wildlife. The goals are: 1. To establish a local mangrove preserve that includes the Pond, an appropriate coastal buffer zone, channels, and associated embayment and ponds that will function as an ecological unit. 2. To complete the necessary clean-up, excavation, and restoration needed to restore natural drainage and tidal flow through the wetland preserve system; ultimately, the cleanup of Victoria Pond will improve the coastal water quality of Elizabeth Harbour. 3. To delineate the preserve area with markers and signage and restore native plant communities to the coastal zone of Victoria Pond. 4. To develop long-term community outreach and coastal stewardship programs to help maintain and finance the management of the Victoria Pond mangrove preserve. 5. To document measurable improvements in coastal water quality and near-shore fish habitat in the George Town environs over the ten-year project.
AROUND GREAT EXUMA Mangroves are vital to the beauty and economy of Great Exuma. Mangroves play ... more AROUND GREAT EXUMA Mangroves are vital to the beauty and economy of Great Exuma. Mangroves play three vital roles: 1. Mangroves process pollutants, and keep the sea clean. Mangroves provide an essential barrier to remove pollution from both storm water runoff and groundwater from entering the coastal ocean. 2. Mangroves stabilize the shoreline and can protect property. Mangroves can trap sediment, and help stabilize shorelines, preventing erosion. Mangrove wetlands can be important for flood management for coastal settlements. 3. Mangroves provide important habitat for coastal fishes. Fish and local fisheries are an important component of the ecology and ecology of Great Exuma. With pressure from coastal development and tourism, every fish counts. More healthy mangroves means more fish around Exuma. Mangroves are not weeds, and mangroves are an essential part of the ecology of Great Exuma. We need managed mangrove communities to protect against pollution, climate change and economic downturns.
PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and... more PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and Exuma residents have worked to clean Lake Victoria, and restore the natural wetland environment in the center of historic George Town. Lake Victoria (aka " the Pond ") has suffered from a lack of coordinated management and poor coastal development practices; Victoria Pond was polluted and had been altered by roads, filling of wetlands and development for over 200 years. The hurricane events of 2015 to 2017 have presented a new urgency to manage coastal wetlands as a tool to mitigate sea level rise and storm-related flooding. Victoria Pond was the largest and deepest of a series of connected mangrove lakes that provided a critical habitat for wildlife like tarpon, bonefish, herons, egrets, and osprey, and that provided controlled flooding along the eastern ridges of Great Exuma. The overall vision for the Victoria Pond restoration project is to demonstrate that a highly-altered coastal wetland can be restored and can regain ecological function. The project is designed to show the value of a protected wetland and coastal environment within a populated settlement; demonstrating that people can live alongside mangroves and their associated wildlife. The goals are: 1. To establish a local mangrove preserve that includes the Pond, an appropriate coastal buffer zone, channels, and associated embayment and ponds that will function as an ecological unit. 2. To complete the necessary clean-up, excavation, and restoration needed to restore natural drainage and tidal flow through the wetland preserve system; ultimately, the cleanup of Victoria Pond will improve the coastal water quality of Elizabeth Harbour. 3. To delineate the preserve area with markers and signage and restore native plant communities to the coastal zone of Victoria Pond. 4. To develop long-term community outreach and coastal stewardship programs to help maintain and finance the management of the Victoria Pond mangrove preserve. 5. To document measurable improvements in coastal water quality and near-shore fish habitat in the George Town environs over the ten-year project.
We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas... more We conduct a risk assesment of losses to coastal properties due to tropical storms in The Bahamas. To this end we use the physical characteristics of a set of synthetically generated storms to estimate local wind and storm surge exposure and couple with these damage functions. Employing these to a unique set of properties on the island of Great Exuma we then calculate out likely losses, in terms of loss of real estate value as well as potential income, due to the storms. Our analysis suggests that while annual expected losses are small, this disguises low probability storms that could cause considerable damage. Moreover, we find that most of the losses are due to storm surge rather than strong winds. This may be particularly important for low-lying islands like The Bahamas facing future challenges of sea-level rise.
PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and... more PROJECT MISSION STATEMENT Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and Exuma residents have worked to clean Lake Victoria, and restore the natural wetland environment in the center of historic George Town. Lake Victoria (aka " the Pond ") has suffered from a lack of coordinated management and poor coastal development practices; Victoria Pond was polluted and had been altered by roads, filling of wetlands and development for over 200 years. The Victoria Pond restoration project aims to eliminate the very real public health threat of rats, mosquitoes, and leaching of raw sewage into protected wetlands and waterways, and provides an opportunity to inspire residents. Victoria Pond was the largest and deepest of a series of connected mangrove lakes that provided a critical habitat for wildlife like tarpon, bonefish, herons, egrets, and osprey, and that provided controlled flooding along the eastern ridges of Great Exuma. The overall vision for the Victoria Pond restoration project is to demonstrate that a highly-altered coastal wetland can be restored and can regain ecological function. The project is designed to show the value of a protected wetland and coastal environment within a populated settlement; demonstrating that people can live alongside mangroves and their associated wildlife. The goals are: 1. To establish a local mangrove preserve that includes the Pond, an appropriate coastal buffer zone, channels, and associated embayment and ponds that will function as an ecological unit. 2. To complete the necessary clean-up, excavation, and restoration needed to restore natural drainage and tidal flow through the wetland preserve system; ultimately, the cleanup of Victoria Pond will improve the coastal water quality of Elizabeth Harbour. 3. To delineate the preserve area with markers and signage and restore native plant communities to the coastal zone of Victoria Pond. 4. To develop long-term community outreach and coastal stewardship programs to help maintain and finance the management of the Victoria Pond mangrove preserve. 5. To document measurable improvements in coastal water quality and near-shore fish habitat in the George Town environs over the ten-year project.
NOTES and comments of applicability of information to The Bahamas from The World Academy of Scien... more NOTES and comments of applicability of information to The Bahamas from The World Academy of Sciences "Science Diplomacy Workshop on Sustainable Water Management" in Trieste, Italy, 30 November ‐ 4 December 2015
This methods manual describes the field component of a long-term project to
characterize and map... more This methods manual describes the field component of a long-term project to
characterize and map the coastal ecology of tropical islands of The Bahamas. The
goal is to understand physical and biological processes that move energy and
matter across the land-sea interface, particularly those pathways that transport
pollutants from land to sea. This research will help set real ecological limits to
development on islands, and correlate coastal development to changes in the
ecology of near shore marine communities. Within the project scope, developed
and undeveloped areas will be investigated.
Methods for the assessment of the impact of land-based development on marine near shore communiti... more Methods for the assessment of the impact of land-based development on marine near shore communities in the Florida Keys
The Marine and Environmental Science Institute (MESI) at The College of The Bahamas was establish... more The Marine and Environmental Science Institute (MESI) at The College of The Bahamas was established in 2005 as a scientific research and development division of The College of The Bahamas. The MESI faces a unique challenge to develop scientific research that can support the national initiatives for sustainable development of small island states (Figure 1). The Poultry Research Unit (PRU) has been part of the MESI since 2005, with the primary focus of the Unit being the development of poultry research needed to build new agricultural technologies and production models appropriate for small islands. The PRU is part of the research community of the MESI located within the new Office of Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations (ORGPIR). Preliminary talks have started to develop research partnerships with large research universities in the southeastern United States and the United Kingdom for poultry nutrition projects. Over the past year, the PRU goals were to: 1. Develop better small-scale poultry production models; 2. Improve the nutritional value of broiler chickens; and 3. reduce the environmental impacts of intensive poultry farming. The programmes initiated at the PRU are designed to improve animal health and animal husbandry practices. The PRU participated in meetings with the Caribbean Poultry Association to understand the regional threat of Avian Influenza, and took steps to improve bio-security protocols. Bio-security in poultry production will become more important as the PRU staff works to increase production and product quality while minimizing the use of antibiotics and growth stimulants. Major changes have occurred in the organization of the PRU over the past year: • The poultry technician assigned from the Department of Agriculture was given an additional (third) year of secondment with the intention that he would join the staff of COB full-time in August 2007. This staff member was able to pursue a Master’s in Poultry Sciences at the University of Glasgow’s Scottish Agricultural College with an anticipated completion date of June 2008. With this additional expertise, the PRU is now ready to start pro-biotic research on growth enhancement for broiler production in the 2007-2008 academic year;
The College of The Bahamas completed the construction of a fully-automated poultry production Pou... more The College of The Bahamas completed the construction of a fully-automated poultry production Poultry Research Unit in mid-2004. The poultry production facilities were incorporated into the Marine and Environmental Science Institute as the Poultry Research Unit (PRU). The mission of PRU was to carry out research and training programmes focused on sustainable broiler production for The Bahamas. The PRU was charged to develop better small production models to improve the nutritional value of broiler chickens as well as reduce the environmental impacts of intensive poultry farming. The PRU should produce case studies, outreach materials and scientific publications that address the technical, economic and environmental aspects of broiler farming in The Bahamas. The PRU was funded with a grant from the Freedom Foundation to initiate training and research for sustainable agriculture on tropical islands, A full-time poultry technician was seconded from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2004 to operate and oversee the husbandry. The management of the PRU was placed under the Marine and Environmental Sciences Institute (MESI) executive director with a PRU management committee made up of senior management from Academic Affairs, Legal Counsel, Finances and Facilities Administration. The PRU was built on a three acre lot provided by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) at the Agricultural Research Complex on Gladstone Road, New Providence. The PRU can produce approximately 24,000 chickens in one 6-week cycle utilising a tunnel-ventilation/evaporative cooling system. The first production cycle was initiated in August of 2004. At the beginning of the 2005-2006 academic year, three cycles had been completed, with the sale of live chickens contracted to Diamond Farms (Mr. Charles Gibson) to generate revenue. In July 2005, the new Poultry Management Team was set up to coordinate the day-to-day management of the PRU under the MESI. Both the PRU and the MESI fall under the portfolio of the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences. Poultry production in the country is critical to providing both locally-grown food as well as economic opportunities in the agriculture sector. There is a tremendous demand for chicken within the country, about 70% of the local demand is imported. A conservative estimate of local consumption is 100 pounds or 25 chickens per person per year. This translates to a family of four consuming about 2 chickens per week; or an annual consumption of 7 million chickens in The Bahamas, this does not include consumption by tourists.
Assessment and characterization of reef communities along hte reef tract of the Florida Keys Nati... more Assessment and characterization of reef communities along hte reef tract of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Report on 7-day research cruise on R/V Coral Reef II. Characterization, assessment and management... more Report on 7-day research cruise on R/V Coral Reef II. Characterization, assessment and management of reefs near Key West, Florida (Sand Key, Eastern Dry Rocks, Western Sambo)
Solid Waste Issues on Great Exuma - Report to Department of Environmental Health Services, Govern... more Solid Waste Issues on Great Exuma - Report to Department of Environmental Health Services, Government of The Bahamas
Biscayne Bay is an urban bay in Southeast Florida, but the southern region of the Bay is dominate... more Biscayne Bay is an urban bay in Southeast Florida, but the southern region of the Bay is dominated by mangroves. Mangrove wetlands provide important habitat for fish, but some regions are altered by drainage canals in southern Biscayne Bay. This study utilized a large public dataset to determine if fish formed distinct species assemblages throughout Biscayne Bay by examining fish surveyed at 12 different sites over 5 years. Six sites were in front of intact mangrove shorelines, while the other six sites were adjacent to mangrove sites altered by drainage canals or residential marinas. Cluster analyses revealed that fish did form distinct species assemblage clusters which were correlated with salinity and depth. Mangrove shoreline type (intact vs. canal-altered) and geographic location did not appear to affect species composition or diversity in fish assemblages across Southern Biscayne Bay.
Increasing frequency of extreme weather events, driven by climate change, has resulted in an incr... more Increasing frequency of extreme weather events, driven by climate change, has resulted in an increasing demand for coastal structures to protect and stabilize shorelines. Concrete seawalls are a common category of coastal protection structures, designed with the primary objectives of absorbing wave action, preventing coastline erosion, and alleviating flooding. Much research has been carried out on improving the seawall performance. This work is a review of the current state-of-the-art in concrete seawalls focusing on design aspects including wave loading and innovative seawall designs, ecological considerations, and durability aspects. Wave loads on seawalls have received significant attention; however, their quantification remains a challenging task especially for novel designs. Drawing inspiration from natural shorelines, modification of surface complexity at a multitude of scales can improve the otherwise poor ecological performance of seawalls. The corrosion of the steel is a m...
Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biod... more Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biodiversity and the conservation of natural resources must go beyond the protection of species or unique environmental features. Consequently, ‘landscape conservation initiatives’ have been developed to emphasize the conservation at multiple levels of biological organization and recognizes that conservation should not be constrained by geo-political boundaries.
Maintaining biodiversity over time is paramount to the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. Spec... more Maintaining biodiversity over time is paramount to the functioning of coral reef ecosystems. Species abundance and richness change over time, but overall biodiversity supports ecosystem functions and services. A decrease in biodiversity can detrimentally impact reefs; phase shifts have the potential to fundamentally alter the dominance of stony corals and structure of reef communities. SCUBA diver photography can form important baseline information on both species- and taxa-level diversity trends on less-accessible reefs over decades. Historic photographs can be analyzed to form a complimentary timeline with more formal monitoring and sampling via benthic transects, point intercept, and visual surveys. This timeline may be especially important to understand long-term trends and subtle changes associated with climate change. An assessment of changes in reef benthos was carried out, combining scientific surveys with recreational underwater photographs from SCUBA divers beginning in 1980 to 2015. Reefs that were consistently visited in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, The Bahamas were targeted for collecting photographs cataloged by date and dive site. The photography image database provided an exceptional opportunity to study key benthic species from 2,073 slides and 337 1-meter quadrats collected at five dive sites from 1980 to 2010. Changes in reef biodiversity with a focus on cnidarians, sponges, and annelids were evaluated with diversity indices and multivariate analyses using diver photos and more recently, 1-meter quadrat surveys, to evaluate community changes over time on deep (<−10 m) platform margin reefs.
Weather-related events stress rich and poor neighborhoods alike, but flooding events in coastal e... more Weather-related events stress rich and poor neighborhoods alike, but flooding events in coastal ecosystems pose a greater financial and ecological disaster for low-income residents (see “Surging Seas” Submerged Risk Map that highlights the vulnerability of neighborhoods along the Miami River and west of the International Airport at http://ss2.climatecentral.org/#12/25.8268/-80.1509?show=sovi&level=5&pois=show). Flood disasters provide a special challenge for social, financial and ecological resilience. Fundamental decisions need to be made in a timely manner for the long-term viability of recovery: should residents rebuild or relocate? The resilience of a community to recover after flooding disaster depends very much on where the neighborhood is, and how the community is prepared for short-term and long-term prospects of recovery.
Page 1. REPORT EF Schmitt Æ RD Sluka Æ KM Sullivan-Sealey Evaluating the use of roving diver and ... more Page 1. REPORT EF Schmitt Æ RD Sluka Æ KM Sullivan-Sealey Evaluating the use of roving diver and transect surveys to assess the coral reef fish assemblage off southeastern Hispaniola Received: 4 January 1999 / Accepted ...
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shore and lagoonal habitats associated with reef systems are the first areas to be impacted by land-based sources of pollutants and disturbances, defined as “stressors”. Stressors are a link in the chain of events that lead to environmental change or “phase shifts” in natural systems. Stressors as “damaging stimuli” need to be defined in terms of thresholds for both populations of organisms, and ecological communities. Stressors alter the abundance and dynamics of individual populations of organisms, and thus impact the community structure and function. Microbial communities are key to processing nutrients and pollutants from land-based sources, but poorly characterized. The effects of changes in microbial communities usually go unnoticed until visual signs of change occur in macro-organisms (death, disease or a shift in predominate species). Because microbial communities have a major influence on the transformation of nutrients as well as a protective influence, short-term stressors often can result in latent changes in larger back reef communities. The most notable changes in back reef environments from stressors include: 1) Changes in coastal species abundance and diversity (including local extirpation), 2) Changes in natural community structure, 3) Changes in coastal water quality (or the dynamic” habitat), and 4) Changes associated with exotic species invasion. Advances in technologies and research have facilitated the detection of stressors and stress responses. Recent researches in stable isotopes signatures as indicators of nutrient flux across the land-sea interface have helped identify eutrophication sources. Detection of pathogens, advances in microbial ecology (genetic probes), and disease ecology, bleaching and pollutant studies (e.g. pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals) have helped identify chronic stressors to back reef systems. Historical ecology and studies of long-term environmental change remain key to understanding the nature of change and chronic degradation of complex coastal systems. Although we understand the basic ecology of tropical marine systems in a general sense, researchers need to initiate programs to look at integrated processes across the shoreline, particularly in terms of ecosystem function in back reef environments.
The linear percentage sampling was considered too conserva tive in determining distribution patterns of a reef community; this technique takes into account the massive reef framework species such as M. annularis. The line transect technique can account for both colony number and area coverage, thus is a better method for characterizing reef communities. Sample size considerations are discussed for future applications of survey techniques for ground-truthing digital images of small, shallow reef communities.
required for coastal classification, ranking, and GIS mapping for one island, Great Exuma, are documented as a costeffective
methodology to protect all Bahamian shorelines. The ESI mapping follows international conventions for oil spill
response planning, but because of the lack of a national coastal management structure, a relational database was
developed to bring together field photographs, geology, and wildlife occurrence information to initiate the mapping
process. The final product for Great Exuma was 13 ESI maps for one island environs, each map covering about 120
square km. The ESI mapping requires three types of expertise: (1) GIS (ESRI ArcMap 10.2) and relational database
(Microsoft Access) expertise; (2) coastal ecology and geomorphology expertise; and (3) local resource management and natural history expertise. After initial field work of 14 days on the island, the GIS and coastal classification datasets
required about 5 weeks for compilation. The datasets are dynamic and can be updated as new information becomes
available. The ESI maps and coastal classification database are easily shared and revised moving forward. The process
could be facilitated by the participation of citizen scientists to contribute photographs and local reports on status and
changes to coastal resources. The overall ESI mapping product can provide a valuable management tool not only for oil
spill response but for better integrated coastal zone management.
of growth and reproduction when environmental conditions
are most suitable, and thus their effects on native
fauna may be intensified. Understanding potential
impacts of these species, especially in the nascent
stages of a biological invasion, requires critical information
concerning spatial and temporal distributions of
habitat suitability. Using empirically supported environmental
variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved
oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), our
models predicted habitat suitability for the invasive
lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The
use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a
platformfor themodeling process allowed us to quantify
correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in
the above variables and the spatial distribution of five
discrete habitat quality classes, whose ranges are
supported by statistical deviations from the apparent
best conditions described in prior studies. Analysis of
the resulting models revealed little fluctuation in spatial
extent of the five habitat classes on a monthly basis.
Class 5, which represented the area with environmental
variables closest to the best conditions for lionfish,
occupied approximately one-third of Biscayne Bay,
with subsequent habitats declining in area.Akey finding
from this study was that habitat suitability increased
eastward from the coastline, where higher quality
habitats were adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and
displayed marine levels of ambient water quality.
Corroboration of the models with sightings from the
USGS-NAS database appeared to support our findings
by nesting 79 % of values within habitat class 5;
however, field testing (i.e., lionfish surveys) is necessary
to confirm the relationship between habitat classes and
lionfish distribution.
on, and then, wastes off the islands. At small scales, recycling can be prohibitive and complicated by
labor costs; the need to profitably recycle and manage solid waste output from tourism is complicated by
scale and available technologies. A multi-year study documents the amount of solid waste generated on
Great Exuma (Exuma), The Commonwealth of The Bahamas since 2010 with one year of benchmarking,
then limited recycling of food waste generation by an all-inclusive resort, Sandals Emerald Bay (SEB). For
the island of Exuma, the rapid increase in the rate of accumulation of solid waste associated with a large
destination resort has led to an increase in pests such as rats and flies, along with an increased occurrence
of fires associated with unburied solid waste. Solid waste has accumulated faster than the island solid
waste management can absorb. SEB kitchen and hotel operations contributes an estimated 36% of all
solid waste generated on the island, about 1752 t1 out of a total of 4841 t generated on the island in
2013 (exclusive of vegetation waste). Based on 4 weeks of benchmarking, 48.5% of all the waste coming
out of the SEB resort is compostable, organic waste, but waste composition varies widely over time.
Exuma Waste Management (EWM) and Recycle Exuma (RE), both privately-held Bahamian businesses,
worked for one year (2012–2013) with SEB resort to implement a benchmarking and pilot recycling
project to meet Earth Check green resort certification requirements. This paper outlines the costs and
resources required for food waste recycling and some barriers to implementing more effective solid waste
management for the tourism industry on small islands.
Islands lies at the southern end of the Bahamian archipelago
in the tropical north-west Atlantic between 21° and 22°N
and 71° and 72° 30″ W (Fig. 9.1 ) The territory itself is made
up of three separate carbonate bank systems: the Caicos
Bank, the Turks Island Bank and the Mouchoir Bank.
shore and lagoonal habitats associated with reef systems are the first areas to be impacted by land-based sources of pollutants and disturbances, defined as “stressors”. Stressors are a link in the chain of events that lead to environmental change or “phase shifts” in natural systems. Stressors as “damaging stimuli” need to be defined in terms of thresholds for both populations of organisms, and ecological communities. Stressors alter the abundance and dynamics of individual populations of organisms, and thus impact the community structure and function. Microbial communities are key to processing nutrients and pollutants from land-based sources, but poorly characterized. The effects of changes in microbial communities usually go unnoticed until visual signs of change occur in macro-organisms (death, disease or a shift in predominate species). Because microbial communities have a major influence on the transformation of nutrients as well as a protective influence, short-term stressors often can result in latent changes in larger back reef communities. The most notable changes in back reef environments from stressors include: 1) Changes in coastal species abundance and diversity (including local extirpation), 2) Changes in natural community structure, 3) Changes in coastal water quality (or the dynamic” habitat), and 4) Changes associated with exotic species invasion. Advances in technologies and research have facilitated the detection of stressors and stress responses. Recent researches in stable isotopes signatures as indicators of nutrient flux across the land-sea interface have helped identify eutrophication sources. Detection of pathogens, advances in microbial ecology (genetic probes), and disease ecology, bleaching and pollutant studies (e.g. pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals) have helped identify chronic stressors to back reef systems. Historical ecology and studies of long-term environmental change remain key to understanding the nature of change and chronic degradation of complex coastal systems. Although we understand the basic ecology of tropical marine systems in a general sense, researchers need to initiate programs to look at integrated processes across the shoreline, particularly in terms of ecosystem function in back reef environments.
The linear percentage sampling was considered too conserva tive in determining distribution patterns of a reef community; this technique takes into account the massive reef framework species such as M. annularis. The line transect technique can account for both colony number and area coverage, thus is a better method for characterizing reef communities. Sample size considerations are discussed for future applications of survey techniques for ground-truthing digital images of small, shallow reef communities.
required for coastal classification, ranking, and GIS mapping for one island, Great Exuma, are documented as a costeffective
methodology to protect all Bahamian shorelines. The ESI mapping follows international conventions for oil spill
response planning, but because of the lack of a national coastal management structure, a relational database was
developed to bring together field photographs, geology, and wildlife occurrence information to initiate the mapping
process. The final product for Great Exuma was 13 ESI maps for one island environs, each map covering about 120
square km. The ESI mapping requires three types of expertise: (1) GIS (ESRI ArcMap 10.2) and relational database
(Microsoft Access) expertise; (2) coastal ecology and geomorphology expertise; and (3) local resource management and natural history expertise. After initial field work of 14 days on the island, the GIS and coastal classification datasets
required about 5 weeks for compilation. The datasets are dynamic and can be updated as new information becomes
available. The ESI maps and coastal classification database are easily shared and revised moving forward. The process
could be facilitated by the participation of citizen scientists to contribute photographs and local reports on status and
changes to coastal resources. The overall ESI mapping product can provide a valuable management tool not only for oil
spill response but for better integrated coastal zone management.
of growth and reproduction when environmental conditions
are most suitable, and thus their effects on native
fauna may be intensified. Understanding potential
impacts of these species, especially in the nascent
stages of a biological invasion, requires critical information
concerning spatial and temporal distributions of
habitat suitability. Using empirically supported environmental
variables (e.g., temperature, salinity, dissolved
oxygen, rugosity, and benthic substrate), our
models predicted habitat suitability for the invasive
lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Biscayne Bay, Florida. The
use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a
platformfor themodeling process allowed us to quantify
correlations between temporal (seasonal) fluctuations in
the above variables and the spatial distribution of five
discrete habitat quality classes, whose ranges are
supported by statistical deviations from the apparent
best conditions described in prior studies. Analysis of
the resulting models revealed little fluctuation in spatial
extent of the five habitat classes on a monthly basis.
Class 5, which represented the area with environmental
variables closest to the best conditions for lionfish,
occupied approximately one-third of Biscayne Bay,
with subsequent habitats declining in area.Akey finding
from this study was that habitat suitability increased
eastward from the coastline, where higher quality
habitats were adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and
displayed marine levels of ambient water quality.
Corroboration of the models with sightings from the
USGS-NAS database appeared to support our findings
by nesting 79 % of values within habitat class 5;
however, field testing (i.e., lionfish surveys) is necessary
to confirm the relationship between habitat classes and
lionfish distribution.
on, and then, wastes off the islands. At small scales, recycling can be prohibitive and complicated by
labor costs; the need to profitably recycle and manage solid waste output from tourism is complicated by
scale and available technologies. A multi-year study documents the amount of solid waste generated on
Great Exuma (Exuma), The Commonwealth of The Bahamas since 2010 with one year of benchmarking,
then limited recycling of food waste generation by an all-inclusive resort, Sandals Emerald Bay (SEB). For
the island of Exuma, the rapid increase in the rate of accumulation of solid waste associated with a large
destination resort has led to an increase in pests such as rats and flies, along with an increased occurrence
of fires associated with unburied solid waste. Solid waste has accumulated faster than the island solid
waste management can absorb. SEB kitchen and hotel operations contributes an estimated 36% of all
solid waste generated on the island, about 1752 t1 out of a total of 4841 t generated on the island in
2013 (exclusive of vegetation waste). Based on 4 weeks of benchmarking, 48.5% of all the waste coming
out of the SEB resort is compostable, organic waste, but waste composition varies widely over time.
Exuma Waste Management (EWM) and Recycle Exuma (RE), both privately-held Bahamian businesses,
worked for one year (2012–2013) with SEB resort to implement a benchmarking and pilot recycling
project to meet Earth Check green resort certification requirements. This paper outlines the costs and
resources required for food waste recycling and some barriers to implementing more effective solid waste
management for the tourism industry on small islands.
Islands lies at the southern end of the Bahamian archipelago
in the tropical north-west Atlantic between 21° and 22°N
and 71° and 72° 30″ W (Fig. 9.1 ) The territory itself is made
up of three separate carbonate bank systems: the Caicos
Bank, the Turks Island Bank and the Mouchoir Bank.
nutrients and pollutants from the land into the sea. This impacts the diversity of near shore marine habitats, which
in turn decreases the integrity of these habitats and, for example, their ability to support important fisheries populations. In short, human activities in the coastal
zone of small islands place a heavy toll on ecosystem health.
about flooding, by factoring in elevation, substrate type, and infrastructure exposure. With the current state of global climate change and sea level rise, it is more important than ever to determine areas of vulnerability to flooding in SIDS. Sustainable development requires long- term plans that take into account the increasing flood vulnerability over the next century. Storms and flood damage can be costly, and require years for recovery on islands; the best plan of action is to plan for flood resilience, and a flood-resistant infrastructure.
The creation of flood vulnerability models will help determine the best areas for development and contribute to managing the coastline. Coastal management is a paramount issue in SIDS because of the states’ dependence on the ocean for economic as well as natural resources.
ecological impacts and its potential threats to commercial fisheries, tourism and human safety. Lionfish have been
reported throughout the archipelago and are the focus of several research and monitoring initiatives. The Bahamas has a
National Invasive Species Strategic Plan, but marine invasions require unique partnerships for small islands developing
states to develop realistic management goals and actions. The Government of The Bahamas has limited funds to address
major resource management issues; hence, collaboration with non-governmental agencies and tertiary education
institutions is imperative. The establishment and spread of lionfish has created a novel opportunity for the formation of
innovative public-private partnerships to address the ecological, economic and social impacts of biological invasions.
mediated forms of dispersal in which an exotic or non-native species successfully arrives, survives and reproduces in a novel locality and then rapidly spreads throughout a region. On the
one hand, species that disperse without the aid of humans into an area where they were not previously found are referred to as range expansions. On the other hand, species that have
been released outside of their native range and have spread due to human activity are referred to as species introductions (Carlton, 1989). The recent invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish
(Pterois volitans*) throughout the western Atlantic Ocean, including The Bahamas, is generally considered to be the result of several species introductions associated with both the intentional and unintentional release of specimens from
private aquariums followed by the natural dispersal process (Hare and Whitfield, 2003; Ruiz-Carus et. al., 2006).
Coastal ecosystems around the globe have been impacted by a combination of land-base sources of pollution, habitat destruction, over-fishing and invasive alien species; the Bahamian archipelago is no exception (Jackson et al.2001). Yet, there are no systematic assessments of habitat loss or trends in spiny lobster populations in the country other than stock assessments based on fisheries-dependent data (landings). Overfishing has been identified as a leading ecological and socio-economic problem for marine systems, including the Bahamian archipelago (See Worm et al. 2005 and Worm et al. 2009).
Understanding and protecting spiny lobster populations within The Bahamas requires a comprehensive assessment of populations in fished and unfished (MPAs) areas of the archipelago. Finding areas not impacted by fishing, and appropriate to monitor to understand fishing impact is difficult due to the lack of established MPAs to serve as control areas (Pauley et al 1998; Roberts et al.2001). The lack of large areas that have not been fished for years to decades are limited in a young country such as the Bahamas1. In addition, there is limited historical baseline information on spiny lobsters, with more research needed on the impact of lobster fishing contrasting the various methods of fishing used in the country. Fishing methods used for commercial and recreational lobster fisheries include, listed by order of importance:
Condos or “casitas” put out by fishers across sandy open areas of the Bahama Banks to attract and aggregate lobsters;
Spearing with surface supplied air (hookah), and
Baited traps.
Within The Bahamas, there are two types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can replenish spiny lobster stocks: National Parks managed by the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and marine replenishment reserves managed by the Department of Marine Resources. The collective MPAs can offer the opportunity to look at a range of biological characteristics to help inform both the stock assessment of spiny lobster (e.g., density of animals equivalent to virgin biomass, natural mortality and growth rates) as well as the ecological impacts of fishing (e.g., use of “casitas” or condos on benthic habitats vs. MPA habitat). Not all National Parks within The Bahamas include a marine component nor have “no take” zones. A list of the pertinent MPAs for spiny lobster populations is discussed. Figures 1 and 2 provide maps of The Bahamas illustrating the spatial distribution of national parks (Figure 1) and marine replenishment preserves (Figure 2).
Interviews throughout the Bahamas of recreational fishers and tourists revealed a much larger potential for illegal landings. The growing population and increased yachting and overnight tourism on the Out Islands of The Bahamas create the potential for increased IUU fishing, and should be more closely monitored. Residents admit to a low level of regulatory compliance when fishing small amounts of lobsters for local consumption or sale. However, the population of The Bahamas is only 326,000 people (2010 Department of Statistics, Government of The Bahamas), thus the larger illegal conduit for seafood consumption lies to the south on the populous and hungry island of Hispaniola.
primary environmental sensitivities are related to water use, nutrient cycles and island hydrology, linked to coastal stability and impact on adjacent marine resources. The Bahamas,
while not a major contributor to global climate change, is certainly vulnerable to economic impacts of both sea level rise, variability in rainfall and increased severity of storms. Long Island represents an important southern Out Island highly dependent on coastal marine resources for fishing, farming and tourism development. Tropical Storm Noel hit the island in November 2007 with unprecedented rainfall and flooding. Natural disasters combined with anthropogenic changes to the coastal environs can result in catastrophic changes to natural resources. The long‐term sustainability of development will depend on careful attention to flooding and storm events with efforts to minimize property damage while protecting coastal resources and shoreline stability. This report provides an overview of the state of the coastal environment and condition of near shore marine resources of Central Long Island. Surveys were completed on Long Island in June and July of 2008.
The Coastal Ecology surveys ranked 25 sites along the east and west coast of Long Island, and the results indicated:
• Tropical Storm Noel had devastating impact on the marine resources along the western coast of Central Long Island. All sites ranked “Medium” or “High” for coastal impacts;
• Near shore reefs off Central Long Island’s Atlantic coast had relatively limited development, and were ranked “Low” impacts from land‐based pollution sources.
However, the reefs were impacted by marine debris and destructive fishing methods. Coral cover is low, but recruitment of staghorn (Acropora palmata) and lettuce (Agaricia spp.) corals was evident;
• Like other islands in the Bahamian archipelago, there is growing challenge with invasive species, such as the Indo‐Pacific Lionfish. Small and large individuals were evident along the ocean (eastern) side of Long Island;
• Use of Malathion and other chemicals in some areas has greatly reduced the populations of land crabs particularly the soldier crab or common land hermit crab (Coenobita clepeatus). All land crab populations appear to be impacted by both the flood and land use practices.
Caribbean have been undergoing profound environmental change for over 500 years with human alterations of the coastal zone. A significant problem in the current development
of coastal management policies and evaluation of environmental studies is the lack of synoptic method for the classification and ranking of human impacts for islands. This
paper presents a method for characterization and assessment of the coastal zone in The Bahamas to address the status of Andros and South Andros Islands in terms of their ecological health.
Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Dominican Republic.
The central tasks of this project comprised (i) the identification of conservation targets that included both
natural communities and species, (ii) the compilation of existing data on these targets, including the mapping of
species’ and communities’ occurrence, abundance and population viability, (iii) the identification of conservation
goals based on data review and interviews with professionals and experts with specific and local knowledge, and
(iv) the development of conservation strategies, sites and priorities, and (v) the organization of a core planning
team and regional experts to review available information and develop the ecoregional plan for future
implementation. It must be understood, that this Plan can only be effective if it is supported and properly executed
by all stakeholders in the region.
We compiled and catalogued existing information on individual species, natural communities and unique
features of the archipelago, such as Blue Holes. Ultimately, we chose 15 targets as focal points for future
conservation efforts that promote, and if protected, will preserve large parts of the natural processes that shape the
marine and/or terrestrial environment in the archipelago. For each target we developed conservation goals and
strategies based on the review of available information and consultation with local and foreign experts. We also
produced an atlas of maps and spatial data sets that present the distribution of each target, based on historical and
current research efforts. Critical conservation strategies, including geographical preferences, were identified for
each target as well.
A major challenge to landscape-scale conservation is the classification of natural communities, and identifying
key physical and environmental processes determining patterns of biological diversity. Priority sites were chosen
based on a classification system of the banks throughout the archipelago. Twenty-three bank systems were divided
into 5 types based on energy exposure and island geography. In addition there is a significant latitudinal gradient
to the banks, covering 6 degrees of latitude. Northern islands tend to be larger and wetter than their southern
counterparts.
Conservation planning needs to encompass areas no smaller that individual bank systems. The priority-setting
analysis combined all target viability scores to rank the bank systems within the five types. Obvious gaps in
information exist for the Island-Occupied Banks and Fully-Exposed Banks. The ranking process can be updated
as more information about these areas becomes available. Currently, there are only a limited number of conservation
programs in place, and they are mostly directly toward a few of the island systems and bank types.
A total of seven bank systems are listed as high priority sites for conservation. These include the Western
Chapter 2: Assessment of marine habitats
Chapter 3: Assessment of Grouper Assemblages
Chapter 4: Management Recommendations and Future Research
Long-term studies of the near shore waters around the Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club (BBC) indicate clear signs of eutrophication in the constructed marina, likely a consequence of the dredging during construction, deep basins within the marina, and run-off from coastal development (Figures 2 and 3). Although surface circulation throughout the marina is facilitated by the flushing channel, deeper areas of the marina experience periodic hypoxia and high turbidity. Chronic eutrophication off the newly constructed golf course and building sites around the island is being investigated by
• Studying island hydrology and the seepage of freshwater through karst geology to the sea, which is facilitated by caverns and sink-hole wetlands on land;
• Documenting patterns and changes in near shore macro-algae assemblages in the near shore environments along the Sea of Abaco shoreline, especially in the vicinity of Hole 9; and
• Constructing a nitrogen budget for the island looking at modeled inputs and recycling of nitrates and nitrites through constructed wetlands, the golf course and coastal buffer zones.
THE GOOD, THE BAD and THE UNEXPECTED
From October 2004 to December 2009, a collaborative partnership between the University of Miami Environmental Management Team and Discovery Land Corporation has worked to document the research, monitoring and outreach activities needed to manage a small island resort development as a case study in sustainable tourism in The Bahamas. The overall goal of the contract was to establish and document environmentally-sound standards and develop management models for future developments on Out Islands in The Bahamas. A major component of the research was to establish measurable ecological criteria for development sustainability. This is a brief report on results through 2009 – since then Bakers Bay has abandoned any pretense of an environmental management programme.
The Baker’s Bay Club (BBC) Development project on Great Guana Cay, Abacos, The Bahamas prioritizes the incorporation of modern and environmentally-sensitive technologies to minimize negative impacts on natural communities (EIA, 2005). To facilitate these priorities, the project developers ((Discovery Land Company (DLC)) are working with the Biology Department at the University of Miami to implement an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) created for the BBC (Sealey et al, 2005). The EMP focuses on sustainable development and minimizing and monitoring potential ecological impacts from construction, waste disposal and pest management. The Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) developed for BBC addresses the problem of biting insect, rat, cat, and plant-parasite insect populations. The IPM presents guidelines for the project to achieve acceptable low levels of pest populations without compromising the environmental integrity or project goals.
Over the past two years, the UM EMT has recorded first the presence of feral cats around the Guana Seaside resort, and since January of 2006, a noticeable increase in cats not only around the resort but on the BBC property proposed preserve. The opening of roads and increased human activity on the BBC property may have facilitated feral cats to move north. The cats were seen as a significant threat to wildlife on the BBC property, particularly birds and small herpifauna. The EMT was particularly concerned with the threat of cats in the coastal buffer zone to emerging turtle hatchlings and nesting shore birds. The Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMP) calls for the removal and control of both feral cats and rats on the BBC property. Although cats may not be an immediate threat to Bahamas parrots on Guana
Since 2009, University of Miami ecologists, Exuma Foundation staff, and Exuma residents have worked to clean Lake Victoria, and restore the natural wetland environment in the center of historic George Town. Lake Victoria (aka “the Pond”) has suffered from a lack of coordinated management and poor coastal development practices; Victoria Pond was polluted and had been altered by roads, filling of wetlands and development for over 200 years.
The Victoria Pond restoration project aims to eliminate the very real public health threat of rats, mosquitoes, and leaching of raw sewage into protected wetlands and waterways, and provides an opportunity to inspire residents. Victoria Pond was the largest and deepest of a series of connected mangrove lakes that provided a critical habitat for wildlife like tarpon, bonefish, herons, egrets, and osprey, and that provided controlled flooding along the eastern ridges of Great Exuma.
The overall vision for the Victoria Pond restoration project is to demonstrate that a highly-altered coastal wetland can be restored and can regain ecological function. The project is designed to show the value of a protected wetland and coastal environment within a populated settlement; demonstrating that people can live alongside mangroves and their associated wildlife. The goals are:
1. To establish a local mangrove preserve that includes the Pond, an appropriate coastal buffer zone, channels, and associated embayment and ponds that will function as an ecological unit.
2. To complete the necessary clean-up, excavation, and restoration needed to restore natural drainage and tidal flow through the wetland preserve system; ultimately, the cleanup of Victoria Pond will improve the coastal water quality of Elizabeth Harbour.
3. To delineate the preserve area with markers and signage and restore native plant communities to the coastal zone of Victoria Pond.
4. To develop long-term community outreach and coastal stewardship programs to help maintain and finance the management of the Victoria Pond mangrove preserve.
5. To document measurable improvements in coastal water quality and near-shore fish habitat in the George Town environs over the ten-year project.
"Science Diplomacy Workshop on Sustainable Water Management" in Trieste, Italy, 30 November ‐ 4 December 2015
characterize and map the coastal ecology of tropical islands of The Bahamas. The
goal is to understand physical and biological processes that move energy and
matter across the land-sea interface, particularly those pathways that transport
pollutants from land to sea. This research will help set real ecological limits to
development on islands, and correlate coastal development to changes in the
ecology of near shore marine communities. Within the project scope, developed
and undeveloped areas will be investigated.
for sustainable development of small island states (Figure 1). The Poultry Research Unit (PRU) has been part of the MESI since 2005, with the primary focus of the Unit being the development
of poultry research needed to build new agricultural technologies and production models appropriate for small islands. The PRU is part of the research community of the MESI located within the new Office of Research, Graduate Programmes and International Relations (ORGPIR). Preliminary
talks have started to develop research partnerships with large research universities in the southeastern United States and the United Kingdom for poultry nutrition projects.
Over the past year, the PRU goals were to:
1. Develop better small-scale poultry production models;
2. Improve the nutritional value of broiler chickens; and
3. reduce the environmental impacts of intensive poultry farming.
The programmes initiated at the PRU are designed to improve animal health and animal husbandry practices. The PRU participated in meetings with the Caribbean Poultry Association to understand the regional threat of Avian Influenza, and took steps to improve bio-security protocols. Bio-security in poultry production will become more important as the PRU staff works to increase production and product quality while minimizing the use of antibiotics and growth stimulants. Major changes have occurred in the organization of the PRU over the past year:
• The poultry technician assigned from the Department of Agriculture was given an additional (third) year of secondment with the intention that he would join the staff of COB full-time in August 2007. This staff member was able to pursue a Master’s in Poultry Sciences at the University of Glasgow’s Scottish Agricultural College with an anticipated completion date of June 2008. With this additional expertise, the PRU is now ready to start pro-biotic research on growth enhancement for
broiler production in the 2007-2008 academic year;
A full-time poultry technician was seconded from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2004 to operate and oversee the husbandry. The management of the PRU was placed under the Marine and Environmental Sciences Institute (MESI) executive director with a PRU management committee made up of senior management from Academic Affairs, Legal Counsel, Finances and Facilities Administration. The PRU was built on a three acre lot provided by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) at the Agricultural Research Complex on Gladstone Road, New Providence. The PRU can produce approximately 24,000 chickens in one 6-week cycle utilising a tunnel-ventilation/evaporative cooling system.
The first production cycle was initiated in August of 2004. At the beginning of the 2005-2006 academic year, three cycles had been completed, with the sale of live chickens contracted to Diamond Farms (Mr. Charles Gibson) to generate revenue. In July 2005, the new Poultry Management Team was set up to coordinate the day-to-day management of the PRU under the MESI. Both the PRU and the MESI fall under the portfolio of the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences.
Poultry production in the country is critical to providing both locally-grown food as well as economic opportunities in the agriculture sector. There is a tremendous demand for chicken within the country, about 70% of the local demand is imported. A conservative estimate of local consumption is 100 pounds or 25 chickens per person per year. This translates to a family of four consuming about 2 chickens per week; or an annual consumption of 7 million chickens in The Bahamas, this does not include consumption by tourists.