Reproducción y dinámica poblacional de Cheirodon interruptus (Ostariophysi: Characidae) en el arroyo El Portugués, alta cuenca del río Samborombón, Argentina

Abstract

The coral reefs of Morrocoy National Park are currently deteriorated. After the massive mortality of 1996, Acropora palmata has shown some signs of recovery, a process that could be hampered by Coralliophila. We observed only three colonies of A. palmata in an entire reef in Cayo Sombrero. In July 2005, these colonies registered Coralliophila abbreviata densities of 4, 0, and 2 ind/col and Coralliophila caribaea densities of 22, 14, and 0 ind/col; in January 2006, said densities were 8, 0, and 4 ind/col (C. abbreviate) and 22, 14, and 0 ind/col (C. caribaea). Four sites of damage (two per predator) were observed in the three colonies. In one colony, C. abbreviata caused a loss of tissue of 66.14 to 162.85 cm2, indicating a predation rate of 0.52 cm2 day-1. In the other colony, the damage ranged from 37.41 to 72.50 cm2, with a predation rate of 0.19 cm2 day-1. The areas damaged by C. caribaea did not show any change. The high density and predation rate of Coralliophila likely affected the recovery of the scant specimens of A. palmata in Morrocoy National Park.