Abstract

WINFIELD, Ignacio et al. Benthic amphipods (Crustacea: Peracarida) from Sisal Reef System and coastline, northwest Yucatán Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2020, vol.91, e903071.  Epub Mar 01, 2021. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2020.91.3071.

The biodiversity, abundance and distribution of benthic amphipods in the reefs of Sisal and Madagascar, including the adjacent coastline, SE of the Gulf of Mexico, were analyzed. Amphipods were collected (12,986), belonging to 95 species, 51 genera, 32 families and 3 suborders (Amphilochidea, Colomastigidea and Senticaudata), between 0.5 and 20 m depths. Americorophium aquafuscum, Lepidepecreum magdalenensis, Leucothoe saron, Photis lecroyae, and Seba robusta were new records for the Gulf of Mexico. Apocorophium louisianum, Ericthonius brasiliensis, and Ampithoe ramondi accounted for 50% of the abundance. Two subgroups of benthic amphipods were found; one of species associated with reef patches and another of species present in the adjacent coastline. In this study, biodiversity and abundance were higher compared to other reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, attributed to the coverage of macroalgae and a higher amount of coral rock; unlike the adjacent coastline that is attributed to the wood debris. This is the first research on benthic amphipods in the Sisal Reef System, Yucatán, increasing the number of documented species for the Gulf of Mexico from 315 to 319, and from 199 to 207 species for the southeast sector.

Keywords : Crustacea; Taxonomy; Coral reef; Yucatán; Mexico.

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