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Diversity and taxonomy of rocky‐intertidal Bryozoa on the Island of Hawaii, USA

2006; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 40; Issue: 38-40 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00222930601062771

1464-5262

Matthew H. Dick, Kevin J. Tilbrook, Shunsuke F. Mawatari,

Marine Biology and Ecology Research

Abstract This study examines the diversity of bryozoans found at four rocky intertidal sites (Kiholo Bay, Whittington Beach Park, Kealakekua Bay, and Kapa'a Beach Park) on the Island of Hawaii, USA. Bryozoans were patchily distributed, with few or no bryozoans, or low species diversity, at three protected or semi‐protected sites, and unexpectedly high diversity at one exposed site. Species richnesses at the four sites were zero, one, five, and 32 species, respectively. Species diversity at the richest site was within the range of single‐site diversities previously reported from optimal sites in temperate latitudes. We provide descriptions and SEM illustrations for 32 species recorded, which include a new genus (Junerossia) in the Family Stomachetosellidae and 10 new species (Alderina flaventa, Corbulella extenuata, Puellina septemcryptica, Junerossia copiosa, Calytpotheca kapaaensis, Bryopesanser serratus, Cribellopora souleorum, Metacleidochasma verrucosa, Disporella compta, and Favosipora adunca). The species encountered included 23 (72%) ascophorans, four (13%) anascans, two (6%) cribrimorphs, three (9%) cyclostomes, but no ctenostomes. All species were encrusting and essentially two‐dimensional in growth form. Most species occurred on a substratum of lava rock, though not exclusively so. Of 23 species distributed outside the Hawaiian Islands, five (22%) have putatively cosmopolitan distributions and 18 (78%) Indo‐West Pacific distributions; 19 (83%) are new records for the Hawaiian Islands. We briefly discuss freshwater influence and predation as possible factors in the patchy distribution of the intertidal bryozoans, and stress tolerance and larval‐settlement specificity as factors in the composition of the intertidal assemblage. Keywords: BiodiversitybiogeographyecologyendemismIndo‐West Pacificintertidal Bryozoanew speciesspecies richnesstaxonomy Acknowledgements We are grateful to Dr Peter Hayward of the University of Wales, Swansea for sending literature; Dr Yoshinobu Nodasaka of the Hokkaido University School of Dentistry for assistance with SEM; Dr Dennis Gordon of the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute for sending literature and for discussion on the taxonomic status and affinities of Junerossia copiosa; Ms Luella Taranto for logistical support and help in collecting on Hawaii; Dr Andrei Grischenko for discussions on taxonomy; and anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on the manuscript. The study was supported by the Twenty‐first Century COE Program on 'Neo‐Science of Natural History' (Program Leader: Dr Hisatake Okada), financed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan.