Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Octocoral Forests: Distribution, Abundance, and Species Richness in Cuban Coral Reefs

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Coral Reefs of Cuba

Part of the book series: Coral Reefs of the World ((CORW,volume 18))

  • 182 Accesses

Abstract

Octocorals provide multiple ecosystem services in coral reefs. Currently, in tropical western Atlantic reefs, the ecological condition of stony coral communities continues to decline; however, octocoral abundance is increasing at several locations throughout the region. The structure of octocoral communities was evaluated in Cuban reefs and was compared with that in the western Atlantic. We used 1 m2 quadrats to count colony numbers by species between 2001–2005 and 2008–2017 at 189 sampling sites. With 55 species, the octocoral richness in Cuban reefs constitutes one of the highest in this region. Among areas sampled during 2001–2005, the best ecological conditions for octocoral communities were found in Gardens of the Queen and Coco Key; here, octocorals had the greatest richness, diversity, and density. Among areas sampled during 2008–2017, the best ecological conditions for octocoral communities were in Colorados, Sabana-Camagüey, Canarreos, Artemisa, Mayabeque, and Havana (except in four highly polluted sites), where they showed the greatest richness and density. Antillogorgia americana and Eunicea flexuosa had wide distributions in Cuban reefs, except at some sites under the chronic influence of discharges from polluted watersheds in Havana. At those sites, the richness, diversity, and density of octocorals decreased, and their species composition changed toward more tolerant taxa to pollution and sedimentation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alcolado P (1981) Zonación de los gorgonáceos someros de Cuba y su posible uso como indicadores comparativos de tensión hidrodinámica sobre organismos del bentos. Inf Cient Tec 187:1–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcolado PM (1985) Sinonimia de Plexaurella fusifera Künze, 1916 con P. dichotoma (Esper, 1791) (Coelenterata: Gorgonacea). Poeyana 294:1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcolado PM (1990) Breve comentario acerca de las comunidades de gorgonáceos de la macrolaguna del Golfo de Batabanó. Editorial Academia:33–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcolado PM, Claro-Madruga R, Martínez-Daranas B, Menéndez-Macías G, García-Parrado P, Cantelar K, Hernández M, del Valle R (2001) Evaluación ecológica de los arrecifes coralinos del oeste de Cayo Largo, 1998-1999. Bol Invest Mar Cost 30:109–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcolado PM, Claro R, Martínez-Daranas B, Menéndez G, García P, Sosa M (2003) The Cuban coral reefs. In: Cortes J (ed) Latin American coral reefs. Elsevier Science, pp 54–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Alcolado PM, García-Parrado P, Hernández-Muñoz D (2008) Estructura y composición de las comunidades de gorgonias de los arrecifes del Archipiélago Sabana-Camagüey, Cuba: conectividad y factores determinantes. Bol Invest Mar Cost 37:9–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Alfonso YS, Rey-Villiers N, Martínez-Daranas B (2020) Macroalgas epizoicas en octocorales en el litoral de La Habana, Cuba. Rev. Invest. Mar. 40(1):1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker DM, Freeman CJ, Knowlton N, Thacker RW, Kim K, Fogel ML (2015) Productivity links morphology, symbiont specificity and bleaching in the evolution of Caribbean octocoral symbioses. Int Soc Microbiol Ecol 9:2620–2629. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2015.71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayer FM (1961) The shallow water Octocorallia of the west Indian region. A manual for marine biologists. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, p 373

    Google Scholar 

  • Behety PA (1975) Nuevos reportes de gorgonáceos (Coelenterata) para Cuba. Serie Oceanológica 33:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgstein N, Beltrán DM, Prada C (2020) Variable growth across species and life stages in Caribbean reef octocorals. Front Mar Sci 7:483. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botero L (1987) Zonación de octocorales en el área de Santa Marta y Parque Nacional Tayrona, Costa Caribe Colombiano. An Inst Invest Mar Punta Betín 17:61–80. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.1987.17.0.455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury RH (1977) Independent lies and holistic truths: towards a theory of coral reefs communities as complex systems. Proc. 3rd Int. Coral reef Symp. Miami: 2–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Caballero H, De la Guardia E (2003) Arrecifes de coral utilizados como zonas de colectas para exhibiciones en el Acuario Nacional de Cuba, I. Costa Noroccidental de La Habana, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 24(3):205–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Caballero H, Rosales D, Alcalá A (2005) Estudio diagnóstico del arrecife coralino del Rincón de Guanabo, ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. 1. Corales, gorgonáceos y esponjas. Rev. Invest. Mar. 26(3):207–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Caballero H, Armenteros M, Perera S, Rey-Villiers N, Cobián D, Campos K, Alcolado P (2019) Ecological condition of coral reef assemblages in the Cuban archipelago. Mar Biol Res 15(1):61–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2019.1577557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cairns SD (2007) Studies on western Atlantic Octocorallia (Coelenterata: Anthozoa). Part 7: the genera Riisea Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1860 and Nicella gray, 1870. Proc Biol Soc Wash 120(1):1–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cairns SD, Bayer FM (2009) Octocorallia (Cnidaria) of the Gulf of Mexico. In: Felder DL, Camp DK (eds) Gulf of Mexico origins, waters and biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, pp 321–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlo JM, Barbeitos MS, Lasker HR (2011) Quantifying complex shapes: elliptical Fourier analysis of octocoral sclerites. Biol Bull 220(3):224–237. https://doi.org/10.1086/bblv220n3p224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cary LR (1918) The Gorgonacea as a factor in the formation of coral reefs. Carnegie Inst Wash Pop Tortugas Lab Publ 213(9):341–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiappone M, Dienes H, Swanson D, Miller S (2003) Density and gorgonian host-occupation patterns by flamingo tongue snails. Caribb J Sci 39:116–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Cimino O, de Rosa S, de Stefano S (1984) Antiviral agents from a gorgonian Eunicella cavolini. Experientia 40:339–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coppari M, Zanella C, Rossi S (2019) The importance of coastal gorgonians in the blue carbon budget. Sci Rep 9:13550. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-49797-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González SPD (2002) Comunidad bentónica en arrecifes coralinos de Punta del Este y Cayo Largo, Archipiélago de los Canarreos, Cuba. Rev. Invest. Mar. 23(3):185–194

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Sansón G (1997) Asociaciones de esponjas, gorgonias y corales en un arrecife de la costa noroccidental de Cuba. I: Distribución espacial de biotopos. Rev Invest Mar 18(3):198–207

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Sansón G (2000a) Asociaciones de corales, gorgonias y esponjas del sublitoral habanero al oeste de la bahía de La Habana, I. Gradiente ambiental Rev Invest Mar 21(1–3):1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Sansón G (2000b) Asociaciones de corales, gorgonias y esponjas del sublitoral habanero al oeste de la bahía de La Habana, II. Índices ecológicos Rev Invest Mar 21(1–3):9–16

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Díaz P, Trelles J (2001) Macrobentos del arrecife coralino adyacente al Río Almendares, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 22(3):167–178

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Díaz P, Varona G, González-Ferrer S, Superes W (2003) Variaciones temporales y espaciales en la comunidad bentónica del arrecife de Playa Herradura, provincia Habana, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 24(2):117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, Angulo J, González-Sansón G, Aguilar C, González-Díaz P (2004a) Biodiversidad en la zona de buceo del Parque Nacional de Punta Francés, Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 25(2):90–102

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, Valdivia A, González-Díaz P (2004b) Estructura de comunidades bentónicas en la zona de buco de María La Gorda, Ensenada de Corrientes, Sureste de la Península de Guanahacabibes, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 25(2):103–111

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Guardia E, González-Díaz P, Castellanos S (2004c) Estructura de la comunidad de grupos bentónicos sésiles en la zona de buceo de Punta Francés, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 25(2):81–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Deichman E (1936) The Alcyonaria of the Western part of the Atlantic Ocean. Mem Mus Comp Zool 53:1–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ (2020) High ecological resilience of the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina during two severe hurricanes. PeerJ 8:e10315. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10315

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ, Brown DJ (2021) Unprecedented densities of Gorgonia Sea fans on coral reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands? Bull Mar Sci 97(1):163–164. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2020.0061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ, Lasker HR (2016) Cryptic regime shift in benthic community structure on shallow reefs in St. John, US Virgin Islands. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 559:1–12. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ, Lasker HR (2022) Portfolio effects and functional redundancy contribute to the maintenance of octocoral forests on Caribbean reefs. Sci Rep 12:7106. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10478-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Edmunds PJ, Tsounis G, Lasker HR (2016) Differential distribution of octocorals and scleractinians around St. John and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Hydrobiologia 767(1):347–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2555-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enochs IC, Manzello DP, Wirshing HH, Carlton R, Serafy J (2015) Micro-CT analysis of the Caribbean octocoral Eunicea flexuosa subjected to elevated pCO2. ICES J Mar Sci 73(3):910–919. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etnoyer PJ, Wirshing HH, Sánchez JA (2010) Rapid assessment of octocoral diversity and habitat on Saba Bank, Netherlands Antilles. PlosOne 5(5):e10668. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabricius K (2011) Octocorallia. In: Hopley D (ed) Encyclopedia of earth Sciences series. Encyclopedia of modern coral reefs. Structure, form and process. James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, pp 740–745

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabricius K, McCorry D (2006) Changes in octocoral communities and benthic cover along a water quality gradient in the reefs of Hong Kong. Mar Pollut Bull 52(1):22–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.08.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • García-Parrado P, Alcolado PM (1996) Catálogo de los octocorales (Cnidaria) de Cuba con comentarios sobre su taxonomía. Avicennia 4:41–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiser DM, Taylor JW, Ritchie KB, Smith GW (1998) Cause of sea fan death in the West Indies. Nature 394:137–138. https://doi.org/10.1038/28079

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glynn PW, Enochs IC (2011) Invertebrates and their roles in coral reef ecosystems. In: Dubinsky Z, Stambler N (eds) Coral reefs: an ecosystem in transition. Springer Science & Business Media, Ramat Gan, Israel, pp 273–325

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg W (1973) The ecology of the coral-octocoral communities off the Southeast Florida coast: geomorphology, species composition, and zonation. Bull Mar Sci 23(3):465–488

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez CE, Paul VJ, Ritson-Williams R, Muehllehner N, Langdon C, Sánchez JA (2015) Responses of the tropical gorgonian coral Eunicea fusca to ocean acidification conditions. Coral Reefs 34:451–460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1241-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González P (2010) Efecto acumulativo de agentes estresantes múltiples sobre los corales hermatípicos de la región noroccidental de Cuba. Tesis de Doctorado. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba

    Google Scholar 

  • González-De Zayas R, Rossi S, Hernández-Fernández L, Velázquez-Ochoa R, Soares M, Merino-Ibarra M, Castillo-Sandoval FS, Soto-Jiménez MF (2020) Stable isotopes used to assess pollution impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems of Cuba and Mexico. Reg Stud Mar Sci 39:101413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Díaz P, De la Guardia E, González-Sansón G (2003) Efectos de efluentes terrestres sobre las comunidades bentónicas de arrecifes coralinos de Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 24(3):193–204

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Díaz P, Perera-Pérez O, Pérez-García JA, Hernández-Fernández L (2012) Biodiversidad de corales, gorgonias y esponjas en un sector del golfo de Ana María. Rev Invest Mar 32(2):20–29

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Díaz SP, Coello CR, Perera OP, Ferrer VMR, Volta R (2017) Comunidades de corales en sitios de buceo del Parque Nacional Marino Punta Francés, Isla de la Juventud. Rev Invest Mar 37(1):19–39

    Google Scholar 

  • González-Díaz P, González-Sansón G, Aguilar-Betancourt C, Álvarez-Fernández S, Perera-Pérez O, Hernández-Fernández L, Ferrer-Rodríguez VM, Cabrales YC, Armenteros M, De la Guardia E (2018) Status of Cuban coral reefs. Bull Mar Sci 94(2):229–247. https://doi.org/10.5343/bms.2017.1035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Ferrer S (2006) Celenterados - Filo Cnidaria: Clase Anthozoa, Subclase Octocorallia, Gorgonias - Orden Alcyonacea. In: Claro R (ed) La Biodiversidad Marina de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Cuba, pp 98–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Guitart-Manday D (1959) Gorgonias del litoral de la costa Norte de Cuba. Publ Acuario Nac Serie Técnica 1:1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán HM, Cortés J (1985) Organismos de los arrecifes coralinos de Costa Rica. IV: Descripción y contribución geográfica de octocoralios (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) de la costa Caribe. Brenesia 24:125–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Harborne AR, Rogers A, Bozec Y, Mumby PJ (2017) Multiple stressors and the functioning of coral reefs. Annu Rev Mar Sci 9:445–468. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-marine-010816-060551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Fernández L, Alcolado PM (2007) Estructura de la comunidad de octocorales de una zona propuesta como área protegida en Cayo Coco, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 28(3):209–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Fernández L, Varela C (2006) Primer registro de Carijoa riseii (Octocorallia: Telestacea) para aguas cubanas. Cocuyo 16:5

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Fernández L, Guimarais M, Arias R, Clero L (2011) Composición de las comunidades de octocorales y corales pétreos y la incidencia del blanqueamiento del 2005 en Jardines de la Reina, Cuba. Rev Mar Cost 3:77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Muñoz D, Alcolado PM, Hernández-González M (2008) Efecto de un emisario submarino de residuos urbanos sobre comunidades de octocorales (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) en Cuba. Rev Biol Trop 56(1):65–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera AM (1990) Efectos de la contaminación sobre la estructura ecológica de los arrecifes coralinos en el litoral habanero. Tesis de Doctorado. Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera A, Alcolado PM (1983) Efectos de la contaminación sobre las comunidades de octocorales al oeste de la Bahía de La Habana. Cienc Biol 10:69–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera A, Alcolado PM (1986a) Estructura ecológica de las comunidades de octocorales en el litoral de Mariel y su comparación con el litoral habanero. Cienc Biol 15:55–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera A, Alcolado PM (1986b) Estructura ecológica de las comunidades de octocorales del arrecife de Santa Cruz del Norte. Rep Invest Inst Oceanol 49:1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrera A, Alcolado PM, García-Parrado P (1997) Estructura ecológica de las comunidades de octocorales en el arrecife de barrera del Rincón de Guanabo. Avicennia 6–7:73–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Humann P (1993) Reef coral identification. New World Publications, INC, p 239

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson JBC, Donovan MK, Cramer KL, Lam VV (2014) Status and trends of Caribbean coral reefs: 1970–2012. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen PR, Harvell CD, Wirtz K, Fenical W (1996) Antimicrobial activity of extracts of Caribbean gorgonian corals. Mar Biol 125(2):411–419

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CG, Lawton JH, Shachak M (1994) Organisms as ecosystem engineers. Oikos 69:373–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordán E (1979) An analysis of gorgonian community in reef calcareous platform of the Caribbean coast of Mexico. An Cent Cien Mar Limnol 61:87–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordán-Dahlgren E (1989) Gorgonian community structure and reef zonation patterns on Yucatan coral reefs. Bull Mar Sci 45:673–696

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordán-Dahlgren E (2002) Gorgonian distribution patterns in coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mexico: evidence of sporadic ecological connectivity? Coral Reefs 21:205–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinzie RA (1973) The zonation of west Indian gorgonians. Bull Mar Sci 23(1):559–592

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuffner IB, Grober-Dunsmore R, Brock JC, Hickey TD (2010) Biological community structure on patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, FL, USA. Env Monit Assess 164:513–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kupfner SJ, Hallock P (2020) A review of symbiotic gorgonian research in the western Atlantic and Caribbean with recommendations for future work. Coral Reefs 39:239–258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01891-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lalana R, Ortiz M, Varela C (2001) Lista actualizada y bibliografía de los Celenterados (Cnidaria) y los Ctenóforos (Ctenophora) de aguas cubanas. Revista Biología 15(2):158–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamouroux JVF (1821) Exposition méthodique des genres de l’ordre des polypiers, avec leur description et celles des principales espèces, figurées dans 84 planches; les 63 premières appartenant a l’Histoire Naturelle des Zoophytes d’Ellis et Solander. Paris, chez Mme Veuve Agasse, Paris, i–viii + 1–115, pls. 1–84. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.11328

  • Lasker HR, Coffroth MA (1983) Octocoral distributions at Carrie bow cay, Belize. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 13:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasker HR, Boller ML, Castanaro J, Sanchez JA (2003) Determinate growth and modularity in a gorgonian octocoral. Biol Bull 205(3):319–330. https://doi.org/10.2307/1543295

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lasker HR, Bramanti L, Tsounis G, Edmunds PJ (2020a) The rise of octocoral forests on Caribbean reefs. Adv Mar Biol 87(1):361–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.amb.2020.08.009

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lasker HR, Martínez-Quintana Á, Bramanti L, Edmunds PJ (2020b) Resilience of octocoral forests to catastrophic storms. Sci Rep 10(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61238-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz EA, Bramanti L, Lasker HR, Edmunds PJ (2015) Long-term variation of octocoral populations in St. John, US Virgin Islands. Coral Reefs 34:1099–1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-015-1315-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manrique-Rodríguez N, Agudelo C, Sanjuan-Muñoz A (2019) Gorgonian octocoral community at Varadero coral reef in the Colombian Caribbean: diversity and spatial distribution. Bull Mar Coast Res 48(1):55–64. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2019.48.1.757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer AMS, Jacobson PB, Fenical W, Jacobs RS, Glaser KB (1998) Pharmacological characterization of the pseudopterosins: novel anti-inflammatory natural products isolated from the Caribbean soft coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Life Sci 62(26):401–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-3205(98)00229-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCauley M, Goulet TL (2019) Caribbean gorgonian octocorals cope with nutrient enrichment. Mar Pollut Bull 141:621–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.02.067

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller SL, Chiappone M, Swanson DW, Vermeij M, Eaken D (2006) Rapid assessment and monitoring of coral reef habitats on the Florida Reef Tract. http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/research_monitoring/rapid_access.pdf

  • Opresko D (1973) Abundance and distribution of shallow-water gorgonians in the area of Miami, Florida. Bull Mar Sci 23(3):535–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Parra A (1787) Descripción de diferentes piezas de Historia Natural, las más del ramo marítimo, representadas en setenta y cinco láminas. La Habana. Imprenta de la Capitanía General. 195p, 73 pls

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelosi J, Eaton KM, Mychajliw S, TerHorst CP, Coffroth MA (2021) Thermally tolerant symbionts may explain Caribbean octocoral resilience to heat stress. Coral Reefs 40:1113–1125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-021-02116-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preston EM, Preston JL (1975) Ecological structure in a west Indian gorgonian fauna. Bull Mar Sci 25(2):248–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Villiers N (2009) Características de las comunidades de octocorales y ensayo de su uso como bioindicadores en un gradiente de contaminación en el oeste de La Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Tesis de Licenciatura. Universidad de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba

    Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Villiers N (2021) Efectos de la degradación de la calidad de agua en los octocorales de la región noroccidental de Cuba. Tesis de Doctorado en Ciencias Marinas. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México. 176 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Villiers N, Sánchez A, Caballero-Aragón H, González-Díaz P (2020a) Spatio temporal variation in octocoral assemblages along a water quality gradient in the northwestern region of Cuba. Mar Pollut Bull 153:110981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110981

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Villiers N, Sánchez A, Caballero-Aragón H, González-Díaz P (2020b) Dataset of octocoral assemblages in fore reefs in the northwestern region of Cuba. Data Brief 31:105790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105790

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rey-Villiers N, Sánchez A, González-Díaz P (2021) Stable nitrogen isotopes in octocorals as an indicator or water quality decline from the northwestern region of Cuba. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28(15):18457–18470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09956-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Risk MJ, Lapointe BE, Sherwood OA, Bedford BJ (2009) The use of δ15N in assessing sewage stress on coral reefs. Mar Pollut Bull 58(6):793–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.02.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Risk MJ, Burchell M, Brunton DA, McCordd MR (2014) Health of the coral reefs at the US Navy Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba: a preliminary report based on isotopic records from gorgonians. Mar Pollut Bull 83(1):282–289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.026

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez AD, Martínez N (1993) Marine antitumor agents 14-dioxicrassin and pseudoplexaurol, new cimbranoid diterpenes from the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudoplexaura porosa. Experientia 49(2):179–181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi S, Bramanti L, Gori A, Orejas C (2017) Animal forests of the world: an overview. In: Rossi S, Gori A, Bramanti L, Orejas C (eds) Marine animal forests: the ecology of benthic biodiversity hotspots. Springer International Publishing AG, Germany, pp 1–28

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi S, Schubert N, Brown D, González-Posada A, Soares MO (2020) Trophic ecology of Caribbean octocorals: autotrophic and heterotrophic seasonal trends. Coral Reefs 39:433–449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01906-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruppert EE, Fox RS, Barnes RD (2004) Invertebrate zoology: a functional evolutionary approach, 7th edn. Brooks/Cole-Thomson, p 963

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruzicka RR, Colella MA, Porter JW, Morrison JM, Kidney JA, Brinkhuis V, Lunz KS, Macaulay KA, Bartlett LA, Meyers MK, Colee J (2013) Temporal changes in benthic assemblages on Florida keys reefs 11 years after the 1997/1998 El Niño. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 489:125–141. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez JA (2009) Systematics of the candelabrum gorgonian corals (Eunicea Lamouroux; Plexauridae; Octocorallia; Cnidaria). Zool J Linnean Soc 157:237–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez JA, Wirshing H (2005) A field key to the identification of tropical Western Atlantic zooxanthellate octocorals (Octocorallia: Cnidaria). Caribb J Sci 41(3):508–522

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez JA, Zea S, Díaz JM (1998) Patterns of octocoral and black coral distribution in the oceanic barrier reef-complex of Providence Island, southwestern Caribbean. Caribb J Sci 34(3–4):250–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuhmacher H (1997) Soft corals as reef builders. Proc 8th Int. Coral Reef Symp Panama 2: 499–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Simancas-Giraldo SM, Xian N, Kennedy MM, Nafeh R, Zelli E, Wild C (2021) Photosynthesis and respiration of the soft coral Xenia umbellata respond to warming but not to organic carbon eutrophication. PeerJ 9:e11663. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11663

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Smith GW, Ives LD, Nagelkerken IA, Ritchie KB (1996) Caribbean Sea-fan mortalities. Nature 383:487. https://doi.org/10.1038/383487a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsounis G, Edmunds PJ (2017) Three decades of coral reef community dynamics in St. John, USVI: a contrast of scleractinians and octocorals. Ecosphere 8(1):e01646. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsounis G, Edmunds PJ, Bramanti L, Gambrel B, Lasker HR (2018) Variability of size structure and species composition in Caribbean octocoral communities under contrasting environmental conditions. Mar Biol 165:29. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3286-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsounis G, Steele MA, Edmunds PJ (2020) Elevated feeding rates of fishes within octocoral canopies on Caribbean reefs. Coral Reefs 39:1299–1311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valdivia AA, De la Guardia E (2004) Estructura de la comunidad de corales en el arrecife costero de Boca de Canasí, La Habana, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 25(1):15–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdivia A, De la Guardia E, Armenteros M, González P, Suárez AM, Aguilar C, González-Sansón G (2004) Inventario de los componentes más comunes de la flora y la fauna de algunos arrecifes coralinos de la Península de Guanahacabibes, Pinar del Río, Cuba. Rev Invest Mar 25(2):113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Varela C, Orozco MV (2006) Nuevo hallazgo de Lophogorgia cardinalis (Gorgonacea) en aguas cubanas. Cocuyo 16:5–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Varela C, Orozco MV, Varona G (2008a) Registros nuevos de octocorales (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Octocorallia) para Cuba. COCUYO 17:10–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Varela C, Castellanos S, Hernández L (2008b) Registros nuevos de invertebrados (Cnidaria y Crustacea) para Cuba. COCUYO 17:12–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Varona G, Varela C (2005) Primer hallazgo de Eunicea pinta Bayer y Deichmann 1958 (Cnidaria, Gorgonacea) en aguas cubanas. COCUYO 15:3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Varona G, Caballero H, De la Guardia E (2004) Estructura ecológica de la comunidad de octocorales en la costa oriental de Bahía de Cochinos. Rev Invest Mar 25(3):209–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Varona G, Caballero H, De la Guardia E (2005) Estructura ecológica de la comunidad de gorgonáceos en la costa norte oriental de La Habana. Rev Invest Mar 26(1):27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Weil E, Miller M, Szmant A (1996) Assessment of hurricane Andrew effects on the BNP coral reefs. Biannual Report No. 5 for Cooperative Agreement No CA5280-4-9001. University of Miami/RSMAS

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg S (1981) A comparison of coral reef survey methods. Bijdragen tot the Dierkunde 51(2):199–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams SM, Chollett I, Roff G, Cortés J, Dryden CS, Mumby PJ (2015) Hierarchical spatial patterns in Caribbean reef benthic assemblages. J Biogeogr 42(7):1327–1335. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka P (1997) Are variations in gorgonian recruitment determined by “pre-settlement” or “post-settlement” processes proc. 8th Int. Coral reef Symp., Panamá II: 1175–1178

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka PM, Yoshioka BB (1989) Effects of wave energy, topographic relief and sediment transport on the distribution of shallow water-gorgonians of Puerto Rico. Coral Reefs 8:145–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarco-Perelló S, Mascaró M, Garza-Pérez R, Simoes N (2013) Topography and coral community of the sisal reefs, Campeche Bank, Yucatán, México. Hidrobiológica 23(1):28–41

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful for the financing for the UNDP/GEF projects: (1) “Application of a regional approach to the management of coastal and marine protected areas in southern archipelagoes of Cuba” (PIMS 3973) and (2) “Promote and support biodiversity conservation in three productive sectors of the Sabana-Camagüey ecosystem” (third stage, PIMS 3254). We appreciate the support of the projects: (3) “Evaluation of the anthropogenic impact and environmental management proposals in the coral reefs of the María la Gorda International Diving Center” (code: 0232) and (4) “Effects of water quality degradation in the octocorals of the northwestern region of Cuba” (PhD project of NRV). We thank Yuliesky Garcés for the map of sites, and we appreciate the fieldwork by divers Jorge Oliva, Johannes Acosta, and Sandy León. We thank by translate and editing of English to International Chair for Coastals and Marine Studies in Cuba, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, La Paz, Mexico

    Néstor Rey-Villiers & Yunier Olivera Espinosa

  2. Biodiversity and Reef Conservation Laboratory, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

    Néstor Rey-Villiers

  3. Instituto de Ciencias del Mar, Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, La Habana, Cuba

    Néstor Rey-Villiers

  4. Departamento de Turismo y Organización Empresarial, Universidad Máximo Gómez Báez, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

    Leslie Hernández-Fernández

  5. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    Hansel Caballero

  6. Especialista ambiental en el Centro de Estudios y Servicios Ambientales de Villa Clara (CESAMVC), Santa Clara, Cuba

    Mayilen Triana López

  7. Paris aquarium, Paris, France

    Alejandro Pérez Angulo

  8. Centro de Investigaciones de Ecosistemas Costeros, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

    Yunier Olivera Espinosa

Authors
  1. Néstor Rey-Villiers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leslie Hernández-Fernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hansel Caballero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mayilen Triana López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alejandro Pérez Angulo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yunier Olivera Espinosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Néstor Rey-Villiers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Scientist, Bristol, RI, USA

    Vassil N. Zlatarski

  2. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA

    John K. Reed

  3. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL, USA

    Shirley A. Pomponi

  4. Coastal and Marine Lab, Florida State University, St. Teresa, FL, USA

    Sandra Brooke

  5. Techglobal Inc, Rockville, MD, USA

    Stephanie Farrington

1 Electronic Supplementary Material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Rey-Villiers, N., Hernández-Fernández, L., Caballero, H., López, M.T., Angulo, A.P., Espinosa, Y.O. (2023). Octocoral Forests: Distribution, Abundance, and Species Richness in Cuban Coral Reefs. In: Zlatarski, V.N., Reed, J.K., Pomponi, S.A., Brooke, S., Farrington, S. (eds) Coral Reefs of Cuba. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36719-9_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation