Faunistics and distribution of Demospongiae: Porifera from the Enmedio Reef, Lobos-Tuxpan Reef System, Mexico

Abstract

Information on sponges from reefs of northern of Veracruz has increased, however coral formationsstill exist for which there are no faunal lists. For this reason, this report provides the first inventory of sponges for the Enmedio reef. Sampling was completed during the November 2014-October 2015 period; five sampling sites were established in the leeward, flatland and windward area for recording species along belt transects of 50 m x2 m. The distribution of species of sponges was determined by estimating the relative frequency in each zone; to determine similarities and significant differences multivariate techniques were applied, such as similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER), analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). We recorded 32 species of sponges belonging to the Class Desmospongiae; the Order Haploscerida had the most species diversity. The geographic range distribution of of Spirastrella aff. Mollis is extended to the southwest Gulf of Mexico. Species of wide distribution on the reef were Amphimedon compressa, Amphimedon viridis, Scopalinaruetzleri, Aplysina muryciana, Cribrochalina dura and Iotrochota birotulata, which accumulated 50.54% of the relative frequency. Leeward was the reef area with the highest species richness with 25 species and the flatland gathered the lowest species richness with nine. These differences were statistically significant. The composition and distribution of the sponges are heterogeneous on the reef. The leeward area being a deep zone, protected from swell, was the most favorable habitat for the surveyed sponges.