Exceptional biodiversity of the cryptofaunal decapods in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean

Catherine E I Head¹, Michael B Bonsall², Tom L Jenkins³, Heather Koldewey⁴, Morgan S Pratchett⁵, Michelle L Taylor⁶, Alex D Rogers⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK; Zoological Society of London, Conservation Programmes, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Linacre College, St Cross Road, Oxford, OX1 3JA, UK. Electronic address: catherine.head@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
² Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK; St Peter's College, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, OX1 2DL, UK.
³ Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
⁴ Zoological Society of London, Conservation Programmes, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
⁵ ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
⁶ School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK; Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
⁷ Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.

PMID: 30301083
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.063

Free article

Exceptional biodiversity of the cryptofaunal decapods in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean

Catherine E I Head et al. Mar Pollut Bull. 2018 Oct.

Free article

. 2018 Oct:135:636-647.

doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.063. Epub 2018 Jul 31.

Authors

Catherine E I Head¹, Michael B Bonsall², Tom L Jenkins³, Heather Koldewey⁴, Morgan S Pratchett⁵, Michelle L Taylor⁶, Alex D Rogers⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK; Zoological Society of London, Conservation Programmes, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Linacre College, St Cross Road, Oxford, OX1 3JA, UK. Electronic address: catherine.head@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
² Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK; St Peter's College, New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, OX1 2DL, UK.
³ Department of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
⁴ Zoological Society of London, Conservation Programmes, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK.
⁵ ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
⁶ School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK; Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
⁷ Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.

PMID: 30301083
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.07.063

Abstract

The Chagos Archipelago is geographically remote and isolated from most direct anthropogenic pressures. Here, we quantify the abundance and diversity of decapod crustaceans inhabiting dead coral colonies, representing a standardised microhabitat, across the Archipelago. Using morphological and molecular techniques we recorded 1868 decapods from 164 nominal species within 54 dead coral colonies, but total species estimates (Chao1 estimator) calculate at least 217 species. Galatheids were the most dominant taxa, though alpheids and hippolytids were also very abundant. 32% of species were rare, and 46% of species were found at only one atoll. This prevalence of rarer species has been reported in other cryptofauna studies, suggesting these assemblages maybe comprised of low-abundance species. This study provides the first estimate of diversity for reef cryptofauna in Chagos, which will serve as a useful baseline for global comparisons of coral reef biodiversity.

Keywords: Chagos Archipelago; Coral reefs; Cryptofauna; Decapods; Rare species; Species richness.

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Exceptional biodiversity of the cryptofaunal decapods in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean

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Exceptional biodiversity of the cryptofaunal decapods in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean

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