Polychaetes of Truncated Reef Limestone Substrates on Eastern Indian Ocean Coral Reefs: Diversity, Abundance, and Taxonomy

Abstract

This study provides the first evaluation of abundance and diversity of polychaete annelid asseniblages of coral reefs. Quantitative analyses of the polychaete fauna of truncated coral reef limestone platforms off Sumatra and Thailand revealed a total of 76 species (13 reported for the first time from the tropical Indian Ocean) and average population densities of 49,000/m2. The number of species in a single sample ranged from 16 to 32, and species diversity ( H ) ranged from 1.9 to 2.5. Three species of Syllidae, Palola siciliensis, and Dodecaceria lad& occurred in all samples. The syllids dominated numerically in all samples but were quite small, mainly 2-10 mm long and 0.01-0.04 nig dry weight. Samples from the same station were essentially identical in species composition and relative abundance. Similarity decreased with increasing distance between stations. With respect to number of species, population density, and dominance of syllids, the assemblages studied resemble those associated with limestone substrates in marine caves in the Mediterranean.

Fauna living in colonies of Mussismilia hispida (Verrill) (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in four South-eastern Brazil islands

“…Polychaetes are always very numerous on associated communities, and many species are adapted to symbiotic habits (Martim and Britayev, 1998). In the present study, as stated before, polychaetes were not treated, but there are several references in the literature to coral-associated polychaetes, such as Kohn and Lloyd (1973), in the Indian Ocean, McCloskey (1970) and Arvinitides and Koukouras (1994), in northern Atlantic and Mediterranean, respectively. The ability of these animals to bore calcareous substrates is also well known (Hutchings, 1986;Chughtai and Knight-Jones, 1988).…”

“…These, are attached to the coral bases, bore the skeleton, or live over or under the colonies (McCloskey, 1970;Young, 1986;Arvanitides and Koukouras, 1994). Many authors have emphasised the destructive impact of the endolithic fauna on coral colonies, a process known as bioerosion (Hein and Risk, 1975;MacGeachy and Stearn, 1976;Hutchings, 1986;Kiene and Hutchings,1992); among the studies with a more specific focus, those on sponges (Rützler, 1975), molluscs (Hadfield, 1976;Morton, 1983;Moretzsohn and Tsuchyia, 1992), polychaetes (Kohn and Lloyd, 1973;Arvanitides and Koukouras, 1994;Nogueira, 2000), and sipunculids (Rice, 1976;Rice and Macintyre, 1982) should be noted.…”

Free-living marine polychaetes (Annelida) inhabiting hard-bottom substrates in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

“…The numerical dominance of the syllids in the ASUs was expected as syllids are most frequent in shallow water associated with hard substrata and are especially abundant on coral reefs (Kohn & Lloyd 1973). They are often the most abundant and diverse of polychaete families in sponges and hard corals, creeping actively through their channels or crevices (Uebelacker & Johnson 1984).…”

New record of Pherecardia striata (Polychaeta: Amphinomidae) from Easter Island, Chile

“…The main antecedents of Easter Island benthic polychaetes (27º10'S, 109º20'W) are contained in 11 articles: Chamberlin (1919), Augener (1922), Fauvel (1936), Hartmann-Schröder (1962), Kohn & Lloyd (1973a, 1973b, Castilla & Rozbaczylo (1987), Di Salvo et al (1988), Rozbaczylo & Castilla (1988), Cañete (1997) and Boyko (2003). These works have described three species of Amphinomidae to be present at Easter Island littoral: Eurythoe complanata (Pallas, 1776), Linopherus sp.…”

“…striata is relatively common in the tropical zone of the Pacific Ocean (Kohn & Lloyd, 1973a, 1973bCañete, 1989;Rajasekaran & Fernando, 2012), and it is adapted to spatial macro-scale dispersion (Glasby, 2005) because of the qualities of its teleplanic larvae (rostraria). The aim of this study is to register for second time the presence of this species in the littoral of Easter Island, to increase the knowledge on polychaete benthic biodiversity at this remote island.…”