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Variation in benthic communities of eastern Caribbean coral reefs in relation to surface sediment composition

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Abstract

The effects of sedimentation on coral reefs are commonly studied at local scales, but larger-scale patterns have been elusive, making it difficult to determine the role of sedimentation in region-wide changes in these ecosystems. We examined the relationships between characteristics of reef-associated surface sediment and benthic composition of 22 reefs around 11 islands of the eastern Caribbean. The terrigenous fraction in surface sediment increased with proximity to a clear source of sediment input. The percent cover of live coral, macroalgae, and turf algae decreased with higher terrigenous sediment fraction, while sponge cover increased. Sites with sediment containing high and low terrigenous fraction differed in coral species assemblages. In particular, the cover of Montastraea annularis complex decreased with increasing terrigenous sediment fraction. The proportion of fine-grained sediment had no effect on benthic composition. These results suggest that sedimentation may play a role in shaping coral reef communities at a regional scale.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to Dr. Tyler Smith and the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies of the University of the Virgin Islands for assistance with field work and access to office and laboratory space on Saint Thomas; Sea|mester Programs and the spring 2009 crew of S/V Ocean Star for facilitating data collection in the Grenadines and Saint Lucia; Statia Marine Park, Saba Marine Park, Scuba Safaris (Nevis) and Soufriere Marine Management Association for field work support; Panasonic Computer Corporation for providing a computer; Virgin Islands National Park, US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Saint Lucia Department of Fisheries, Saint Vincent Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Grenada Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Nevis Department of Fisheries, Statia Marine Park, and Saba Marine Park for providing research permits; Doug Braun, Brendan Connors, Andrew Cooper, and Morgan Hocking for valuable statistical advice. CB was supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship and a Michael-Smith Foreign Study Supplement and IMC by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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  1. Chantale Bégin

    Present address: Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

  2. Jessica Wurzbacher

    Present address: Oliver Perry Hazard Rhode Island, 29 Touro Street, Newport, RI, 02840, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Chantale Bégin & Isabelle M. Côté

  2. Sea|mester Programs, P.O. Box 5477, Sarasota, FL, 34277, USA

    Jessica Wurzbacher

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  1. Chantale Bégin
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Correspondence to Chantale Bégin.

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Communicated by M. Huettel.

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Bégin, C., Wurzbacher, J. & Côté, I.M. Variation in benthic communities of eastern Caribbean coral reefs in relation to surface sediment composition. Mar Biol 160, 343–353 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-2092-5

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