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Opisthobranch fauna from the National Park Arrecife Alacranes, southern Gulf of Mexico

2012; Roscoff Biological Station; Volume: 53; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

2262-3094

Laura Sanvicente‐Añorve, Vivianne Solís‐Weiss, Jazmín Ortigosa, Margarita Hermoso‐Salazar, Elia Lemus-Santana,

Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

The opisthobranch mollusks recorded in the National Park Arrecife Alacranes, a marine protected area and the largest coral reef in the southern Gulf of Mexico, were studied during three survey periods in 2009-2010. Several substrate types: rocks, sponges, corals, sand, Thalassia beds and drifting Sargassum were analyzed. A total of 32 species, belonging to 22 genera, 15 families and four orders were registered. The most diverse order was the Nudibranchia, probably due to the variety of habitats and the feeding resources they exploit. The species Elysia crispata, E. tuca, Aplysia dactylomela, Phyllaplysia engeli and Phidiana lynceus were recorded during the three sampling seasons, suggesting that they are common in the reef system. The ecological success of the Elysia species is due to their ability of incorporate and maintain chloroplasts photosynthetically active, providing the species with extra energy in the case of limited feeding resources. Our own and previous records of Elysia cf. timida, Ercolania cf. coerulea, Polycera herthae, Aeolidiella stephanieae, Spurilla sargassicola, Doto pygmaea and Learchis evelinae suggested that these organisms are not frequent species in the western Atlantic. Finally, the geographical range of S. sargassicola is extended southwards, and that of L. evelinae towards north. Resume : Faune opisthobranche du Parc National Arrecife Alacranes, sud du Golfe du Mexique. Cette etude porte sur les mollusques opisthobranches recoltes au cours de trois differentes expeditions (2009-2010) dans le Parc National Arrecife Alacranes, le plus grand des recifs coralliens du sud du Golfe du Mexique. Divers types de substrats ont ete analyses : roches, eponges, coraux, sables, prairies de Thalassia et mattes de Sargassum a la derive. Au total, 32 especes appartenant a 22 genres, 15 familles et quatre ordres ont ete identifiees. L'ordre le plus diversifie est celui des Nudibranches, probablement en raison de la variete des habitats ainsi que des ressources qu'il peut exploiter. Les especes Elysia crispata, E. tuca, Aplysia dactylomela, Phyllaplysia engeli et Phidiana lynceus ont ete recoltees au cours des trois echantillonnages, ce qui porte a croire qu'elles sont tres communes dans ce systeme recifal. Le succes ecologique des especes d'Elysiaest du a leur habilete a incorporer et maintenir des chloroplastes photosyntetiquement actifs, ce qui leur donne de l'energie supplementaire dans le cas de limitation des ressources alimentaires. Nos signalements actuels et anterieurs de Elysia cf. timida, Ercolania cf. coerulea, Polycera herthae, Aeolidiella stephanieae, Spurilla sargassicola, Doto pygmaeaet Learchis evelinae font penser que ces especes ne sont pas frequentes dans l'Atlantique occidental. Finalement, cette etude permet d'elargir la distribution geographique de S. sargassicola vers le sud, et celle de L. evelinae vers le nord.