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Temporal variation of ophiuroids associated with the macroalga A mphiroa fragilissima on a S outhwest A tlantic coral reef
Author(s) -
Lima Maria Lilian F.,
Sovierzoski Hilda H.,
Correia Monica D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
marine ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1439-0485
pISSN - 0173-9565
DOI - 10.1111/maec.12042
Subject(s) - coral , coral reef , reef , fauna , biology , algae , ecology
The species of O phiuroidea that commonly occur on coral reefs can be found on different substrates and associated with other organisms including algae, sponges, and corals. This study evaluated the temporal variability of the ophiuroid fauna associated with the alga A mphiroa fragilissima on the P onta V erde coral reef on the coast of M aceió in A lagoas, N ortheastern B razil. Replicate samples of algal substrate were collected at low tide during in the dry and rainy seasons, over a 10‐year period, from 1998–2007. Eight species of O phiuroidea were identified, with a total of 8736 individuals associated with A . fragilissima . The most dominant and frequent species of O phiuroidea were A mphipholis squamata and O phiactis savignyi ; all other species were rare. Cluster analysis and n MDS detected four groups, with two groups each occurring only in summer or winter periods, as well as other groups occurring in both periods.