Octocoral distributions at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize

Abstract

Abundance ·and size distributions of octocorals in 4 habitats at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, · were determined from a series of transects taken in April 1982. The 4 habitats studied were a sand-flat, patch reef, forereef and forereef ridge. Octocorals were abundant in all 4 habitats but were most abundant on the forereef. The majority of species were represented by greater numbers of large colonies than by recent recruits (colonies <10 cm tall). However, species which had the largest number of small colonies numerically dominated the community. On the sand-flat and forereef, species of the genus Pseudopterogorgia predominated. The great abundance of Pseudopterogorgia spp. was achieved through high rates of recruitment and/or juvenile survival. Briareum asbestinum was the most abundant octocoral on the patch reef and forereef ridge. B. asbestinum uses a second life history strategy in which it relies on vegetative reproduction to produce large numbers of recruits, many of which survive and become large colonies. The plexaurids may exhibit a third life history strategy in which low recruitment in concert with high survival leads to an accumulation of large colonies. These life history patterns are very similar to those previously observed among stony corals.