Jaaziel E. García-Hernández

Abstract

Coral reefs are known to be among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems and one of the richest in terms of associations and species interactions, especially those involving invertebrates such as corals and sponges. Despite that, our knowledge about cryptic fauna and their ecological role remains remarkably scarce. This study aimed to address this gap by defining for the first time the spatial ecology of the association between the epibiont hydrozoan Nemalecium lighti and the Porifera community of shallow coral reef systems at Bonaire. In particular, the host range, prevalence, and distribution of the association were examined in relation to different sites, depths, and dimensions of the sponge hosts. We report Nemalecium lighti to be in association with 9 out of 16 genera of sponges encountered and 15 out of 16 of the dive sites examined. The prevalence of the hydroid–sponge association in Bonaire reef was 6.55%, with a maximum value of over 30%. This hydrozoan has been found to be a generalist symbiont, displaying a strong preference for sponges of the genus Aplysina, with no significant preference in relation to depth. On the contrary, the size of the host appeared to influence the prevalence of association, with large tubular sponges found to be the preferred host. Although further studies are needed to better understand the biological and ecological reason for these results, this study improved our knowledge of Bonaire’s coral reef cryptofauna diversity and its interspecific associations. View Full-Text

Abstract

Marine community datasets are key to the effective management and conservation of marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, which are increasingly threatened by a myriad of stressors. Although community information exists for many comparatively well-studied taxa, other common groups remain to be examined for even such basic information. In this study, we report on the zoantharian communities (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Hexacorallia: Zoantharia) on the reefs of Bonaire in the southern Caribbean, and compare current results from 30, 20, 10, and 5 m depths to recent similar surveys from nearby Curaçao. The surveys revealed a total of 17 zoantharian species and epibiotic associations on the reefs of Bonaire. Additionally, results showed that while zoantharian assemblages around Bonaire at shallow 5 and 10 m depths, dominated by Palythoa spp., were similar to those found on Curaçao, diversity and numbers of zoantharians were higher at 20 and 30 m due to more abundant epibiotic Parazoanthidae species associated with sponges. Differences in assemblage structure were seen in deeper 20 and 30 m depths between the two islands, implying that conservation of deeper reef slopes, or along depth gradients, may need to be independently considered and addressed for each location. Analyses with environmental parameters on the Bonaire dataset indicate the potential importance of coral reef rugosity and physical structure in shaping these zoantharian communities, aspects that should be focused on in more detail in future research.

Read the full article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-022-02226-x

Brachyuran crabs of various families are known as obligate associates of stony corals, with many of these species living as endosymbionts inside the skeleton of their hosts. In particular, coral gall crabs (Cryptochiridae) have been well studied in tropical coral reefs around the world. These crabs can be recognized by the shape of their dwellings (or pits), which may be crescent-shaped or resemble a slit, a canopy, a basket, or a gall, depending on the identity and morphology of their host, and on the position inside the host’s skeleton. Cryptochirids are each known to be associated with a few scleractinian host species (Anthozoa: Scleractinia) or only one. Crabs of the species Latopilumnus tubicolus Türkay and Schuhmacher, 1985 (Pilumnidae), have so far only been reported as endosymbionts of the Indo-Pacific scleractinian Tubastraea micranthus (Ehrenberg, 1834). Their dwellings are unique because they start in one of the coral’s calyces from where they penetrate deep inside the coral branches, becoming long and tubular, whereas the pits (or cysts) of cryptochirids remain relatively shallow.

Article referenced in BioNews 34 article "New discoveries on relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms"

Caribbean Christmas tree worms (Annelida: Polychaeta: Serpulidae: Spirobranchus) are considered host generalists in their associations with anthozoan (Scleractinia) and hydrozoan (Millepora) stony corals. As planktonic larvae, they settle on coral surfaces and start secreting a calcareous tube to be used as a dwelling. This tube usually becomes overgrown by the host coral (except for its opening) and may get encapsulated deep inside the coral skeleton. In this manner, the well-protected worms grow and survive predation and other hazards, allowing them to live for over four decades. When the host corals are overgrown by other organisms, such as octocorals and sponges, these may act as secondary hosts.

The long lists of Caribbean host species suggest that the recorded number has reached a maximum. However, recent surveys (2015–2019) in the southern and eastern Caribbean, as well as in the Greater Antilles, enabled us to establish new records of two primary hosts (scleractinians) and two secondary hosts (a zoantharian and an ascidian).

Article referenced in BioNews 34 article "New discoveries on relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms"