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Gorgonian mortality related to a massive attack by caprellids in the Bunaken Marine Park (North Sulawesi, Indonesia)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

Alice Scinto ,
Giorgio Bavestrello ,
Massimo Boyer ,
Monica Previati  and
Carlo Cerrano
Alice Scinto
Affiliation:
Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università di Genova, C.so Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy
Giorgio Bavestrello
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Massimo Boyer
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze del Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Monica Previati
Affiliation:
Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università di Genova, C.so Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy Dipartimento di Scienze del Mare, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Carlo Cerrano*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università di Genova, C.so Europa 26, 16132 Genova, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Carlo Cerrano Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue RisorseUniversità di Genova, C.so Europa 26 16132 Genova, Italy email: cerrano@dipteris.unige.it
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Abstract

A massive attack of caprellids is reported here, that is related to a local mortality event of gorgonians in North Sulawesi. Three species of sea fans were affected by the presence of Metaprotella sandalensis, a caprellid widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. The degree of damage here documented was in relation to the skeletal features of the gorgonian species. The amphipod gut contents were analysed, highlighting an unusual trophic source for caprellids and a new predator for gorgonians. This phenomenon is discussed also evidencing parallels between colonial marine invertebrates and their predators and terrestrial plant–herbivore interactions.

Keywords

gorgonianmortalitycaprellidsattackBunaken Marine ParkIndonesia
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 723 - 727
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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