Recent declines in the coral fauna of the Spaanse Water, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

Over the last three decades the coral populations of the Spaanse Water have declined precipitously A comparison of survey data collected in 1961 and 1 992, indicates that this has been accompanied by some significant shifts in community composition. Based on the 19 sites studied, major losses in rela tive abundance have taken place for Colpophyllia natans and Dichocoenia sto kesii, whereas a major increase in relative abundance has taken place for S iderastrea siderea. Coral extension rates for S. siderea, the principal hea d coral of the bay, have been consistently low since the early 1980s. In ad dition, in comparison to a fringing reef reference population, remaining S. siderea coral heads within the Spaanse Water had highly elevated levels of partial mortality, These results are discussed in relation to various pote ntial underlying causes among which the extensive development of the bay fo r residential purposes since the early 1980s.