Composition and abundance of meiofauna on the coral reefs at Mu Ko Surin National Park, the Andaman Sea

Abstract

Coral reefs are complex ecosystems bearing the high biological diversity of the world's oceans. Assessing biodiversity and ecosystem functions is an essential step to predict the consequences of biodiversity loss. Coral reefs are the most productive and diverse marine ecosystem. Meiofauna is one of the important components in the coral reef ecosystem and is generally much more abundant than macrofauna in most marine habitats. However, meiofauna studies in tropical countries are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the composition and abundance of meiofauna in coral communities and assessed the relationship of meiofauna density and ratio of live coral per dead coral at Ao Jaak, Ao Mai Ngam, Ao Suthep, Ao Chong Khat, Ao Pak Kaad and Ao Mae Yai, Mu Ko Surin National Park, the Andaman Sea, in February 2021. Seventeen taxa of meiofauna were observed. Foraminifera, Nematoda, Copepoda and Polychaeta were the major taxa at the study sites. The highest average total density of meiofauna was observed at Ao Mai Ngam (77.45±5.47 inds. 10 cm^-2) and followed by Ao Chong Khad (71.85 ± 27.04 inds. 10 cm^-2). The density and composition of meiofauna were significantly varied among study sites. These positive correlations indicate that live coral cover is a contributor to meiofauna community distribution. Our results highlight that the meiofauna can play a major role in coral reef ecosystems and they may be changing in total densities and their composition that may affect the coral reef food webs under the global change crisis.