Coral Reefs Community Structure in Pemba, Northern Mozambique: 2012 vs 2016

da Silva, I.M.; Lobo, M.; Muipela, A.; Rocha, R.J.M., and Quintino, V., 2024. Coral reefs community structure in Pemba, Northern Mozambique: 2012 vs 2016. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 931-935. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The composition of the coral community in Pemba, Northern Mozambique, was assessed in 2012 and 2016. The composition and coral coverage were evaluated in two sites, Kaori and Wimbe, by analyzing 20-meter transects of 40 underwater photographs, each arranged along the reef crest. The coral community changed during the study period, with decreasing coverage of the reef-building coral and increasing macroalgae and soft coral. These findings suggest a potential long-term change to soft coral- or macroalgae-dominated reefs, combining climate change with anthropogenic forcing, mainly due to fishing and urban pressure. In 2019, cyclone Kenneth destroyed most of the reef, especially the ones under study. The monitoring places still didn't recover after the cyclone, which is mainly rubble, probably due to the area's extensive use of fishing nets.