Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Seminar of Aliyah Griffith

Coral Reef Structure, Community Composition Shifts, and the Complexities of Coral Reef Management across three regions in the Greater Caribbean and Florida 

Coral reef ecosystems, crucial for food provision, hurricane protection, and socio-economic stability, are threatened by coral diseases, hurricane impacts, ocean warming, and local human activities. Recent studies revealed a global decline in reef ecosystem health and structural integrity, especially in the Caribbean. Despite their socio-economic importance, the Caribbean has lost up to 80% of their coral reefs and consistent long-term studies in some regions are still lacking. Given the pivotal role of Caribbean reefs in supporting ecotourism, understanding reef health and structure and assessing the effectiveness of existing management strategies is essential. The current study (1) tracks the presence and absence of resilient Floridian corals in museum collections for over 100 years, (2) assesses changes in reef structural framework and associated habitat availability in Barbados, and (3) evaluates current reef management strategies and their socio-economic impacts on Caribbean coastal communities, including Barbados, Jamaica, and Belize. By focusing on specific Caribbean regions, this study will inform restoration and conservation efforts at local reef sites to help ensure the sustainability of these reef ecosystems.