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Morphological Modifications and Injuries of Corals Caused by Symbiotic Feather Duster Worms (Sabellidae) in the Caribbean
oleh: Bert W. Hoeksema, Rosalie F. Timmerman, Roselle Spaargaren, Annabel Smith-Moorhouse, Roel J. van der Schoot, Sean J. Langdon-Down, Charlotte E. Harper
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2022-04-01 |
Deskripsi
Some coral-associated invertebrates are known for the negative impact they have on the health of their hosts. During biodiversity surveys on the coral reefs of Curaçao and a study of photo archives of Curaçao, Bonaire, and St. Eustatius, the Caribbean split-crown feather duster worm <i>Anamobaea</i> sp. (Sabellidae) was discovered as an associate of 27 stony coral species (Scleractinia spp. and <i>Millepora</i> spp.). The worm was also found in association with an encrusting octocoral (<i>Erythropodium caribaeorum</i>), a colonial tunicate (<i>Trididemnum solidum</i>), various sponge species, and thallose algae (mainly <i>Lobophora</i> sp.), each hypothesized to be secondary hosts. The worms were also common on dead coral. Sabellids of the genera <i>Bispira</i> and <i>Sabellastarte</i> were all found on dead coral. Some of them appeared to have settled next to live corals or on patches of dead coral skeleton surrounded by living coral tissue, forming pseudo-associations. Associated <i>Anamobaea</i> worms can cause distinct injuries in most host coral species and morphological deformities in a few of them. Since <i>Anamobaea</i> worms can form high densities, they have the potential to become a pest species on Caribbean coral reefs when environmental conditions become more favorable for them.