The importance of the gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata (Lamarck) and the polychaete Hermodice carunculata (Pallas) as coral reef predators

1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1651-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Ott ◽  
John B. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
West Indies ◽  
Coral Tissue ◽  
Living Coral ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Reef Corals ◽  
Porites Porites ◽  
Hermodice Carunculata ◽  
Montastrea Annularis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Coralliophila Abbreviata

The importance of the stenoglossan prosobranch gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata (Lamarck) and the amphinomid errant polychaete Hermodice carunculata (Pallas) as coral predators in Barbados, West Indies, was investigated. Coralliophila normally feeds upon the coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander), can consume up to 9 cm2 of tissue in 24 h, and has a mean density of 13 individuals per square meter of living coral in shallow water. Hermodice normally feeds upon the zooanthid Palythoa mammillosa (Ellis and Solander) and the corals Porites porites (Pallas) and Porites astreoides Lamarck. The mean density of Hermodice was less than one individual per square meter of surface of living prey and large worms could consume up to 3 cm2 of living coral tissue in a 3-h feeding period. Because of the low densities of the predators the preference of Hermodice for the zooanthid Palythoa and the fact that Coralliophila feeds only rarely, they did not cause extensive damage to reef corals.

scholarly journals INTERACCIONES ENTRE CORALES Y MACROALGAS: DEPENDENCIA DE LAS ESPECIES INVOLUCRADAS

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Márquez ◽  
Juan Manuel Díaz
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Dependence Relation ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Intrinsic Factors ◽  
Porites Porites ◽  
Interacting Species ◽  
The Past ◽  
Montastrea Annularis

Macroalgae proliferation on coral reefs has been a recognized phenomenon for the past two decades and is generally entitled to the human activities on the coasts. Even thought, the role of competition in this process is not clear and it has been assumed that algae are competitively superior to corals, even when it has been demonstrated that this is not always the case. It is probable that the result of coral-macroalgae depends upon the species involved. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that there is a dependence relation between interaction category and interacting species. In order to resolve this, quantifications of interactions per category along 20 m transects were done on three representative localities at the Archipielago de San Bernardo. The results show a significant dependency between interaction category and coral-macroalgae combinations. The highest percentage of encounters at the R (overgrowth) category was that one between Halimeda opuntia, and the coral species Montastrea annularis, Porites astreoides and Porites porites, as well as this last coral with the alga Lobophora variegta. Halimeda discoidea was the macroalgae with the highest percentage of interactions on the categories CP (peripheral contact), CT (tissue contact) and NC (no contact). At the CP category, it was common to find the interactions between the coral M. annularis and the algae H. opuntia and Dictyota bartayresiana besides the interactions with the red calcareous algae group. All this have led us to conclude that the intrinsic factors, those inherent to the coral and macroalga species involved in interactions, have the potential to determine the category of interaction or the way these two benthic components relate to each other.

scholarly journals Coverage Increases of Porites astreoides in Grenada Determined by Shifts in Size-Frequency Distribution

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 288
Author(s):  
Ryan G. Eagleson ◽  
John S. Lumsden ◽  
Lorenzo Álvarez-Filip ◽  
Christophe M. Herbinger ◽  
Ryan A. Horricks
Keyword(s):  
Coral Community ◽  
Scleractinian Corals ◽  
Area Measurement ◽  
Coralline Algae ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Size Frequency Distribution ◽  
Point Count ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Caribbean

Despite coral community collapse, the mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) is a species currently experiencing success throughout the Caribbean. The inshore reefs of Grenada were selected to study the influence of benthic factors on the abundance, size, and coverage of P. astreoides colonies. Surveys of reef communities along established 30 m transects were conducted at eight sites in 2014 and 2017 using a 0.5 m² quadrat. Coral Point Count was used to annotate the images, estimating the coverage of scleractinian corals, sponges, algae, and benthic substrates. Coverage, size, and abundance of P. astreoides colonies were quantified using the area measurement tool in ImageJ standardized against the quadrats. There were significant differences in benthic community assemblages between islands, selected sites, and between years. From 2014 to 2017 there was a significant decrease in the mean abundance of P. astreoides colonies and significant increases in mean colony size and coverage. The presence of P. astreoides colonies was significantly correlated with: rubble (−), sand (−); pavement (+); macroalgae (−); coralline algae (+); sponges (varying response); gorgonians (−); massive corals (+); and branching corals (−). P. astreoides follows similar recruitment patterns as other scleractinian corals. Observed changes in P. astreoides populations appear to indicate a recovery event following a disturbance, potentially tropical storm Chantal in 2013.

Historic records of phosphorus levels in the reef-building coral Montastrea annularis from Tobago, West Indies

1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1012-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kishan Kumarsingh ◽  
Richard Laydoo ◽  
Jeffery K. Chen ◽  
Avril M. Siung-Chang
Keyword(s):  
West Indies ◽  
Historic Records ◽  
Montastrea Annularis ◽  
Phosphorus Levels

scholarly journals Examining Solid Waste Practices and Littering at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Vaughn-Xavier Jameer ◽  
Ambika Mallian ◽  
Trina Halfhide
Keyword(s):  
Solid Waste ◽  
West Indies ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Kernel Density ◽  
Solid Waste Disposal ◽  
The West ◽  
Student Activity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The University ◽  
Activity Centre

Littering is a rampant problem and rooted in human behaviour. This study aims to record, categorise, and examine spatial patterns between pieces of litter and trash and recycling bins across the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. The geographic location of pieces of litter and bins (trash and recycling) were recorded and georeferenced to a campus base-map. A total of 10, 889 pieces of litter were recorded over the 7-day survey. The majority of litter was plastic (47.6%) and cigarettes (24.1%). The litter on campus was not evenly distributed. The kernel density estimation demonstrated that there was an obvious hotspot in the south-east of campus at the student activity centre (SAC), where there were more than 5 pieces of litter per sq. meter. The total of 182 bins was recorded and the mean distance between bins was 13.0 meters. Most of the bins were clustered in the southwest end of the hotspot, near the SAC. In addition, there were no recycling bins placed in this location. A recycling bin should be located in the SAC, as there are the most littering offenses, and recycling success with plastic items can be improved. Using a uniform colour for trash bins may increase proper solid waste disposal and reduce littering.

scholarly journals An account of some experiments made in the West Indies and North America, to determine the relative magnetic forces, in the Years 1831, 32, and 33

1837 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 253-253
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
West Indies ◽  
Great Care ◽  
The West ◽  
Magnetic Forces ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Made In

The experiments of which the results are given in this paper were made by Mr. James Napier, late Master of H. M. S. Winchester. The needles were precisely similar to those used in the experiments described by the author in a former paper; and the observations were made with great care, and repeated several times at the same places; by which it appeared that the intensities of the needles continued unchanged during the whole period of the experiments; and the mean of all those made at one place was taken as the result. From these the relative forces at different places were computed, and stated in the form of a table.

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