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NUEVE PRIMEROS REGISTROS DE CORALES AZOOXANTHELADOS (ANTHOZOA: SCLERACTINIA) DEL CARIBE COLOMBIANO (200 -500 M)
Abstract
Dunng INVEMAR-MACROFAUNA cruises (1998 - 1999), carried out along the upper continental slope of the Colombian Caribboan. 26 spocios of corals were collected, nine ol them are first records for the area. Tho distribution ranges of Potymyces tragibs and Fungiacyathus cnspus aro oxtondod to tho north coast of Colombia. The distribution ranges of Schuocyathus tnssihs, Balanophyllia cyathoides, B. palitera and B. bayen are extended to tho southom Caribbean. It is presented a list of the azooxanthellate coral spocies of tho Colombian Canbbean.
... This number increased up to 43 species after the revision of the shallow water azooxanthellate corals published by and an annotated list by . This knowledge was latter complemented with the description of the transpanamic species Tethocyathus prahli Lattig & Cairns, 2000, and the record of nine additional species collected through the Macrofauna I expedition carried out in deep waters, 200 to 500 m depth, along the Colombian Caribbean (Lattig & Reyes 2001) The family Caryophylliidae Dana, 1846 comprises the highest diversity of azooxanthellate corals, including more than 300 species from the approximately 1314 known scleractinian species around the world (Cairns 1999a;Cairns et al. 1999). Approximately 90% of the caryophylliids are non-symbiotic species (azooxanthellate), while less than 30 species are symbiotic (zooxanthellate) or facultative (apozooxanthellate) species (see Cairns et al. 1999). ...
... 2000: 119-120, fig. 63. -Lattig & Reyes, 2001: 28-29, fig. 5.-Kitahara, 2007: 502-503, fig. ...
... Most species (about 80 %) were aggregated in the northeastern Colombian Caribbean, which includes three eco–physiographical regions: La Guajira (GUA), Palomino (PAL) and Tayrona (TAY) (Figure 1). These results agree with other outcomes from Macrofauna surveys, which suggest that the northeastern region (GUA-PAL-TAY) is characterized by a high biodiversity (Lattig and Reyes, 2001; Navas and Campos, 2001; Saavedra et al., 2004; Reyes et al., 2005). According to Jiménez-Valverde and Hortal (2003), species accumulation curves could be very useful to compare octocoral diversity in specific areas, but if the area sampled (seafloor topography, general conditions) and the processes to collect are dissimilar at each sampling point or station because of those differences, one would not expect an accurate outcome. ...
Octocorals are being included in a great variety of worldwide studies with the aim of analyzing taxonomy, ecology, biogeography, genetics and geochemistry, among other aspects. The study described here includes samples collected during the 'Macrofauna' explorations carried out by the Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras-INVEMAR between 1998 and 2002 from shallow (20 m) to deep (500 m) waters. A total of 280 museum containers were examined. Samples were collected at 32 stations distributed along the continental shelf and upper slope of Colombian Caribbean. A total of 44 species have been recognized, 21 of them identified to species level and 23 to genus level; the species are included in 22 genera and nine families (Plexauridae, Gorgoniidae, Ellisellidae, Primnoidae, Anthothelidae, Clavulariidae, Keroeididae, Acanthogorgiidae, Chrysogorgiidae). Eight species and two genera are first records for Colombia.
... However , those analyses were carried out on only the 42 Colombian azooxanthellate coral species known at that time . The recent addition of 17 new species records and 3 new species ( Reyes 2000 ; Lattig and Reyes 2001 ; Reyes et al . 2005 ; Santodomingo et al . ...
During the last decade, knowledge of azooxanthellate corals in the Colombian Caribbean has increased through exploration campaigns by the Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR). The distribution of 142 species of corals, including hard corals (Scleractinia 64 species), black corals (Antipatharia 18 species), and soft corals (Octocorallia 60 species) is assessed. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the coral species distribution through a geographic gradient (210 stations in 8 sectors) and a bathymetric range (10–520 m depth). Four principal patterns were observed: (1) northeastern distribution (46 species), (2) southwestern distribution (11 species), (3) association with azooxanthellate coral bioherms (37 species), and (4) widespread (44 species). In addition, 4 species were only found around the San Andres Archipelago (insular pattern). Two main oceanographic factors were identified to play a role in the northeast versus southwest coral fauna separation, La Guajira upwelling system and the Magdalena River influx. These patterns appear to be depth-related, since the separation between northeast and southwest was mainly shown by the shallow-water coral fauna, whereas most of the deep-water corals (>200 m depth) were widely distributed along the Colombian Caribbean coastline. These data were also analyzed from a conservation perspective in order to propose new strategies for the protection of the Colombian Caribbean coral fauna.
We analyzed data from previous research in the Rosario and San Bernardo Archipelagos (MACROFAUNA I-II, 1998-2001) to evaluate whether the deep-sea azooxanthellate coral communities fulfill the criteria for a Marine Protected Areas System in Colombia. The azooxanthellate corals Anomocora fecunda, Eguchipsammia cornucopia, Madracis asperula, Madracis myriaster and Madrepora carolina were identified as habitatforming corals that create particular conditions favoring increased faunal diversity in the ARSB-MPA. These deep-sea coral communities had increased species richness, abundance and uniformity. The biological parameters assessed for these coral communities were considered within the biological criteria of biodiversity, naturalness, habitat representation and heterogeneity, uniqueness and exclusion, highlighting the importance of deep sea coral communities in the context of the ARSB-MPA.
Azooxanthellate habitat-forming corals develop in deep waters adjacent to shallow fringing coral reefs off San Bernardo and Rosario Islands (Colombian Caribbean). This study was carried out to characterize biological and geological features of the continental margin where these azooxanthellate coral communities flourish. The principal habitat-forming corals species found were Madracis myriaster (Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1849) and other branching Madracis species. These communities rest on sandy mud bottoms over the shelf break, in depths ranging from 120-180 m. Madrepora sp., antipatharians, and gorgonians were collected directly attached to adjacent limestone hardgrounds. The azooxanthellate coral habitats were found on areas of irregular topography (channels, small mounds) and nearby sites with evidence of benthic mud-gas seepage from beneath the seafloor. Irregular topography and gas seeps might be important factors contributing to the settlement and accumulation of coral communities, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Questions remain pertaining to the possible linkage between shallow- and deep-water corals in the Caribbean region.
As a result of the explorations carried out by the Colombian Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR) between 1998–2002
along the Colombian Caribbean continental shelf and upper slope, the occurrence of azooxanthellate coral banks was suspected
at three sites (from the northern to southern Colombian Caribbean coast): off La Guajira Peninsula, at a water depth of 70
m; off Santa Marta, at 200 m, and nearby the San Bernardo Archipelago, at 150 m). Each site exhibited particular bottom features
(relief and substrate), suggestive of reef structures. The analysis of the fauna collected by bottom trawling at these sites
showed that many of the fishes, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, antipatharians, soft corals and bryozoans collected are
characteristic dwellers of hard substrates or reef bottoms. At the first site (Guajira) the hard coral Cladocora debilis, was the most abundant; a total of 156 species of invertebrates and fishes were identified among the material collected at
this site. At the second site (Santa Marta), 13 scleractinian species were collected, but Madracis myriaster, was the dominant species; another 102 species of invertebrates and fishes were also found. At the third site (San Bernardo)
19 scleractinian species were found, M. myriaster being the dominant. A total of 135 species of invertebrates and fishes were collected at this site. It is presumed that deep-sea
coral banks have developed in these three settings, since many of the collected species are known to be hard or reef bottom
dwellers.
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