Abundance of coral-associated fauna in relation to depth and eutrophication along the leeward side of Curaçao, southern Caribbean

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 181; p. 105738
• Main Authors: van der Schoot, Roeland J., Hoeksema, Bert W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2022
• Subjects: Bioindicators; Boring mussels; Christmas tree worms; Coral barnacles; Coral gall crabs; Eutrophication; Pollution; Sewage; Coral barnacles; Pollution; Coral gall crabs; Sewage; Christmas tree worms; Bioindicators; Boring mussels; Eutrophication
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105738

Coral-associated invertebrates contribute much to the biodiversity of Caribbean coral reefs. Although the nature of their symbiotic relation is usually not fully understood, they can cause damage to their hosts, especially when they occur in high densities. The abundance of seven groups of coral-associated invertebrates was investigated on reefs along the leeward side of Curaçao, southern Caribbean. In particular, coral barnacles (Pyrgomatidae), boring mussels (Mytilidae: Leiosolenus spp.), gall crabs (Cryptochiridae), and Christmas tree worms (Serpulidae: Spirobranchus spp.) were recorded together with their host corals by means of a photo survey at four depths (5, 10, 15, 20 m) and across seven sites with high and five sites with low eutrophication values (based on δ15N isotope data). Feather duster worms (Sabellidae: Anamobaea), coral blennies (Chaenopsidae: Acanthemblemaria), and worm snails (Vermetidae: Petaloconchus) were insufficiently abundant for thorough quantitative analyses. The results show a decrease in the number of barnacles and Christmas tree worms per host over depth, which could be related to the availability of their host corals. Sites with high δ15N values show a higher abundance of barnacles and Christmas tree worms per host than sites with low values. This indicates that eutrophication could be favourable for these filter feeding organisms but when their densities become too high, they tend to overgrow their hosts and may become a threat to them. •Coral-associated fauna was surveyed across four depths and two eutrophication zones.•Numbers of coral barnacles and serpulid worms decreased with depth.•The number of boring mussels increased with depth.•Coral barnacles, boring mussels and serpulid worms showed highest densities in the most eutrophic zone.•There was a weak positive relation between the number of coral associates and the host size.