title: Health of the coral reefs at the US Navy Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba: a preliminary report based on isotopic records from gorgonians.
abstract: Specimens of the gorgonian Plexaura homomalla were sampled from several areas along the fringing reefs fronting the United States Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Sample coverage extended from apparently healthy reefs in oceanic waters to declining reefs located in the plume of the drainage from upper parts of Guantánamo Bay. Tentacle tips were excised, and trunk sections were cut and polished. Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ(15)N) and carbon indicate a strong correlation of reef health with proximity to the plume of the river. Of all the worldwide cases in which land-based sources of pollution have impacted reefs, this one may well be the most intractable. The US Navy has jurisdiction over the reefs, with the obligation to protect them, yet the threat comes down the river from Cuba.
authors.affiliation: PO Box 1195, Durham, Ont. N0G 1R0, Canada. Electronic address: riskmj@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Risk
authors.affiliation: Dep't. of Archeology, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland, Canada. Electronic address: mburchell@mun.ca.
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burchell
authors.affiliation: Baird Engineering, Oakville, Ont., Canada. Electronic address: abrunton@baird.com.
authors.forename: Dalston A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brunton
authors.affiliation: Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Electronic address: Michael.McCord@gtmo.navy.mil.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McCord
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D061006:Bays; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D057894:Coral Reefs; D003462:Cuba; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes
keywords: Coral reefs; Eutrophication; Gorgonians; Guantánamo; Nitrogen isotopes