Updating the understanding of lesser-known coral systems in the southern Mexican Pacific
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Abstract
Puerto Ángel (PA), Puerto Escondido (PE), and Punta Maldonado (PM) harbor coral ecosystems in the southern Mexican Pacific (SMP); however, they are among the least evaluated and prospected ecosystems. This work provides an inventory of coral species and contributes to the characterization of these systems for these areas. From 2009 to 2023, 15 sites (PA = 9; PE = 4; PM = 2) were prospected by roving diver surveys and point-intercept transects performed by SCUBA divers, as well as by remotely operated underwater vehicles. A total of 10 coral species (PA = 10; PE = 5; PM = 2) belonging to the genera Pocillopora (shallow water; <30 m depth), Pavona, and Porites (<37 m depth) were recorded. For the first time in PM, corals were recorded in deep waters (<37 m depth) and far from the coastline, which is uncommon for SMP systems. This may be due to the wider boundary of the mesophotic zone and the anomalous and extensive continental shelf formed by geological processes. Puerto Ángel had higher coral cover (30.2% ± 21.9) compared to that of PE (6.6% ± 8.7), which was dominated by rocky substrate. These percentages are lower than those reported for other regions of the SMP and are a consequence of the geomorphological characteristics of the areas, but they are mainly due to the anthropogenic disturbances they have experienced over time, such as changes in land use and the extraction of coral colonies for souvenir markets.
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