HOME │ ABOUT US  │ MEDIA  │ CONTACT  │ MEMBER LOGIN  │    Search
 
Where we work » Mesoamerica

 

Four new species of coral found in Southeast Asia
 24 October 2008: Marine scientists cite the discovery of at least four new coral species in the Philippines [read more]

NOAA bolsters satellite warning network
 10 October 2008: A satellite alert system that warns reef managers when there is an elevated risk of coral bleaching has been expanded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's Coral Reef Watch has expanded its network of 'virtual stations' monitoring ocean temperatures from 24 to 190 locations worldwide. [Read media release]

Light and Photosynthesis on Coral Reefs
An intensive postgraduate course on coral reef photobiology
19 January - 7 February 2009,
Puerto Morelos, Mexico. 
[ PDF ]

Moving to better climes
 23 July 2008: In the latest edition of the scientific journal Science, University of Queensland researchers, including the Chair of the CRTR Program's Centre of Excellence in Australasia, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, argue we need to consider the radical step of moving plants and animals, including marine life, to help them survive the impact of climate change. [Read summary]     

Ultimate guide to managing coral disease
 8 July 2008: The definitive management guide - handbook plus id cards for Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions - to identifying, assessing and managing coral reef diseases was launched at the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) and can be ordered online now.
[Read media release] [Read summaries] [Order online]       

Top award for CRTR researcher
 21 May 2008: CRTR Program researcher, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, has been awarded the Queensland Government’s top science award. Chair of the CRTR Bleaching Working Group, and also of its Australasian Centre of Excellence, Professor Hoegh-Guldberg was one of the world's first scientists to show how projected changes in global climate threaten coral reefs including Australia's Great Barrier Reef......
[Read UQ News]      

Indian Ocean coral shows partial recovery
 15 May 2008: An unusual spike in sea temperatures a decade ago killed coral throughout the Indian Ocean, dropping the average healthy, hard coral cover to 15 percent of reefs from 40 percent before. CRTR researcher, Dr Tim McClanahan, said hard coral cover had recovered to 30 percent by 2005, although the data masked big variations.....
[Read Reuters Africa article]      

Strange days on planet earth
 5 May 2008: The award winning National Geographic program Strange Days on Planet Earth recently premiered Episode 6 (Dirty Secrets). This features the CRTR Program’s Roberto Iglesias-Prieto and his colleagues in the Caribbean who are “studying how CO2, one of our largest industrial waste products, is impacting coral reefs”.
[Read article]      

   

 
 Print   
   Minimize

CRTR CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: MESOAMERICA/WESTERN CARIBBEAN
Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos (UAPM), Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

The Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos (UAPM) in Mesoamerica is one of four Coral Reef Targeted Research & Capacity Building for Management (CRTR) Program Centers of Excellence throughout the world. Each Center aims to build the necessary scientific information for management and policy so that coral reef ecosystems, under threat from climate change and multiple human stresses, can be sustained for current and future generations. The Centers of Excellence also act as important bases for the CRTR Working Groups.

The Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos is the focus for coral reef research in the Western Carribean and is responsible for maintaining close ties with national and local organizations including government agencies in charge of fisheries, the environment, science and technology. It also maintains research partnerships with numerous institutions in Mexico and abroad, as well as contact with local and regional NGOs. In addition it maintains involvement with activities and projects relevant to the CRTR Program.

Reef and Research Information

The Mesoamerican Centre of Excellence works with the Bleaching, Disease, Remote Sensing, and Restoration & Remediation Working Groups in undertaking and hosting research. Further to the Working Group activities, the Centre is also conducting two local research projects looking at (1) the development of a hydrodynamic model for the circulation of the reef lagoon, and (2) an analysis of the local watershed to assess the influence of groundwater on the reef lagoon. These projects will benefit the managers of the local marine protected areas, with the early results already being incorporated into direct management actions.
 
The CoE links the scientific results to local managers and policy decision-makers by participating in local, regional and national forums including the National Scientific Advisory Council on Coral Reefs for the Mexican Federal Government, and in maintaining constant communication with the management community through the participation at advisory committees and workshops.
 Print   
 Information resources Minimize  
  • Short Course: 19 Jan - 7 Feb, 2009 Intensive postgraduate course on coral reef photobiology [download]
  • Poster: CRTR Program Centres of Excellence [download]
  • Brochure: CRTR Program Summary [download]
  • On the circulation in the Puerto Morelos fringing reef lagoon - reprint from Coral Reefs, 2007 [download 2.8MB]
 Print   
 Contact - CRTR Program Mesoamerica/ Western Caribbean Centre of Excellence Minimize  

Chair: Dr Roberto Iglesias-Prieto
Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos (UAPM)
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Apartado Postal 1152
Cancún 77500, QR
México
Ph : +52 (998) 871 02 19
Fax: +52 (998) 871 01 38
 Print   
 Partners Minimize  
 Print   
 
   Login Terms Of Use Privacy Statement Copyright (c) 2008 Gefcoral
Mesoamerica, Centre of Excellence East Afrcia, Centre of Excellence South-East Asia, Centre of Excellence Australasia, Centre of Excellence