What are the main findings of the macroalgae study in the Campeche Bank?

The study identified 90 infrageneric taxa of macroalgae across eight reefs in the Campeche Bank, with Cayo Arenas showing the highest species count. Notably, it reported three new distribution records for Mexico, including Asteromenia peltata and Ceratodictyon scoparium. The research emphasizes the unique ecological dynamics of these reefs, which are influenced by environmental characteristics and the influx of diverse taxa from the Gulf of Mexico. This work contributes significantly to the understanding of marine biodiversity in the region.

How does the study contribute to marine conservation efforts?

By providing a comprehensive taxonomic inventory of macroalgae in the Campeche Bank, the study offers critical baseline data for conservation strategies. The identification of new species and their distribution patterns highlights the ecological importance of these remote reefs, which face threats from climate change and human activities. This dataset can inform future research and conservation initiatives aimed at preserving marine biodiversity in the southern Gulf of Mexico, making it a valuable resource for marine biologists and policymakers.

What sampling methods were used in the macroalgae research?

The research involved extensive sampling across eight reefs using SCUBA diving, free diving, and intertidal collection methods. Geographic coordinates were recorded for each sampling site, and a total of 395 algal samples were collected. The sampling aimed to cover various environments and depths, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the macroalgal communities. This methodological approach allowed for detailed analysis and identification of species, contributing to the overall understanding of the area's biodiversity.

What ecological factors influence the distribution of macroalgae in the Campeche Bank?

The distribution of macroalgae in the Campeche Bank is influenced by several ecological factors, including water temperature, depth variations, and substrate type. The study found that different reefs exhibited distinct algal communities, with certain species thriving in shallower waters. Additionally, the influx of Gulf of Mexico waters introduces diverse taxa, enhancing the biological diversity of these reefs. Understanding these ecological dynamics is essential for effective conservation and management of marine ecosystems in the region.

Macroalgae of the Campeche Bank, Gulf of Mexico Study

The study on macroalgae of the Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico investigates the biodiversity of eight reef systems. Conducted by a team from various institutions, including the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, this research identifies 90 infrageneric taxa across these reefs. The findings highlight significant ecological dynamics and new distribution records for several species, emphasizing the need for ongoing conservation efforts. This comprehensive dataset serves as a vital resource for marine biologists and conservationists focused on the southern Gulf of Mexico's marine ecosystems.

Key Points

Documents 90 infrageneric taxa of macroalgae from eight reefs in the Campeche Bank.
Identifies new distribution records for Asteromenia peltata and Ceratodictyon scoparium in Mexico.
Highlights the ecological significance of remote reefs and their unique biodiversity.
Provides a georeferenced dataset following the DarwinCore standard for marine biota.

Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e141321

doi: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e141321

Data Paper

Macroalgae of the Campeche Bank, Gulf of Mexico

Ileana Ortegón-Aznar , Ana M. Suárez , Beatriz Martínez-Daranas , Mariana Álvarez-Rocha ,

Carmen Galindo-De Santiago , Raúl E. Castillo-Cupul , Nuno Simões

‡ Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico

§ Centro de Investigaciones Marinas, Universidad de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba

| Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Puerto Morelos, Mexico

¶ Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Mérida, UNAM, Ucú, Yucatán, Mexico

# Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación Sisal, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, Yucatán, Mexico

¤ KALANBIO A.C. Research for Conservation, Mérida, Mexico

« Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico, Mexico

» Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera, Mexico, Mexico

˄ International Chair for Coastal and Marine Studies, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Corpus Christi,

United States of America

Corresponding author: Nuno Simões (ns@ciencias.unam.mx)

Academic editor: Anne Thessen

Received: 08 Nov 2024 | Accepted: 09 Dec 2024 | Published: 17 Dec 2024

Citation: Ortegón-Aznar I, Suárez AM, Martínez-Daranas B, Álvarez-Rocha M, Galindo-De Santiago C, Castillo-

Cupul RE, Simões N (2024) Macroalgae of the Campeche Bank, Gulf of Mexico. Biodiversity Data Journal 12:

e141321.

https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e141321

Abstract

Background

The coastal habitats in the southern Gulf of Mexico face multiple threats, such as rising

water temperatures, acidification, increased turbidity, invasive species and pollutants.

This imperils the biodiversity of beaches, wetlands and coral reefs. To address this, there

is a need for comprehensive baseline information on marine biodiversity. Several reefs in

the Gulf of Mexico have been extensively studied, yet smaller reefs on the Yucatan

continental shelf lack thorough exploration despite their ecological significance. These

reefs serve as crucial biodiversity hotspots influenced by environmental characteristics,

receiving diverse taxa from the Gulf of Mexico.

The macroalgae study at the Bank of Campeche dates back to the 1950s, but

comprehensive investigations have been sporadic. The recent study aims to fill this gap,

contributing to the taxonomic inventory of the area's benthic macroflora.

‡ § § |

¶,# ¤ «,»,˄

(CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and

source are credited.

Methodologically, extensive sampling across eight reefs was conducted, collecting and

preserving macroalgae samples for identification in the laboratory.

The study documented 90 infrageneric taxa across the reefs, with Cayo Arenas exhibiting

the highest species count. Additionally, three new distribution reports for Mexico were

identified in the region. The distribution of species varied amongst locations, with few

species in common even amongst geographically proximate reefs. The diversity found in

these reefs slightly trails behind other studied regions, but surpasses previous reports for

the Campeche Bank.

It is important to emphasise that the significance of this study lies in its focus on remote

reefs with complicated and costly access logistics. Additionally, it is one of the first

publicly available datasets published for this region.

The study aligns with existing literature on prevalent families in reef environments and

highlights differences in species distribution, based on depth variations amongst reefs.

The findings of new distribution records in the region and the distinctiveness of localities

despite their proximity underscore the unique ecological dynamics of these reefs.

New information

These reefs are located in remote and difficult-to-access areas, highlighting the

importance of the data obtained on their biodiversity and conservation status. This work

presents for the first time a list of macroalgae for the reefs of Banco Nuevo, Banco

Obispo, Banco Pera and Serpientes Reef. Three new distribution reports for Yucatan

were identified at the Banco Obispo reef: Botryocladia shanksii E. Y. Dawson,

Ceratodictyon scoparium (Montagne & Millardet) R. E. Norris and Asteromenia peltata

(W. R. Taylor) Huisman & Millar and a new report for the Mexican Atlantic, Herposiphonia

parca Setchell at the Triángulo Oeste reef. This results in distinct algal communities

compared to other reefs in the region, emphasising their ecological significance and the

need for continued research and conservation efforts. To our knowledge, this is one of the

first interoperable datasets being published on the marine algae of the southern Gulf of

Mexico reef ecosystems.

Keywords

biodiversity, seaweeds, reefs

Introduction

The habitats of coastal areas are subjected to a variety of anthropogenic and

environmental pressures, which endanger the biological diversity that inhabits them.

Amongst the most exposed ecosystems are beaches, coastal wetlands and coral reefs,

for which the expected increase in water temperature, acidification due to the effects of

2 Ortegón-Aznar I et al

global climate change, increased turbidity due to sediments and the presence of invasive

species could have negative and high-impact effects in the medium and long term

(Cooley et al. 2022). This scenario makes it imperative to compile reference information

to establish the current conditions of marine biodiversity and to understand the current

state of these ecosystems in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Knowledge of the diversity,

abundance and distribution of species is the foundation for the development of

conservation and natural resource utilisation projects aimed at preserving their

ecological, economic and cultural importance.

The Gulf of Mexico platform has many important reef systems that have been extensively

studied (

Chávez-Hidalgo A et al. 2008, Horta-Puga et al. 2015). However, there is a lack

of information about many smaller reefs located on the continental shelf of Yucatan,

despite being important centres of biodiversity and fisheries resources (Zarco-Perelló et

al. 2013).

The reefs of the Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico, such as Alacranes Reef, Cayo

Arenas, Cayo Arcas and Triangulos, have been the subject of various studies (Jordán-

Dahlgren 2002, Tunnell et al. 2007, Zarco-Perelló et al. 2013). Nevertheless, the study of

macroalgae in these environments has been scarce and discontinuous.

The first studies of macroalgae on the Campeche Bank were conducted in the 1950s,

Huerta-Múzquiz collecting samples at Cayo Arenas and Alacranes Reef and identifying

19 and 21 infrageneric taxa, respectively (

Huerta 1958). Subsequently, in 1960, in the

eulittoral zone around Isla Pérez, 77 infrageneric taxa were identified (Huerta 1961).

There are also records of collections by H. J. Humm in the Campeche Bank (Humm

1952) and reports of 17 algal species in the work of Kornicker et al. (1959). Some of the

more extensive studies are those of Kim (1964), who characterised the phycoflora of

Alacranes Reef with 198 infrageneric taxa and Huerta-Múzquiz et al. (1987), who

compiled advances in the study of marine algae of the Yucatan Peninsula, listing 412

infrageneric taxa (140 Chlorophyta, 56 Phaeophyceae, 199 Rhodophyta and 17

Cyanobacteria) and reported algal records in Alacranes Reef, Cayo Arenas and

Triangulo Oeste. For the Madascar reefs at Sisal, Yucatan, there is only the work of

Ortegon-Aznar et al. (2008), who report 55 taxa of macroalgae. The most recent study

reported 22 species for Alacranes, six species for Cayo Arcas and 16 species for Bajo

Obispo (González-Solis et al. 2018).

Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the knowledge of macroalgae in the reef

system of the Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico by providing information on the

composition and richness of benthic macroalgae communities.

Project description

Title:Benthic macroflora of the reef system of the Campeche Bank

Personnel:This study is part of a megaproject with the objective of generating a

taxonomic inventory of the fauna and benthic macroflora of the reef system of the

Macroalgae of the Campeche Bank, Gulf of Mexico 3

Overview