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2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. VII. Anemone and Corallimorpharian Density Background Most historical and recent studies of Caribbean reef fauna, including those in the Florida Keys, have generally focused on either stony corals or fishes. This is not surprising, given that corals are primary framework builders, while fishes, along with certain shellfish species (e.g. queen conch and spiny lobster) are generally the most economically important fishery targets. In the Florida Keys, however, commercial marine-life fisheries and aquarium hobbyists remove an incredible diversity and number of invertebrates and fishes (Bohnsack et al. 1994). Otherwise known as the marine ornamental fishery, aquarium fisheries target a diversity of fish, invertebrate, and algal species, in addition to sand and live rock from West Palm Beach to Key West (FWCC 2001). State and Federal waters near Key West and Marathon in the Florida Keys constitute 94% of the total fishes and invertebrates removed in southeast Florida for the marine aquarium trade. Commercial data do not include an undocumented effort from recreational fishers, nor are data available concerning species abundance patterns and population trends relative to fishing effort (NOAA 1996). Key Largo has been protected from marine aquarium trade species collection since 1960 in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, followed by the protection in federal waters in 1975 with the establishment of Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. The Looe Key area has been protected since 1981, as well as Everglades National Park (Florida Bay), portions of the Dry Tortugas area, Biscayne National Park, and Fish and Wildlife Service management areas. There is a paucity of basic ecological information for most Florida Keys anemone and corallimorpharian (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) species, and even fewer studies have explored the population effects of exploitation. During 2009, we continued a time series dating back to 1999 that quantifies the habitat distribution and abundance patterns of selected actinians (O. Actiniaria) and corallimorpharians (O. Corallimorpharia) in the Florida Keys in relation to cross-shelf habitat type, along-shelf regional variation, and management zones. With the exception of general Caribbean field guides (e.g. Sefton and Webster 1986; Kaplan 1988; Humann 1992) and isolated distribution studies (Voss and Voss 1955; Wheaton and Jaap 1988; reviewed in Levy et al. 1996), there are few density estimates we are aware of that consider multiple sites and benthic habitat types in the Florida Keys. Many of these species, most notably certain anemones, form associations with several invertebrates such as cleaner shrimps (Limbaugh et al. 1961; Shick 1991) and provide refuge for smaller reef fishes (Hanlon and Kaufman 1976; Colin and Heiser 1973). Some of these associations, such as cleaning stations, provide a valuable function to reef fishes (Herrnkind et al. 1976; Sluka et al. 1999) and the large-scale removal of certain species may have important, but as of yet, undocumented effects on other biota. The establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) in 1990 and the subsequent designation of 23 no-fishing zones in 1997 presents an opportunity - 272 - 2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. to evaluate the effects of exploitation for a variety of species, including those targeted by the marine aquarium fishery (Bohnsack 1997). These data provide a means from which to measure the responses of organisms to protection from exploitation. Quantitative surveys for the 2009 surveys targeted anemones (O. Actiniaria) and corallimorpharians (O. Corallimorpharia) known or suspected to occur in the Florida Keys, and focused on the larger and conspicuous or field-identifiable members of both orders. Similar surveys were carried out in the study area during 1999-2001 (211 sites), 2005 (195 sites) and 2008 (145 sites), as well as in the Tortugas region during 2000, 2006, and 2008. Five anemone species were recorded during 2009 (classification according to Cairns et al. 1991), all of which tend to have solitary and larger polyps compared to other cnidarians: the giant Caribbean or pink-tipped anemone Condylactis gigantea in the Family Actiniidae, the ringed or corkscrew anemone Bartholomea annulata in the Family Aiptasiidae, the speckled anemone Epicystes (=Phymanthus) crucifera in the Family Phymanthidae, Heteractis lucida, and Lebrunia danae. Although we searched for specimens, no individuals of the sun anemone Stichodactyla (=Stoichactis) helianthus were found. Three corallimorpharians were encountered: Discosoma (=Paradiscosoma) carlgreni and D. (=Rhodactis) sanctithomae in the Family Actinodiscidae and Ricordea florida in the Family Corallimorpharidae. Corallimorpharians, sometimes called false corals, differ from anemones in the arrangement of the tentacles, and may be solitary, but are typically found in clusters. We are collaborating with Nancy Sheridan, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute, on these surveys and have a joint proposal submitted to continue and expand this work in nearshore habitats during 2010. 2009 Survey Results Five anemone species were recorded from the 160 survey sites in 2009 (Figure 7-1) and a total of 461 individuals were enumerated from surveys of 9,600 m2 of benthic habitat. Tables 7-1 to 7-3 provide transect frequency of occurrence and site-level densities for the five species. The anemones found were represented by: Bartholomea annulata (282 individuals, 61% of the total), Condylactis gigantea (14 individuals, 3%), Epicystes crucifera (23 individuals, 5%), Heteractis lucida (3 individuals, 0.7%), and Lebrunia danae (139 individuals, 30%). The five species exhibited markedly different habitat and regional distribution and abundance patterns in the Florida Keys, similar to our previous assessments. B. annulata was the most abundant and wide-ranging anemone, similar to results from 1999-2001, 2005, and 2008. B. annulata was recorded at 123 out of the 160 sites (77%) and was found in all habitat types sampled during 2009. Mean habitat-level densities for this species were somewhat similar among some of the habitats, ranging from 0.004 ± 0.004 per m2 on inshore patch reefs to 0.042 ± 0.008 per m2 on mid- channel patch reefs (Figures 7-2 and 7-3). Transect frequencies among habitats ranged from 6% ± 6% on - 273 - 2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. inshore patch reefs to 41 ± 6% on mid-channel patch reefs (Table 7-1). The greatest site-level density was 0.22 individuals per m2 (13 individuals from four 15-m x 1-m transects) recorded from an offshore patch reef near Sand Island in the upper Keys. On mid-channel patch reefs, frequency of occurrence was about 10% higher, on average, in the lower and upper Keys compared to the middle Keys. Densities tended to be greater in the lower Keys in both no-take zones and reference areas (Figure 7-2). A somewhat similar pattern was noted on offshore patch reefs, where frequency of occurrence and density tended to be greater in the lower Keys. Similar to surveys in 1999-2001, 2005, and 2008, densities of Condylactis gigantea were relatively low in 2009 (Table 7-1). Fourteen individuals were found among the 160 sites and this species was present at only 13 sites (8%). Most C. gigantea were found on patch reefs, shallow hard-bottom, and one deeper fore reef site. A maximum density of 0.05 ± 0.02 individuals per m2 was recorded from an offshore patch reef in the Carysfort/S. Carysfort SPA. Densities on mid-channel patch reefs were greater in the upper Keys compared to other regions, while densities on offshore patch reefs were greater in the middle Keys. Distribution and abundance patterns of Epicystes crucifera were similar to C. gigantea, but with greater habitat specificity on mid-channel patch reefs, especially in the lower Keys (Table 7-2). E. crucifera was present at 11 out of 160 sites (7%), with a maximum site-level density of 0.12 ± 0.03 individuals per m2 recorded from a mid-channel patch reef in the Western Sambo ER. On mid-channel patch reefs, this species was present on 18% ± 6% of all transects. Over 95% of all individuals were recorded from mid- channel patch reefs, and of those individuals, 91% were from lower Keys sites. Frequency of occurrence (38% ± 10) and density (0.033 ± 0.012 per m2) were substantially higher in the lower Keys. Only three individuals of the knobby anemone (Heteractis lucida) were encountered, all of which were found on mid-channel and offshore patch reefs only in the lower Keys (Table 7-2). Although sighted in previous years, we did not encounter any sun anemones (Stichodactyla helianthus) during 2009. Lebrunia danae, the second most abundant anemone surveyed during 2009, was most abundant on mid-channel patch reefs and offshore patch reefs, particularly in the lower Keys. Individuals were recorded from all habitats except shallow hard-bottom and a maximum site-level density of 0.30 ± 0.04 individuals per m2 was recorded from an offshore patch reef north of Sand Key SPA (Table 7-3). Transect frequency of occurrence (44% ± 9%) and density (0.069 ± 0.018 per m2) were greatest on mid-channel patch reefs, especially in the lower Keys, where 80% ± 10% of all belt transect areas contained one or more individuals (Table 7-3). A total of 5,418 corallimorpharians representing three species were sampled during 2009 (Figure 7-4): Discosoma carlgreni (35 individuals, 0.6%), D. sanctithomae (1,086 individuals, 20%), and Ricordea - 274 - 2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. florida (4,297 individuals, 79%). Tables 7-3 and 7-4 provide site-level transect frequency of occurrence and density values for the three corallimorpharians. D. carlgreni was only recorded from just two habitat types and 97% of all individuals were found on mid-channel patch reefs in the lower Keys. A maximum site-level density of 0.13 individuals per m2 was recorded from several patch reef sites (Table 7-3).
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