Anthropogenic Disturbance on Shallow Cryptofaunal Communities in a Marine Life Conservation District on Oahu, Hawaii

Abstract

AbstractCryptic invertebrate communities in coral rubble and sand from Hanauma Bay, a Marine Life Conservation District, were analyzed. Substratum samples were collected from the shallow bench and sand channels next to the beach and the cryptofauna were examined. Sand from the shallows (0.6 m deep) is frequently trampled by beach users and has a depauperate community dominated by a polychaete (Saccocirrus alanhongi) and a variety of nematodes (mean no. taxa = 12, mean no. individuals = 1,143 (0.1 m–2), but sand collected 25 m seaward from below trampling depths (3 m). showed significantly greater diversity (mean no. taxa = 46, mean no. individuals = 6,448 (0.1 m–2). Coralline rubble from 0.5 m depth was acid dissolved to extract the cryptofauna that was trapped on 0.5 and 0.25 mm sieves. In total, 102 taxa and 10,673 individual invertebrates (0.1 m–2) were found. Rubble collected from areas used by waders had a greater diversity than sand habitats. This substratum provides a greater variety of microhabitats and protection from trampling for endolithic fauna than sand. Waders may actively avoid rubble because of the discomfort from walking on this hard, uneven substratum. We found that despite enforced protective measures, i.e., stopping fishing and collecting of marine life, banning fish feeding, and limiting the number of visitors, disturbance by human trampling on shallow sands still reduces the species richness in these areas. Cryptic biota below wading depths, and from adjacent coral rubble on sand, are not similarly affected. These results are similar to those from another heavily used beach on Oahu and cryptofauna ecology may be useful to adopt as a management option for Marine Preserves in other locations. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)