Fauna diversity in Madracis spp. coral patches in the Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

Madracis spp. coral patches are the main deep–sea framework builder observed on the shelf–break scarp of the Colombian Caribbean, between 107 and 230 m depth. The Marine Protected Area, Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park, was established in 2013 to protect a site of high biodiversity associated with Madracis communities. Our research summarizes the advances in knowledge of its biodiversity as the result of four expeditions and offers insights into the state of its associated fauna. Madracis colonies occur in five areas of the park but corals thrive and build coral patches in only two of the five, both in the southwest area. Our surveys have resulted in the inventory of 337 species. Mollusca (116) dominated the fauna, followed by Bryozoa (70), Cnidaria (50), Echinodermata (39), Arthropoda (14), Annelida (13), Brachiopoda (3), and Chordata (32 fishes). Store voucher specimens at the Museo de Historia Natural Marina de Colombia–Makuriwa and metadata are available online in the SiBM database.

Keywords

• marine protected area
• benthic
• deep–sea corals
• macrofauna
• megafauna
• new records