The Shallow-Water Crinoid Fauna of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands: Ecological Observations, Interatoll Comparisons, and Zoogeographic Affinities
Date
1985-10
Authors
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Narrator
Transcriber
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawai'i Press
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Twelve species of comatulid crinoids in three families were found
to inhabit reefs at Kwajalein Atoll during surveys conducted both day and night
by divers using scuba gear. Eleven of the species represent new records for the
atoll, and five are new for the Marshall Islands. A systematic resume of each
species is presented, including observations on diel activity patterns, degree
of exposure when active, and current requirements deduced from local distributions.
More than half of the species were strictly nocturnal. Densities of
nocturnal populations were much higher than those typically observed during
the day . Occurrence and distribution of crinoids about the atoll appeared to be
influenced by prevailing currents. Some species, of predominantly cryptic and
semicryptic habit by day, occurred at sites both with and without strong currents.
While these species were able to survive in habitats where currents prevailed, they
appeared not to require strong current flow. In contrast, the remaining species,
predominantly large, fully exposed comasterids, were true rheophiles; these were
found on seaward reefs and only on lagoon reefs in close proximity to tidal
passes . Comparison of crinoid records between atolls in the Marshall Islands
shows Kwajalein to have the highest diversity , although current disparities
between atolls in the number of species recorded undoubtedly reflect to some
extent differences in sampling effort and methods. Based on pooled records, a
total of 14 shallow-water crinoid species is known for the Marshall Islands,
compared with 21 for the Palau Archipelago and 55 for the Philippines. The
Marshall Islands comatulid fauna is predominantly an attenuated western Pacific
fauna, dominated by widely distributed members of the family Comasteridae.
A field identification key for crinoids of the Marshall Islands is provided.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Zmarzly DL. 1985. The shallow-water crinoid fauna of Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands: ecological observations, interatoll comparisons, and zoogeographic affinities. Pac Sci 39(4): 340-358.
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Related To (URI)
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Collections
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.