Document of bibliographic reference 287999

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Helioseris cucullata as a host coral at St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean

Abstract

In order to demonstrate how scleractinian corals contribute to marine biodiversity by their host function, information on associated fauna was gathered during a biological survey at St. Eustatius, eastern Caribbean. This knowledge is especially urgent for a host coral such as Helioseris cucullata (Agariciidae), which has undergone strong declines in abundance at various Caribbean localities and has a poor record of associated fauna. New records of H. cucullata as host are presented for the coral gall crab Opecarcinus hypostegus (Cryptochiridae), the Christmas tree worm Spirobranchus giganteus (Serpulidae) and an unidentified serpulid tube worm of the genus Vermiliopsis. A second association record is reported for the coral barnacle Megatrema madreporarum (Pyrgomatidae). Coral-associated copepods were not found on H. cucullata despite a search for these animals. The new records were compared with previous records of other host coral species that showed elements of the same associated fauna. The present findings indicate that new discoveries concerning Caribbean coral reef biodiversity can still be made during field expeditions by targeting the assemblages of associated fauna of specific benthic host species.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000397987300012

Bibliographic citation

Hoeksema, B.W.; van Beusekom, M.; ten Hove, H.A.; Ivanenko, V.N.; van der Meij, S.E.T.; van Moorsel, G.W.N.M. (2016). Helioseris cucullata as a host coral at St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean. Mar. Biodiv. 47(1): 71-78. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12526-016-0599-6

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true