The Atlantic barrier reef ecosystem at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize

1. Structure and communities -- 2. Kinorhyncha -- 3. New marine Isopoda.

Vol. 1: The results of the first series of multidisciplinary investigations of the Caribbean barrier reef complex near Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, are reported in 34 papers in this volume, which begins with a summary of past work on the Belizean reefs and cays. The first section treats the structure of barrier reef habitats in the vicinity of Carrie Bow Cay, influential physical parameters such as tides and currents, geological and sedimentological history of lagoon, reef, and island substrates, and the island's environment, including its climate and the effects of hurricanes. Subsequent papers analyze the distribution of endolithic microorganisms in carbonate substrates, and the diversity, standing crop, and production in selected lagoon and back-reef habitats. Related contributions report on the benthos of an unusual submarine cave and on the surface zooplankton over reef and lagoon bottoms. One section is devoted to the systematics and local distribution of flora and fauna. Marine plants covered are plankton diatoms, benthic algae—including a detailed study of the red alga Polysiphonia—and sea grasses. Faunistic studies focus on hydroids, medusae, stony corals, octocorals, sipunculans, anthurid isopods, pycnogonids, a marine chironomid, ophiuroids, and crinoids. In the papers on Polysiphonia, hydroids, stony corals, and anthurids, all species are illustrated for identification by nonspecialists; figures of important or unusual examples are shown in the other systematic contributions. New species are described among anthurids, pycnogonids, and ophiuroids. A section on ecological responses discusses the reaction of algae to grazing pressure, the life history of an ichthyo-parasitic hydroid, the growth response of the reef coral Montastrea annularis to a light gradient, and associations between zoanthids and their sponge hosts. Included in this section are discussions of the ecology of the zoanthid Isaurus duchassaingi, settlement behavior and development of the bivalve Malleus candeanus, and behavioral ecology of two closely related reef fishes, genus Acanthemblemaria. The volume concludes with two general surveys of the barrier reef and cays, which discuss the Carrie Bow reef section and cay in relation to the overall barrier reef complex.

Vol. 2: Eighteen new species, including one new genus of Kinorhyncha, are described from the reef ecosystem at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. Pycnophyes neapolitanus Băcescu, 1968, is considered a junior synonym of P. ponticus Zelinka. Pycnophyes quadridentatus Zelinka, 1928, and P. flagellatus Zelinka, 1928, are synonymized under the former taxon and placed in Paracentrophyes, new genus (Neocentrophyidae), represented by a new species from the study area. Other genera represented by the remaining new species are extensively reviewed, species names are corrected to agree in gender, distribution records and keys to adults are compiled, and phylogeny discussed. Species distribution and richness are discussed. A maximum of 13 species representing four genera were found in a single local sample. This is contrasted with similar data from other parts of the world. Certain local species appeared to prefer or were restricted to fine, organically rich, low energy mangrove sediments as opposed to the more heterogeneous sediments with Thalassia beds and the even higher energy sediments of the coral reef proper.

Vol. 3: One new genus, Chalixanthura, and twenty-four new species of isopods are described and figured. These include Chalixanthura scopulosa, Eisothistos petrensis, Accalathura setosa, Apanthura cracenta, Pendanthura hendleri, Cymodoce ruetzleri, Dynamenella quadrilirata, Paracerceis cohenae, Paracerceis glynni, Metacirolana agaricicola, Metacirolana halia, Metacirolana menziesi, Gnathia rathi, Astacilla regina, Stenetrium bowmani, Stenetrium patulipalma, Stenetrium spathulicarpus, Bagatus punctatus, Angliera psamathus, Microcharon sabulum, Joeropsis bifasciatus, Joeropsis personatus, Munna petronastes, and Microcerberus syrticus. Figures and/or descriptions are also provided for Stenetrium minocule Menzies and Glynn, Stenetrium stebbingi Richardson, Joeropsis coralicola Schultz and McCloskey, and Joeropsis rathbunae Richardson. With a few exceptions, all material comes from the coral reef system at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. Depth and ecological data, where available, are provided.