scholarly journals Eunicida and Amphinomida polychaetes (Annelida) inhabiting dead coral fragments in the Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve, Mexican Caribbean

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (S5) ◽  
pp. S16-S38
Author(s):  
Pablo Hernández-Alcántara ◽  
Ismael Narciso Cruz-Pérez ◽  
Vivianne Solís-Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
New Records ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Scuba Diving ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Taxonomic Composition ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
Western Caribbean

ABSTRACT. Introduction: The polychaete fauna inhabiting Chinchorro Bank has been poorly studied and only 35 species have been previously reported. Objective: To examine the taxonomic composition of the Eunicida and Amphinomida associated to dead coral substrates from this coral reef atoll, a Biosphere Reserve located in the southern Mexican Caribbean. Methods: In April 2008, dead coral fragments of the genus Porites were manually collected by SCUBA diving at eight stations between 4-16.2 m depth. Results: A total of 714 individuals belonging to 17 genera and 48 species of the families Amphinomidae, Dorvilleidae, Eunicidae, Lumbrineridae, Oenonidae and Onuphidae were identified. Eunicidae was clearly the more diverse (29 species; 60.4 %) and abundant family (479 individuals; 67.1 %), while the Oenonidae and Onuphidae were represented by only one individual-species each. Thirty-eight species (79.2 %) were new records for Chinchorro Bank, of which 23 species (47.9 %) were newly reported for the Western Caribbean ecoregion. Conclusions: The polychaete fauna recorded showed that the Chinchorro Bank reef is a species-rich habitat that deserves further study; the 48 species from six families identified were similar or even greater than the number of species reported from dead coral environments of other Caribbean Sea regions.

scholarly journals Diversity of Siphonophora (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) in the Western Caribbean Sea: new records from deep-water trawls

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 2095 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
REBECA GASCA
Keyword(s):  
Deep Water ◽  
New Records ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Tropical Atlantic ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
Surface Samples ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
Western Caribbean ◽  
The Caribbean

Siphonophores are one of the least known gelatinous zooplankters in the tropical waters of the Northwestern Atlantic. Most of the regional knowledge about their diversity and distribution is based on surface samples (0–200 m). Siphonophores were collected from oceanic waters off the Mexican Caribbean across an expanded sampling range (0–940 m) during two cruises and were taxonomically examined. A total of 47 siphonophore species were recorded, of these, 14 had not been found in this sector of the Caribbean Sea and 10 represent new records for the Caribbean Basin. The number of species currently known from the western Caribbean is increased from 42 to 56. Some of these species also represent new records for the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic region. The greatest relative increase was observed among species of Lensia, five of which are exclusively deep-living forms dwelling below 300 m. A revised, expanded checklist of the siphonophores of the Western Caribbean is also provided. These results confirm the need of further deep sampling to increase our understanding of Caribbean siphonophore diversity.

Composition and diversity patterns of Eunicida and Amphinomida (Annelida) associated to dead coral in the Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 99 (7) ◽  
pp. 1547-1555
Author(s):  
Pablo Hernández-Alcántara ◽  
Ismael Narciso Cruz-Pérez ◽  
Vivianne Solís-Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Central Zone ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Dominant Factor ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Diversity Patterns ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
The Family ◽  
Northern Zone

AbstractThe present study is the first attempt to describe beta-diversity patterns in polychaetes of the Caribbean Sea, analysing depth changes in species composition of the Eunicida and Amphinomida inhabiting dead coral in Chinchorro Bank, southern Mexican Caribbean. In April 2008, dead coral fragments were collected by scuba diving in eight stations along two bathymetric gradients (4–9 m and 7–16.2 m depth); 755 individuals from 53 species of the families Amphinomidae, Dorvilleidae, Eunicidae, Lumbrineridae, Oenonidae and Onuphidae were identified. The highest number of species (32) and individuals (514) were found in the family Eunicidae. The Northern transect harboured 36 species, on average 18.75 ind. L−1, which decreased linearly with depth; the Central transect had 43 species, on average 19.01 ind. L−1, which increased at middle depths. The species inhabiting both these zones were moderately different (βsor = 0.603): 49.06% of the fauna occurred on both transects, but the components of beta-diversity, turnover and nestedness, displayed distinct patterns: in the Northern one replacement was the dominant factor (βsim = 0.3–1; βnes = 0–0.091), practically representing all faunal differences (βsor = 0.391–1); in the Central, dissimilarity due to nestedness increased (βnes = 0.031–0.829), mainly at the shallowest stations, but from 5 m depth, beta-diversity was almost completely explained by species replacement (βsim = 0.417–0.5; βnes = 0.031–0.318). Faunal differences were mostly related to higher abundances of Lysidice caribensis, Eunice goodei and Lumbrineris floridana in the Northern zone, and Lumbrineris perkinsi, Nicidion obtusa, Lysidice caribensis, Lumbrineris floridana, Lysidice unicornis and Eunice mutilata in the Central zone.

scholarly journals Taxonomic richness and abundance of cryptic peracarid crustaceans in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luz Veronica Monroy-Velázquez ◽  
Rosa Elisa Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
Fernando Alvarez
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
National Park ◽  
New Records ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Back Reef ◽  
Taxonomic Richness ◽  
Coral Rubble ◽  
Fore Reef ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
Reef Fauna

Background and Aims Cryptic peracarids are an important component of the coral reef fauna in terms of diversity and abundance, yet they have been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the taxonomic richness and abundance of cryptic peracarids in coral rubble in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park, Mexico (PMRNP), and their relationship with depth. Methods Three reef sites were selected: (1) Bonanza, (2) Bocana, and (3) Jardines. At each site six kilograms of coral rubble were collected over four sampling periods at three depths: 3 m (back-reef), 6–8 m (fore-reef), and 10–12 m (fore-reef). Results A total of 8,887 peracarid crustaceans belonging to 200 taxa distributed over five orders and 63 families was obtained; 70% of the taxa were identified to species and 25% to genus level. Fifty species of those collected represent new records for the Mexican Caribbean Sea. Isopoda was the most speciose order while Tanaidacea was the most abundant. Discussion Cryptic peracarid taxonomic richness and abundance were related to depth with higher values of both parameters being found in the shallow (3 m) back-reef, possibly due to a higher reef development and a greater accumulation of coral rubble produced during hurricanes. Peracarid data obtained in the present study can be used as a baseline for future monitoring programs in the PMRNP.

Sipunculans associated with dead coral skeletons in the Santa Marta region of Colombia, south-western Caribbean

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
pp. 1785-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E. Gómez ◽  
Néstor E. Ardila ◽  
Adolfo Sanjuan-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Discrete Component ◽  
Massive Coral ◽  
Coral Skeletons ◽  
Montastraea Annularis ◽  
Western Caribbean ◽  
The Caribbean

Sipunculans represent a discrete component of the coral reef ecosystem, since they live inside the calcareous structure. They are an important component in terms of biomass and number of organisms. The present study describes the diversity of sipunculans living inside massive coral skeletons. A total of 43 blocks of dead coral skeletons from Montastraea cavernosa, Montastraea annularis and Diploria strigosa were collected from nearby coral reef areas off Santa Marta, on the Colombian Caribbean coast. Using hammer and chisel, blocks of approximately 1 dm3 were broken into small pieces, from which the sipunculans were extracted. A total of 381 organisms were obtained from the coral blocks comprising four families and 10 species. All the species found have been widely reported in different studies from the Caribbean region. Aspidosiphon fischeri and Phascolosoma perlucens were the two most abundant species comprising more than 60% of the total organisms with a mean density of 18.52 ± 4.64 organisms dm−3. Dead coral substrate from M. cavernosa had the greatest abundance (N = 148), followed by D. strigosa (N = 121) and M. annularis (N = 112). There were no significant differences in the abundance, richness, and diversity of sipunculans between coral skeletons; and within samples there was high variability suggesting that the skeletal substrates analysed came from coral skeletons of different unknown ages of succession. These results describe the sipunculan community structure that live inside three important massive coral skeletons, and contributes to the knowledge of the cryptobiota diversity of the Santa Marta area of Colombia.

First Inventory of Sea Anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria) of the Mexican Caribbean

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3556 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICARDO GONZALEZ-MUÑOZ ◽  
NUNO SIMÕES ◽  
JUDITH SANCHEZ-RODRIGUEZ ◽  
ESTEFANIA RODRIGUEZ ◽  
LOURDES SEGURA-PUERTAS
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
New Records ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Mexican Caribbean

Ten species of sea anemones (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) are documented in the Mexican Caribbean based on observations andcollections in 11 coral reef localities during 2006–2011; three of them are new records for Mexico. These species belongto families Actiniidae, Aiptasiidae, Aliciidae, Boloceroididae, Phymanthidae, and Stichodactylidae. Although these do notrepresent all species reported in the Mexican Caribbean, these are the most abundant and conspicuous. This work represents the first inventory of sea anemones of the Mexican Caribbean.

Description of Mooreonuphis bidentata a new species of Onuphidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Mexican Caribbean with remarks on the distribution of the genus

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 981-990
Author(s):  
Samantha Karina Rupit-Arteaga ◽  
Pablo Hernández-Alcántara ◽  
Vivianne Solís-Weiss
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Dead Coral ◽  
Taxonomic Key ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Locus Typicus

Mooreonuphis bidentata, a new species of onuphid polychaete, is newly described from the Mexican Caribbean. It was found in dead coral rocks at depths of 2.2 m and can be distinguished from its congeners by having simple filaments branchiae from chaetigers 19–24, as well as bi- and tridentate pseudocompound falcigers and large median simple tridentate hooded hooks in the first four chaetigers. Including M. bidentata sp. nov., the genus Mooreonuphis includes 19 species, which have been exclusively collected on the American coasts, mainly in tropical and temperate waters. From the Caribbean Sea, six species have been recorded. Of these, M. bidentata sp. nov, M. cirrata, M. dangrigae and M. intermedia are the only species having their locus typicus in this tropical region. A taxonomic key is presented for all the species of Mooreonuphis recorded from both sides of the American seas.

Distribution and Abundance of Phyllosoma Larvae (Decapoda, Palinuridae) in the Southern Gulf of Mexico and the Western Caribbean Sea

Crustaceana ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca Gasca ◽  
Heyden Manzanilla-Dominguez
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Retention System ◽  
Mexican Caribbean ◽  
Caribbean Area ◽  
Western Caribbean ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Phyllosoma Larvae

AbstractFrom plankton samples collected during two oceanographic expeditions in the southern Gulf of Mexico (1991) and five in the Mexican Caribbean Sea, we studied the composition, abundance, and distribution of the phyllosoma larvae. A total of 118 phyllosomas belonging to five species of lobster were recorded. Panulirus argus was the most abundant and dominant, it represented 73.9% of the total number of phyllosomas collected, followed by Scyllarides aequinoctialis (18.0%). The phyllosomas were distributed mainly in the coastal areas, with decreasing densities oceanwards. Highest larval concentrations were recorded near the outer border of the Campeche Bank shelf in the southern Gulf of Mexico. In the Mexican Caribbean area, phyllosomas were most abundant around Banco Chinchorro, off Espiritu Santo Bay and Ascension Bay, and near Isla Mujeres; these are well-known spawning areas for the spiny lobster, P. argus and are indicated by the presence of the earliest larval stages. The oldest larvae were concentrated on the Campeche Bank; this was attributed to the effect of a local gyre that retains these larvae. The youngest phyllosomas tended to have an oceanic distribution thus allowing them to enter the oceanic system of mesoscale gyres of the Gulf. In the Mexican Caribbean the coastal shoreward currents seem to act as a retention system for lobster larvae. The distribution of the phyllosoma stages in the Caribbean area suggests a continuous presence of different stages year-round. Some of these larvae, in the northeastern sector, would likely be transported to the Campeche Bank.

scholarly journals Fatal predation of oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus (Gempylidae), by a young short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus (Delphinidae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
María del Carmen García-Rivas ◽  
Juan J. Schmitter-Soto ◽  
Jonathan Pérez-Flores
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
New Records ◽  
Caribbean Sea ◽  
First Record ◽  
Pilot Whale ◽  
Mexican Caribbean

We found a dead whale (Globicephalus macrorhynchus) whose probable cause of death was an internal injury produced by a 1m-long oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) that had bitten the whale´s stomach from the inside. This is the first record of an oilfish in Mexican Caribbean waters. KEY WORDSMarine mammals, mesopelagic fishes, feeding behavior, new records, Caribbean sea

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