Supplementary material
Results from diversity indices are given in Table S1. The number of individuals occurring in each of the
microhabitats ranges from 194 (Site RF8 [Reef Front 8 m] exposed) after 12 months to 1699 (Site LAG
[Lagoon] part crypt) after 24 months. The number of species identified from the tiles was lowest at Site RF8
after 12 months. The highest number of species (45) was found from the partially cryptic habitat across all
sites after 12 months, with highest diversity occurring at the LAG and BR partially cryptic microhabitats
after 12 months exposure.
Table S1. Number of individuals, species and Shannon (H’) diversity index for each site and microhabitat at 12 and 24
months exposure, Puerto Morelos. Exp = Exposed, PC= Partially cryptic, Crypt= Cryptic. LAG = Lagoon, BR=Back
reef, RC=Reef crest, RF8=Reef front 8 m, RF5= Reef front 5 m (Please note these is no data for RF5 24 months as
experiment was destroyed in hurricane)
Site
M/Hab
No. of individuals
12
months
LAG
BR
RC
RF8
RF5
No. of Species
Shannon (H`)
24
12
24
12
24
months months months months months
EXP
537
1390
19
18
1.98
1.55
PC
1399
1699
45
42
3.14
2.95
CRYPT
797
897
33
34
2.85
2.69
EXP
660
747
16
9
2.10
1.66
PC
1639
1450
45
40
3.16
2.97
CRYPT
700
775
32
25
2.75
2.66
EXP
658
972
15
9
2.08
1.77
PC
1495
1559
45
37
2.91
3.07
CRYPT
655
918
32
32
2.67
2.88
EXP
194
317
8
9
0.80
1.00
PC
1415
1468
45
37
2.87
2.76
CRYPT
810
831
27
31
2.50
2.86
EXP
199
17
2.20
PC
1656
45
2.66
827
36
2.45
CRYPT
Table S2. Nemenyi multiple comparison tests provided p-values to demonstrate the strength of association
(species/genus~micro-habitat; Hothorn et al. 2008).
Neogoniolithon
M/hab
Hydrolithon
p
M/hab
PC vert
PC hor
0.46
PC vert
PC hor
Crypt down
PC vert
0.00
Crypt down
PC vert
Exp hor
PC hor
0.45
Exp hor
PC hor
Exp vert
PC hor
0.20
Exp vert
PC hor
Crypt down
PC vert
0.00
Crypt down
PC vert
Exp hor
PC vert
1.00
Exp hor
PC vert
Exp vert
PC vert
0.00
Exp vert
PC vert
Crypt down
Crypt up
0.99
Crypt down
Crypt up
Exp hor
Crypt down
0.00
Exp hor
Crypt down
Exp vert
Crypt down
0.00
Exp vert
Crypt down
Exp vert
Exp hor
0.00
Exp vert
Exp hor
0.84
0.00
0.66
0.01
0.07
0.00
0.00
0.77
0.77
1.00
PC vert
PC hor
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt up
Crypt down
PC hor
PC hor
PC vert
PC vert
Crypt down
Crypt up
Exp hor
Exp hor
Exp vert
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt down
Exp vert
Exp hor
Bivalve
PC vert
PC hor
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt up
Crypt down
PC hor
PC hor
PC vert
PC vert
Crypt down
Crypt up
Exp hor
Exp hor
Exp vert
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt down
Exp vert
Exp hor
p
0.93
0.00
0.75
0.09
0.00
1.00
0.55
1.00
0.00
0.00
0.79
CCA.unks
Planorbulina spp.
0.43
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.99
0.15
0.50
0.00
0.05
Sporolithon
PC vert
PC hor
0.12
PC vert
PC hor
0.06
Crypt down
PC vert
0.87
Crypt down
PC vert
0.00
Exp hor
PC hor
0.03
Exp hor
PC hor
0.00
Exp vert
PC hor
0.09
Exp vert
PC hor
0.03
Crypt down
PC vert
0.74
Crypt down
PC vert
0.00
Exp hor
PC vert
1.00
Exp hor
PC vert
0.85
Exp vert
PC vert
1.00
Exp vert
PC vert
0.00
Crypt down
Crypt up
0.00
Crypt down
Crypt up
1.00
Exp hor
Crypt down
0.39
Exp hor
Crypt down
0.00
Exp vert
Crypt down
0.67
Exp vert
Crypt down
0.00
Exp vert
Exp hor
1.00
Exp vert
Exp hor
0.00
0.00
0.99
1.00
0.00
0.00
1.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.00
PC vert
PC hor
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt up
Crypt down
PC hor
PC hor
PC vert
PC vert
Crypt down
Crypt up
Exp hor
Exp hor
Exp vert
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt down
Exp vert
Exp hor
H.rubrumBR
PC vert
PC hor
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt up
Crypt down
PC hor
PC hor
PC vert
PC vert
Crypt down
Crypt up
Exp hor
Exp hor
Exp vert
Crypt up
Crypt down
Crypt down
Exp vert
Exp hor
H.rubrumLR
0.77
0.19
0.00
0.92
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.28
0.28
1.00
Figure S1. Tile comparsion between sites and emersion periods. 12 months left side, 24 months right side.
Tiles A-D exposed and tiles E,F partially cryptic. LAG – Lagoon, RF8 – Reef Front 8 m, RC – Reef Crest.
Exposed tiles: Lagoon - grazed with little coralline algae development after 12 months. 24 months extensive coralline algae coverage. RF8 - exposed tiles were heavily grazed after both emersion periods. RC
- Partially cryptic habitats encruster development at 12 months and development of successional stages at 24
months.
Species Identification
Digital images were taken of each species encountered and a sample cut from the tile for analysis by
Scanning Electron Microscopy (e.g., bryozoans) or thin section (e.g., coralline algae). Foraminifera were
easily identifiable in comparison to other groups. All species were identified under the binocular microscope
(x10) and did not require further investigation
Problems with taxonomy prevented coralline algae from being identified to the species level except in one
incidence, Neogoniolithon strictum, where growth form and environment were unique, which, along with
taxonomic characteristics allowed for a species level identification to be attained. In all other cases, coralline
algae were identified to genus level. Thin sections (25 m) of the crusts of each genus of coralline algae
were prepared and used for analysis of cellular structure and reproductive characteristics. Problems with
coralline algae taxonomy also emphasized the importance of consistent nomenclature throughout, and for
this purpose the taxonomic revisions of Woelkerling (1988) are followed as far as possible and the names
used in older literature are modified for the purposes of consistency. Specifically, the genus Porolithon is
replaced by Hydrolithon (following Penrose and Woelkerling 1992). We continue to refer to Titanoderma
although note that it is referred to, by some authors, as “thin Lithophyllum crusts”. Verifications were also
made by Steneck (pers. comm.).
Serpulid species were identified using descriptions from ten Hove (1970); Bastida-Zavala and SalazarVallejo (2000) and Bastida-Zavala and ten Hove (2002). Communications with the authors confirmed
identifications. Bryozoan species were identified using descriptions from Osborne (1940) and Winston
(1982, 1984, 1986) with verification of species identifications by Dr. David Hughes (Hughes and Jackson
1992).
Carbonate Production
Tiles were bleached overnight using 1% sodium hypochlorite to remove fleshy algae. Tile pieces were
washed in deionised water and dried to constant weight at 60°C. After drying, they were batched and
weighed precisely ten minutes following removal from the oven in order to reduce weight variations
imparted by ambient humidity. Each tile piece was placed in a bath of 10% HCl until all the carbonate had
dissolved, rinsed and soaked in deionised water, and then dried to constant weight as before. Any remaining
material was either captured and placed back on the tile pieces before drying or filtered from the acid bath
solution and subsequently dried and weighed.
References
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Hydroides y Serpula. Rev Biol Trop 48:841-858
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from the western Atlantic region. Beaufortia: Bulletin of the Zoological Museum. University of
Amsterdam 52:103-178
HothornT, Bretz F, Westfall P, Heiberger RM (2008) Simultaneous Inference in General Parametric
Models. http://CRAN.R-project.org
Hughes DJ,Jackson JBC (1992) Distribution and abundance of cheilostome bryozoans on the Caribbean
reefs of Central Panama. Bull Mar Sci 51:443-465
Osborne RC (1940) Scientific survey of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Vol. XVI(3). Bryozoa of Puerto
Rico with a resume of the West Indian Bryozoan fauna. New York Academy of Sciences, pp321-486
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