Benthic Cover of Rocky Reefs on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula

64% of the benthic cover across four Yucatan Peninsula reef sites is dominated by macroalgae, with a strong negative correlation (r = -0.754) found between macroalgal abundance and long sediment-laden algal turf. The dataset contains measurements from bathymetric and underwater surveys, including rugosity indices and sediment grain sizes, collected by Ileana Ortegón-Aznar. This is the first reported study of rocky reefs on the Yucatan and Mexican Atlantic coast.

Use Cases

• Analyze the correlation between macroalgal abundance and long sediment-laden algal turf (LSAT) cover across different reef sites.
• Model benthic community composition (e.g., macroalgae, sponges) as a function of environmental factors like depth, sediment type, and topographic complexity.
• Map reef structures and rugosity indices from bathymetric surveys to assess habitat heterogeneity.
• Compare the benthic cover percentages (e.g., 64% macroalgae, 21% LSAT) across the four studied reef sites: Dzilam, Telchac, Progreso, and Chicxulub.

Strengths

• Dataset quantifies a strong negative correlation (r = -0.754, P < 0.0001) between macroalgal abundance and long sediment-laden algal turf.
• Provides the first reported ecological analysis of rocky reefs on the Yucatan and Mexican Atlantic coast.
• Includes specific, quantified benthic cover percentages: macroalgae (64%) and long sediment-laden algal turf (21%).
• Covers four distinct reef sites (Dzilam, Telchac, Progreso, Chicxulub) allowing for spatial comparison.

Limitations

• The dataset is very small at 5.5 KB, indicating limited scope and likely a low number of observations or summary statistics.
• Specific row and column counts are unknown, limiting assessment of dataset scale and feature detail.
• Geographic coverage is limited to four sites on the Yucatan Peninsula, which may not represent broader regional patterns.

Provenance

Source

Ileana Ortegón-Aznar via figshare.

Collection Method

Data gathered from bathymetric surveys for mapping and rugosity indices, and underwater surveys for benthic composition analysis.

Freshness

Last updated March 2026, indicating recent data or analysis.

Geography

Four rocky reef sites along the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: Dzilam (La Poza and Small Mountain Range), Telchac, Progreso, and Chicxulub.