Distribution of anemones (Anthozoa: Actiniaria and Corallimorpharia) in the area of Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

This work characterizes and compares the community of anemones at two coralline areas in the Tayrona National Natural Park, in the Colombian Caribbean, and also relates the species that were found with some important characteristics of the reef community as well as with factors that can condition its structure. The statistical tests performed allowed to differentiate two kinds of landscapes: the shallow mixed coral reef and the deep one. A total of 15 species of anemones were found, four belonging to the Order Corallimorpharia and 11 to the order Actiniaria, distributed over the coralline landscapes of the area. The tests used to determine the distribution of anemones inside the corridors measured, showed the formation of two similar groups of corridors to those obtained for the landscape that in its turn, represent two groups of anemones, those of shallow reefs and those of deep reefs. The tests used for each kind of anemone in respect to the characteristics of the reef environment suggest that each species has its own preferences regarding the habitat selection. However, relating the anemones with the landscape, anemones with the presence of certain coral species and anemones with the general reef landscape can create two basic categories.

Habitat segregation and population structure of Caribbean sea anemones and associated crustaceans on coral reefs at Akumal Bay, Mexico

“…The rare occurrence of corkscrew anemones, B. annulata, at Akumal contrasts with their high abundances in some other Caribbean reef areas (Barrios-Suárez et al 2002, Nelsen 2008, O'Reilly and Chadwick 2017, Titus et al 2017, including at a site 70 km north near Puerto Morelos (Briones-Fourzán et al 2012). Even though the northern portion of Akumal Bay is somewhat sheltered by a reef crest along the mouth of bay, water motion levels still may be too high at this site for B. annulata, which thrives in habitats with very little water motion (O'Reilly and Chadwick 2017).…”

The Importance of Home Cleaning: Sediment Transport by Alpheid Shrimps Provides a Competitive Advantage to Their Host Anemones

“…Caves and crevices located in the interface between hard coral or rock massifs and the soft sandy may constitute ideal places for anemones to attach because they can take advantage of both microhabitats. The hard substrate protects the anemone from ocean energy and natural predators (Knowlton and Keller, 1986;Barrios-Suárez et al, 2002), whilst the soft sediment is rich in a variety of food sources made easily available through nutrient re-suspension Tolhurst, 2004, 2007). Such sources of food for suspension feeders have a central role in oligotrophic environments (Hobson and Lorenzen, 1972;Aguirre and Salmerón, 2015) increasing the value of microhabitats where these sources are plentiful.…”

“…It is common between 1 and 15 m deep, but has been observed as deep as 20 m (González-Muñoz et al, 2012). In contrast with other anemones common in tropical waters that are found attached to surfaces relatively distant of the sea bed, such as Condylactis gigantea, B. annulata is frequently found in the interface between the hard and soft substrate, a microhabitat exposed to abundant sediment and high wave intensity (Barrios-Suárez et al, 2002;González-Muñoz et al, 2012;Santos et al, 2020).…”

Sea anemones (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria) in high sedimentation environments influenced by the Magdalena River (Colombian Caribbean)

“…In the Colombian Caribbean, 21 species of sea anemones have been recorded so far, as well as 13 other species identified at supraspecific levels (i.e., genus, family, superfamily, or order) (Table I), comprising about the 28% of the total number of known species in the Caribbean Sea (González-Muñoz et al 2012). Records of sea anemones in Colombia have been reported from Tayrona National Park in Santa Marta (Riemann-Zürneck 1972, Manjarrés 1977, 1978, Brattström 1980, Reyes & Campo 1992, Barrios-Suárez et al 2002, the Rosario Island (Manjarrés 1979), San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands (Werding et al 1981, SIBM 2020, Cartagena Bay (Daly & den Hartog 2004), North-east (Flórez & Sandomingo, 2010, Gracia et al 2013) and South-western Colombian Caribbean (Dueñas et al 2019) (Table I), but no previous records of sea anemones are known from the Atlántico Department.…”