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 Pseudoalonq the Caribbean coast of Colombia (South Amerpterogorgia arnericana Gmel~n, 1791 sampled at Pine Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands (Bntish 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 (includinq identi. . fiable fragments) comprised 9 species. The predominant species in descendina numbers were Pseudocoutierea antillensis Chace, 1972, ~ i ~ p o l ~ t e nicholsoni Chace, 1972, Periclirnenes sp. A, and Periclirnenespatae Heard & 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 ant~llensis in spring could indicate variable seasonal reproduction.