Pérez, T.; Albenga, L.; Starmer, J.; Chevaldonné, P. (2016). Biodiversité des grottes sous-marines des îles Marquises: un patrimoine. In : Galzin R., Duron S.-D., Meyer J.-Y. (eds), Biodiversité terrestre et marine des îles Marquises, Polynésie française. Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Paris : 287-310.

433953

Pérez, T.; Albenga, L.; Starmer, J.; Chevaldonné, P.

2016

Publication

Available for editors  

Underwater caves are enclaves of darkness distributed along the coastline. They allow the development of a biodiversity well adapted to such a constraining environment, with organisms able to develop original life strategies. The Marquesas harbour a large number of underwater caves that are often already part of the cultural heritage. Knowledge on the biodiversity of these marine habitats was limited before the Pakaihi i te Moana research cruise. This cruise allowed studying the biodiversity of a dozen of underwater caves, revealing a great diversity of geomorphologies structuring an original biodiversity. Each cave is marked by a clear gradient of biodiversity from the entrance to the darkest zones, and by a significant decrease in coverage of the rocky walls by sessile fauna after a few meters. Sponges dominate in terms of biomass and biodiversity. In all the islands, there is an outstanding representation of sponges with hypercalcified or hypersilicified skeletons, including several new taxa for the Marquesas, and probably a high percentage of species new to science (Calcarea, Homoscleromorpha and Demospongiae Verongida groups). These underwater caves are also diurnal shelters for large crustaceans such as spiny- and slipper-lobsters. As in many known caves around the world, there are also swarms of mysids (Heteromysis) and copepods (Ridgewayia), and in these cases too they probably belong to new species. These dives into the darkness of the Marquesas caves were also an opportunity to frequently make most spectacular and unusual meetings, including three different species of sharks and two rays. This first rapid assessment of the Marquesas underwater caves ecosystem has not yet revealed its entire richness. It is necessary to maintain an effort to improve our knowledge about this biodiversity hidden in the dark, but which is nevertheless a important part the Marquesan natural heritage.

Pacific, South East

Biodiversity, Taxonomic and ecological diversity
Underground and Cave habitats

Annelida
Cnidaria
Crustacea
Mollusca
Porifera

RIS (EndNote, Reference Manager, ProCite, RefWorks)
BibTex (BibDesk, LaTeX)

[Back to search]