Cryptofaunal diversity in fringing reef rhodoliths

Rhodolith distribution, morphology, and cryptofauna have been minimally studied on fringing reefs. We present the first study to examine both rhodolith distribution and associated cryptofauna in a tropical fringing reef, located along the microtidal, wave-dominated north shore of Moorea, French Poly...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Coral reefs 2022-02, Vol.41 (1), p.199-212
Hauptverfasser: Abrecht, Mira, Peinemann, Viktor Nunes, Yazaryan, Ara Kevork, Kestler, Madeline, DeMattei, Braden Charles, Hà, Benjamin A., Ryznar, Emily, Jacobs, David K.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Rhodolith distribution, morphology, and cryptofauna have been minimally studied on fringing reefs. We present the first study to examine both rhodolith distribution and associated cryptofauna in a tropical fringing reef, located along the microtidal, wave-dominated north shore of Moorea, French Polynesia. We find higher abundances of larger, rounder, and more branching rhodoliths in locations where longer waves impact the fringing reef. Among 1879 animals extracted and identified from 145 rhodoliths, ophiuroids, polychaetes, decapod crustaceans, and gastropods are most abundant, with a wide range of additional taxa contributing to diversity. Large and branching rhodoliths contain the greatest number and diversity of cryptofaunal organisms and are the preferred habitat of rigid-bodied, non-burrowing forms. Overall, exposure to waves entering the lagoon through passes appears to be a critical determinant of rhodolith abundance, morphotype, and in turn cryptofaunal composition in fringing reef habitats.
ISSN:0722-4028
1432-0975
DOI:10.1007/s00338-021-02214-7