Diversity and abundance of caridean shrimps associated with the slimy sea plume Pseudopterogorgia americana at Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies

Abstract

Of 305 colonies of the slimy sea plume Pseudopterogorgia americana Gmelin, 1791 sampled at Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands (British West Indies), 277 contained at least 1 caridean shrimp. Sampling occurred over 4 seasons at depths of 1.8 to 43.3 m. The 2639 shrimps (including identifiable fragments) comprised 9 species. The predominant species in descending numbers were Pseudocoutierea antillensis Chace, 1972, Hippolyte nicholsoni Chace, 1972, Periclimenes sp. A, and Periclimenes patae Heard and Spotte, 1991. Populations of all 4 varied significantly by depth, but only the numbers of P. antillensis varied seasonally. Species diversity did not vary seasonally but was affected significantly by depth. Species abundance was unaffected by either season or depth. Females of the 4 principal species are ovigerous throughout the year. The disproportionate abundance of nonovigerous P. antillensis in spring could indicate variable seasonal reproduction.