Abstract

CANDELARIA -SILVA, Carlos F. et al. Methodologic proporsal for reef communities mapping. TIP [online]. 2006, vol.9, n.2, pp.59-64. ISSN 1405-888X.

The cartography of coral reefs has been constituted in a valuable tool to know diverse biological phenomena and processes that happen in these communities, related with its space dimension. Maps have been used to represent topographical conformation of the reefs, distributional patterns of corals and other species, as referential for succession studies and for applied purposes related with conservation programs and sustainable development.

In this study a methodological proposal of underwater mapping is presented, applied to the reef community of San Agustin Bay, Huatulco, Oaxaca, that can be used in other places of the Mexican Tropical Pacific. The mapping protocol consists of four general phases: 1) planning and organization; 2) topographical survey; 3) data processing; and, 4) cartography.

Two bathymétrie maps were obtained, one two-dimensional representation (2D) and other three-dimensional (3D), showing complementary relief'features.

Keywords : Reef communities; Huatulco; reefs mapping; Mexican Tropical Pacific; methodological proposal of underwater mapping.