Fish community features correlate with prop root epibionts in Caribbean mangroves

Using visual census, fish and sessile epifaunal communities were compared in Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) prop roots in Bocas Del Toro, Panama, and Utila, Honduras. A separate field experiment where epibionts were removed was also conducted at the Panama site. The results revealed a significant positive correlation between epibiont diversity and fish species diversity as well as between epibiont abundance and fish biomass. The trend was consistent in both sites, although there were differences in the details at each location. Depth also weakly correlated with fish diversity in Panama, but not in Honduras. Results of field experiments also support a correlation between epibiont communities and fish habitat, although primarily for smaller individuals.

► Fish communities and prop root epibiota were surveyed in Caribbean mangroves. ► Fish biomass and richness corresponded to epibiota abundance and diversity. ► A separate experiment where epibiota were reduced corroborated the surveys. ► Possible cause is increased habitat structure created by epibiota.