Ecología y biodiversidad de un arrecife formado por Phragmatopoma caudata Krøyer in Mörch (Canalipalpata: Sabellariidae) en República Dominicana

Abstract

The reef of Phragmatopoma caudata (Canalipalpata: Sabellariidae) in Barco Viejo or Desembarco Beach, Samaná, Dominican Republic, was evaluated. This type of reef is composed by the remains of sediments and rocks that are progressively cemented by these sabellariid worms over time. The reef is 115 m long, 1.59 m of maximum height, and 19.58 m of maximum width, forming two shelves. The sand particles in the reef and those present in the beach had different particle size; beach particles were smaller than those present in the reef. The worm tube diameter was on average 5.5 cm long and 4 mm in wide. The worm population study suggests that there was a decrease in the population. Nineteen species of different phyla were recorded from the reef. The Margalef index was 5.04, which is above the common maximum. Shannon index value rated 0.54, which is considered extremely low. Based on these results, it may be inferred that the morphology of this reef provides the beach with sand and protects it from adverse environmental conditions. This reef is a place with high biodiversity in the area.