Hi, my name is Matthew, a postgraduate student at the University of Portsmouth. I have been in Belize on and off for the past 3 years devoting my time to local marine conservation and education initiatives, as well as assisting with monitoring programs in Belize. For the past few months I have been working on logistics and setting up partnerships for my M.Phil research. Now with the great news that ZSL has awarded my research with the Erasmus Darwin Barlow expedition grant, I am now heading up a team to investigate spatial scale dependence of the biodiversity structure and ecosystem functions of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The aim of this project is to provide valuable information about the effects of spatial scale on biodiversity and habitat linkage through the characterization and understanding of spatial structure across multiple scales, habitats and the distribution of species. The collected data will enable knowledge-based MPA management that takes better account of the ecological roles played by coral reef species, resulting in environmental, social and economic benefit from marine resources. The task of acquiring multiscale, quantitative biogeographic data based on species abundances and functional characteristics will be central to this endeavor.

Why is this important? Currently, the worldwide decline of coral reefs has highlighted the need to understand habitat connections and the functional consequences of biodiversity loss. In many cases, the management strategies of protected reefs have failed to achieve their conservation objectives and, at a local regional and global scale, reefs worldwide are still declining as a consequence of human pressures and global climate change.

The Belize Barrier Reef Complex (part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef) is internationally recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ containing unique and rare ecosystems. The site contains a number of species listed from threatened to critically endangered. Much pressure is placed on the system through climate change, mangrove clearance, dredging and development, urban growth, land run-off from agriculture, aquaculture effluents, shipping pollution and waste, physical impacts, disease, illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and uncontrolled tourism. The report after a UNESCO/IUCN monitoring mission conducted in March 2009 concluded that the site is faced with specific and proven imminent danger, and should be considered for immediate inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

While putting together the project and working out locations for the research I was able to enlist a graduate student, Sara Fowell from the University of Southampton and a Biologist stationed at the South Water Caye Marine Reserve Fisheries Base in Belize, Elias Canton to assist with a number of sites in Belize. However, my core team, who will conduct work at all sites, consists of two people: myself, and Michelle Smith my amazing partner whose assistance has been invaluable in organizing and setting up contacts and logistics. The process of setting up locations has enabled us to make connections with a number of NGO’s in the region who will be assisting in various ways such as additional personnel on the dives, boats and captains, accommodation and other logistics. These NGO’s include:

• Centro Ecologico Akumal (CEA) in Mexico
• Southern Environmental Association (SEA) in Belize
• Blue Ventures (Belize Base)
• Utila Centre for Marine Ecology (UCME) in Utila Honduras

As well as these NGO’s we will be working with the Belize Fisheries Department who are keen to learn our methodologies and take part in this research.

We have 10 proposed sites:

Akumal (Mexico)

• Sian Ka’an (Mexico)
• Bacalar Chico (Belize)
• Caye Caulker  (Belize)
• Emily  (Belize)
• Carrie Bow Caye (Belize)
• Glover’s Reef Atoll (Belize)
• Pelican Cayes (Belize)
• Sapodilla Cayes (Belize)
• Utila (Honduras)

All preparations are now made and we are now ready to get underway. First stop is Akumal in the North of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. From there, back down to Belize for a few sites and then the Bay Islands in Honduras.  Busy times are ahead!

Matthew