Decapod crustaceans associated with macroalgae assemblages on the rocky coastline of Córdoba, Colombian Caribbean

Objective. To determine the structure of decapod crustacean populations associated with algal assemblages on the rocky coast line of Córdoba. Materials and methods. A 625 cm2 quadrant, an area with five random repetitions in each station was used to collect the species. To separate the macroalgae from its substrate, a metallic spatula was used. The decapod crustaceans were separate from the rest of the material in a plastic container, and they were preserved in 70% alcohol. Results. 50 species associated with alagal lawns were reported, these were grouped in 16 families and 29 genera. Species such as Acanthonyx petiverii, Epialtus bituberculatus, Pachycheles serratus and EuryPanopeus abbreviatus presented a wide distribution range, being characteristic species in both study ecoregions. Changes in the red algal cover of Gracilaria mammillaris, Hypnea musciformis and Acanthophora muscoides determined the largest association of decapod crustaceans in the Morrosquillo ecoregion, while changes in coverage of G. damaecornis and Padina gymnospora were those that determined the largest association of decapod crustaceans in the Córdoba Darien ecoregion. Conclusions. The results indicated that decapod crustacean species associated with algal assemblages weren't found distributed in similar way for the two studied ecoregions. P. armatus presented the highest percentage of abundance in the Morrosquillo ecoregion and E. bituberculatus in the sector between Moñitos and Los Córdobas.