Background
The archipelago of San Andres, Providence and Santa Catalina was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in the year 2000. With 180,000 km2, the archipelago boasts a variety of ecosystems and relatively high levels of biodiversity within the region. In light of the urgent need to appraise the value of marine biodiversity within the reserve and understand its role in contributing to food security for the resident human population, the Colombian government has organized three annual expeditions to three different northern islands. The dataset presented here summarizes the information on fish biodiversity collected in three of the reserve's northern islands, namely Roncador, Serrana, and Serranilla during 2015–2017. In order to include all the information about the Colombian northern islands of the archipelago, data from Quitasueño were also added despite is has not been visited yet by this series of annual expeditions.
Data Description
Study Area
The archipelago of San Andres, Old Providence and Santa Catalina (Colombia) occupies a relatively small, yet important portion of the central western Caribbean Sea between 82 and 86°W meridians and 12 and 16°N parallels. The three main islands are populated by “raizales” (i.e., an Afrocolombian ethnic group mainly dedicated to fishing and trade among the islands of the reserve), mainland Colombians, and foreigners. According to the national laws, fishing is only allowed for raizales, yet enforcement is weak and illegal fishing by fleets from Jamaica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and others, is common. Enforcement is particularly challenging on the smallest islands of the reserve, as these are patrolled by an often small number of officials and vessels of the Colombian naval force. The archipelago encompasses about three fourths of the more than one hundred Colombian coralline formations. Since 2014 the Colombian government through the Comisión Colombiana del Océano (CCO) has carried out three annual scientific expeditions to the reserve visiting one island at a time. To date, three northern islands have been intensively surveyed, namely Roncador in 2015 (13.533333 N, −80.05 W), Serrana in 2016 (14.383333 N, −80.2 W), and Serranilla in 2017 (15.833333 N, −79.833333 W).
Methods
Here we compile a fish biodiversity dataset for Roncador, Serrana, and Serranilla from various sources. The first one is a published checklist of species (n = 653) distributed in 121 families constructed based on 28 papers (peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed) published since 1944, as well as on unpublished data gathered by the authors over the past two decades (Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ). The second source corresponds to a series of unpublished biological records which are partially available at the Biodiversity Information System of Colombia (SIB Colombia) and were collected during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Seaflower Expeditions (Acero, ; Acero et al., ; Polanco, ). The third and last source comprised a list of species found on the deep shelves and upper slopes of the islands of the reserve (Polanco, ; Robertson and Van Tassell, ). For the sake of completeness, all information available from Quitasueño (the only northern island of this archipelago not visited yet by these series of expeditions), usually from Robertson and Van Tassell () or from unpublished short visits by Colombian scientist, is included.
During the expeditions organized by the CCO data were collected by scuba diving as well as snorkeling over a total of 250 man-hours of underwater observation, using the 30-min timed free swim method in depths ranging between 0 and 35 m. As our main objective was to focus on species richness, six ecological units (INVEMAR-ANH, ) were surveyed, namely Octocoral-Sponges, Macroalgae-Octocoral-Sponge Meadows, Bioturbated Sediment—Calcareous Algae, Leafy Algae over Rubble, Acropora palmata-Octocorals, Seagrass Meadow and Encrusting Algae-Encrusting Sponge-Octocoral, and Coral Mixture. Specimens collected or photographed by several expedition members were also identified and included. In the case of Serranilla, seven species were recorded by video cameras during the project “Elasmobranch diversity and abundance estimates using baited remote underwater video stations” developed by Colombia Azul Foundation, Universidad de los Andes, and Florida International University. Scientific names of species follow the Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer et al., ) and the classification follows Eschmeyer et al. () for cartilaginous fishes and Betancur-R et al. () for bony fishes.
Description of the Dataset
The dataset presented here comprises a depurated inventory of the fish species reported from Roncador, Serrana, and Serranilla (the three of them already visited by the recent CCO expeditions), as well as from Quitasueño, the largest and westernmost island, which has not been yet visited by the CCO expeditions. The dataset includes all the fish species observed during the expeditions carried out between 2015 and 2017 (Table 1) plus the reports previously published in Bolaños-Cubillos et al. (), Polanco (), and Robertson and Van Tassell (). The six fields included per species within this dataset are listed and described in detail below.
Taxon ID and Scientific Name ID: This field includes a unique and stable-through-time alphanumeric identifier (taxonomic identifier) provided by Life Science Identifier (LSID), recovered from World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) (AphiaID).
Basis of record: As the data set includes records based on human observations, machine observations (Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations - BRUVs) or preserved specimens this field contains this specific information for each species.
Bibliographic Citation: This field includes the reference that explicitly reports the species on the northern islands of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.
Reference: URLs associated to georeferenced occurrences of the species found in the dataset.
Locality: Specific localities where the species have been recorded in the northern islands are presented in this field. Four localities were defined considering the islands Quitasueño, Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla, and a locality named North for species found on the northern area among the banks.
Locality ID: The Marine Regions Geographic Identifier (MRGID) provided by mariregions.org for each island and the MRGID for the Seaflower Marine Protected Area for the locality named “North.”
Table 1
| Family and species | Location | References |
|---|---|---|
| CHIMAERIDAE | ||
| Chimaera cubana | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE | ||
| Ginglymostoma cirratum | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| LAMNIDAE | ||
| Isurus oxyrinchus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| SCYLIORHINIDAE | ||
| Scyliorhinus retifer | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| TRIAKIDAE | ||
| Mustelus canis insularis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| CARCHARHINIDAE | ||
| Carcharhinus acronotus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Carcharhinus altimus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Carcharhinus falciformis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Carcharhinus leucas | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Carcharhinus limbatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Carcharhinus obscurus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Carcharhinus perezii | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Fundación Colombia Azul et al., |
| Carcharhinus plumbeus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Galeocerdo cuvier | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Fundación Colombia Azul et al., |
| Negaprion brevirostris | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Prionace glauca | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Rhizoprionodon porosus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Rhizoprionodon terraenovae*D | Serranilla | Fundación Colombia Azul et al., |
| SPHYRNIDAE | ||
| Sphyrna lewini | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Sphyrna mokarran | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Fundación Colombia Azul et al., |
| HEXANCHIDAE | ||
| Heptranchias perlo | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hexanchus nakamurai | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| SQUALIDAE | ||
| Squalus cubensis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| NARCINIDAE | ||
| Narcine bancroftii | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| RHINOBATIDAE | ||
| Pseudobatos percellens | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| RAJIDAE | ||
| Fenestraja sinusmexicanus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Leucoraja garmani | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| UROTRYGONIDAE | ||
| Urobatis jamaicensis | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| DASYATIDAE | ||
| Hypanus americanus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hypanus sabinus*D | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| MYLIOBATIDAE | ||
| Aetobatus narinari | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| MEGALOPIDAE | ||
| Megalops atlanticus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| ALBULIDAE | ||
| Albula vulpes | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CONGRIDAE | ||
| Conger esculentus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Heteroconger longissimus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Pseudophichthys splendens | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Rhynchoconger gracilior | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| MURAENIDAE | ||
| Anarchias similis | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Echidna catenata | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Enchelycore nigricans | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gymnothorax conspersus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gymnothorax funebris | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Gymnothorax maderensis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gymnothorax miliaris | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Gymnothorax moringa | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Gymnothorax vicinus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Uropterygius macularius | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| NETTASTOMATIDAE | ||
| Hoplunnis macrura | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Hoplunnis tenuis | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| OPHICHTHIDAE | ||
| Ahlia egmontis | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Callechelys bilinearis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Myrichthys breviceps | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Myrichthys ocellatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Myrophis platyrhynchus | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Ophichthus ophis | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Ophichthus spinicauda | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| CHLOPSIDAE | ||
| Kaupichthys hyoproroides | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| MORINGUIDAE | ||
| Moringua edwardsi | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| CLUPEIDAE | ||
| Harengula humeralis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Jenkinsia lamprotaenia | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Jenkinsia majua | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| ENGRAULIDAE | ||
| Anchoa lamprotaenia | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| ARGENTINIDAE | ||
| Glossanodon pygmaeus | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| SYNODONTIDAE | ||
| Saurida brasiliensis | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Saurida caribbaea | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Saurida normani | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Synodus intermedius | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Synodus synodus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CHLOROPHTHALMIDAE | ||
| Chlorophthalmus agassizi | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| PARAZENIDAE | ||
| Cyttopsis rosea | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Parazen pacificus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| ZENIONTIDAE | ||
| Zenion hololepis | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| GRAMMICOLEPIDIDAE | ||
| Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| MERLUCCIIDAE | ||
| Steindachneria argentea | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Merluccius albidus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| POLYMIXIIDAE | ||
| Polymixia lowei | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| BERYCIDAE | ||
| Beryx splendens | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| TRACHICHTHYIDAE | ||
| Hoplostethus occidentalis | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| HOLOCENTRIDAE | ||
| Holocentrus adscensionis | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Holocentrus rufus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Myripristis jacobus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Ostichthys trachypoma | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Neoniphon marianus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sargocentron coruscum | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Sargocentron vexillarium | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| OPHIDIIDAE | ||
| Lepophidium entomelan | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lepophidium kallion | North | Polanco, |
| Lepophidium marmoratum | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lepophidium staurophor | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Neobythites marginatus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Neobythites multiocellatus | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| APOGONIDAE | ||
| Apogon binotatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Apogon lachneri | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Apogon maculatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Apogon pseudomaculatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Apogon quadrisquamatus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Apogon townsendi | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Astrapogon puncticulatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Astrapogon stellatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Phaeoptyx conklini | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Paroncheilus affinis | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| GOBIIDAE | ||
| Bathygobius soporator | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Coryphopterus dicrus | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Coryphopterus eidolon | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Coryphopterus lipernes | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Coryphopterus personatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Coryphopterus tortugae | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Cryptopsilotris batrachodes*MP | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Elacatinus evelynae | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Elacatinus horsti | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Elacatinus illecebrosus | Roncador | |
| Elacatinus lori | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Elacatinus louisae | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Elacatinus prochilos | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Elacatinus serranilla | Serranilla | Robertson et al., |
| Gnatholepis thompsoni | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Nes longus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Risor ruber | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Tigrigobius dilepis | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Varicus bucca | Serrana | Robertson et al., |
| AULOSTOMIDAE | ||
| Aulostomus maculatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| FISTULARIIDAE | ||
| Fistularia tabacaria* | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| SYNGNATHIDAE | ||
| Bryx dunckeri | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Microphis lineatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Syngnathus pelagicus | Roncador | |
| DACTYLOPTERIDAE | ||
| Dactylopterus volitans | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CALLIONYMIDAE | ||
| Callionymus bairdi | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Foetorepus agassizi | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| MULLIDAE | ||
| Mulloidichthys martinicus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Pseudupeneus maculatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| GEMPYLIDAE | ||
| Gempylus serpens | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Nealotus tripes | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Promethichthys prometheus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| NOMEIDAE | ||
| Nomeus gronovii | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| SCOMBRIDAE | ||
| Acanthocybium solandri | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Euthynnus alletteratus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Katsuwonus pelamis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Scomberomorus cavalla | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Scomberomorus regalis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Thunnus atlanticus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Thunnus obesus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| POLYNEMIDAE | ||
| Polydactylus virginicus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| SPHYRAENIDAE | ||
| Sphyraena barracuda | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sphyraena picudilla | Roncador, Serrana | |
| CARANGIDAE | ||
| Alectis ciliaris | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Caranx bartholomaei | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Caranx crysos | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Caranx hippos | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Caranx latus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Caranx lugubris | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Caranx ruber | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Decapterus macarellus | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Decapterus punctatus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Elagatis bipinnulata | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Seriola dumerili | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Seriola fasciata | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Seriola rivoliana | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Trachinotus falcatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Trachinotus goodei | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| CORYPHAENIDAE | ||
| Coryphaena hippurus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| ECHENEIDAE | ||
| Echeneis naucrates | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Echeneis neucratoides | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Phtheirichthys lineatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Remora brachyptera | Serrana | Robertson et al., |
| RACHYCENTRIDAE | ||
| Rachycentron canadum | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| BOTHIDAE | ||
| Bothus lunatus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| PARALICHTHYIDAE | ||
| Ancylopsetta microctenus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Citharichthys dinoceros | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| GRAMMATIDAE | ||
| Gramma loreto | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Gramma melacara | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| OPISTOGNATHIDAE | ||
| Opistognathus aurifrons | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Opistognathus maxillosus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Opistognathus whitehursti | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| POMACENTRIDAE | ||
| Abudefduf saxatilis | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Abudefduf taurus | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Chromis cyanea | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Chromis insolata | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Chromis multilineata | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Microspathodon chrysurus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes adustus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes diencaeus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes leucostictus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes partitus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes planifrons | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Stegastes xanthurus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, |
| ATHERINIDAE | ||
| Atherina harringtonensis | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Atherinomorus stipes | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| BELONIDAE | ||
| Ablennes hians | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Platybelone argalus argalus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Strongylura notata | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Tylosurus acus acus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| EXOCOETIDAE | ||
| Cheilopogon cyanopterus | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Cheilopogon exsiliens | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Cheilopogon melanurus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Cypselurus comatus | North | Robertson et al., |
| Exocoetus obtusirostris | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Exocoetus volitans | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Hirundichthys affinis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Parexocoetus hillianus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Prognichthys occidentalis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| HEMIRAMPHIDAE | ||
| Hemiramphus balao | North | Robertson et al., |
| Hemiramphus brasiliensis | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| MUGILIDAE | ||
| Mugil curema | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Mugil trichodon | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| GOBIESOCIDAE | ||
| Gobiesox punctulatus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| BLENNIIDAE | ||
| Entomacrodus nigricans | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Ophioblennius macclurei | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CHAENOPSIDAE | ||
| Acanthemblemaria aspera* | Serrana | |
| Acanthemblemaria maria* | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Acanthemblemaria spinosa* | Serrana | |
| Emblemaria caycedoi | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Emblemariopsis sp. * | Serrana | |
| Lucayablennius zingaro | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| LABRISOMIDAE | ||
| Brockius albigenys | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gobioclinus bucciferus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gobioclinus gobio | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Gobioclinus guppyi | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Brockius nigricinctus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Labrisomus nuchipinnis | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Malacoctenus aurolineatus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Malacoctenus boehlkei | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Malacoctenus erdmani | Serrana | |
| Malacoctenus gilli | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Malacoctenus macropus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Malacoctenus triangulatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CHAENOPSIDAE | ||
| Stathmonotus gymnodermis*MP | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| TRIPTERYGIIDAE | ||
| Enneanectes pectoralis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| CAPROIDAE | ||
| Antigonia capros | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Antigonia combatia | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| GERREIDAE | ||
| Eucinostomus argenteus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Eucinostomus lefroyi* | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Gerres cinereus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| HAEMULIDAE | ||
| Anisotremus surinamensis | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Anisotremus virginicus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Brachygenys chrysargyreus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon album | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon aurolineatum | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon carbonarium | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon flavolineatum | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon macrostomum | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Haemulon melanurum | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon parra | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon plumierii | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Haemulon sciurus | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Haemulon striatum | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Haemulon vittatum | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| LUTJANIDAE | ||
| Apsilus dentatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Etelis oculatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus analis | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Lutjanus apodus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Lutjanus buccanella | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus cyanopterus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus griseus | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus jocu | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus mahogoni | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Lutjanus purpureus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lutjanus synagris | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Lutjanus vivanus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Ocyurus chrysurus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Pristipomoides macrophthalmus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Rhomboplites aurorubens | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| MALACANTHIDAE | ||
| Caulolatilus cyanops | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Malacanthus plumieri | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| POMACANTHIDAE | ||
| Centropyge argi | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Holacanthus ciliaris | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Holacanthus tricolor | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Pomacanthus arcuatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Pomacanthus paru | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| PRIACANTHIDAE | ||
| Cookeolus japonicus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Heteropriacanthus cruentatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Priacanthus arenatus* | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| SCIAENIDAE | ||
| Equetus lanceolatus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Equetus punctatus | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Pareques acuminatus | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| URANOSCOPIDAE | ||
| Kathetostoma cubana | North | Polanco, |
| LABRIDAE | ||
| Bodianus rufus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Clepticus parrae | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Doratonotus megalepis * | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres bivittatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres cyanocephalus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres garnoti | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres maculipinna | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres pictus | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres poeyi | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Halichoeres radiatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Lachnolaimus maximus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Thalassoma bifasciatum | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Xyrichthys martinicensis | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Xyrichthys novacula | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Xyrichthys splendens | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| SCARIDAE | ||
| Cryptotomus roseus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Nicholsina usta | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Scarus coelestinus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Scarus coeruleus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Scarus guacamaia | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Scarus iseri | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Scarus taeniopterus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Scarus vetula | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma atomarium | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma aurofrenatum | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma chrysopterum | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma radians | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma rubripinne | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Sparisoma viride | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| LOBOTIDAE | ||
| Lobotes surinamensis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| EPHIPPIDAE | ||
| Chaetodipterus faber | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| SPARIDAE | ||
| Calamus bajonado | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Calamus calamus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| CHAETODONTIDAE | ||
| Chaetodon capistratus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Chaetodon ocellatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Chaetodon sedentarius | Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Chaetodon striatus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Prognathodes aculeatus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| ANTENNARIIDAE | ||
| Antennarius pauciradiatus* | Roncador | |
| Histrio histrio* | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| OGCOCEPHALIDAE | ||
| Dibranchus atlanticus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Malthopsis gnoma | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Ogcocephalus pumilus | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Zalieutes mcgintyi | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| TRIACANTHODIDAE | ||
| Hollardia hollardi | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Parahollardia schmidti | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| DIODONTIDAE | ||
| Chilomycterus antillarum* | Serrana | Acero, |
| Diodon holocanthus | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Diodon hystrix | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| TETRAODONTIDAE | ||
| Canthigaster rostrata | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Sphoeroides dorsalis | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Sphoeroides spengleri | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Polanco, |
| BALISTIDAE | ||
| Balistes capriscus | Roncador | |
| Balistes vetula | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Canthidermis maculata | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Canthidermis sufflamen | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Melichthys niger | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Xanthichthys ringens | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| MONACANTHIDAE | ||
| Aluterus scriptus | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Cantherines macrocerus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Cantherines pullus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Monacanthus ciliatus * | Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Monacanthus tuckeri | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Stephanolepis setifer * | Roncador | |
| OSTRACIIDAE | ||
| Acanthostracion polygonius | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Acanthostracion quadricornis | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Lactophrys bicaudalis | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Lactophrys trigonus | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Lactophrys triqueter | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| ACANTHURIDAE | ||
| Acanthurus chirurgus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Acanthurus coeruleus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Acanthurus tractus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| ACROPOMATIDAE | ||
| Synagrops bellus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Synagrops spinosus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Synagrops trispinosus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| PEMPHERIDAE | ||
| Pempheris schomburgkii | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| CIRRHITIDAE | ||
| Amblycirrhitus pinos | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| KYPHOSIDAE | ||
| Kyphosus cinerascens * | Serrana, Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Kyphosus sectatrix | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Acero et al., |
| Kyphosus vaigiensis | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| PERCOPHIDAE | ||
| Bembrops anatirostris | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Bembrops macromma | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Bembrops magnisquamis | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Bembrops ocellatus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Bembrops quadrisella | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| SERRANIDAE | ||
| Alphestes afer | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Bullisichthys caribbaeus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Cephalopholis cruentata | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Cephalopholis fulva | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Epinephelus adscensionis | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Epinephelus guttatus | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Epinephelus itajara | Roncador | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Epinephelus morio | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Epinephelus striatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hypoplectrus aberrans | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hypoplectrus indigo | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hypoplectrus maculiferus | Serrana | |
| Hypoplectrus chlorurus | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hypoplectrus gummigutta | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hypoplectrus guttavarius | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hypoplectrus nigricans | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Hypoplectrus providencianus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hypoplectrus puella | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hypoplectrus randallorum | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hypoplectrus unicolor | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Hyporthodus flavolimbatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hyporthodus mystacinus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Hyporthodus niveatus | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Liopropoma rubre | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Mycteroperca bonaci | Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Mycteroperca interstitialis | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Mycteroperca phenax | Roncador | |
| Mycteroperca tigris | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Mycteroperca venenosa | Roncador, Serrana | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, |
| Paranthias furcifer | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Plectranthias garrupellus | Serrana | Robertson et al., |
| Pronotogrammus martinicensis | Serrana | Polanco, |
| Pseudogramma gregoryi | North | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., |
| Rypticus saponaceus | Roncador, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Serranus baldwini | Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Serranus flaviventris | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
| Serranus tabacarius | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero et al., |
| Serranus tigrinus | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Serranus tortugarum * | Serranilla | Polanco, |
| SCORPAENIDAE | ||
| Pontinus castor | North | Robertson et al., |
| Pterois volitans | Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla | Bolaños-Cubillos et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., |
| Scorpaena plumieri | Roncador, Serrana | |
| SETARCHIDAE | ||
| Ectreposebastes imus | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Setarches guentheri | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| PERISTEDIIDAE | ||
| Peristedion brevirostre | North | Robertson et al., |
| Peristedion greyae | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Peristedion longispatha | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Peristedion truncatum | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| TRIGLIDAE | ||
| Bellator brachychir | Quitasueño | Polanco, |
| Bellator militaris | Quitasueño | Robertson et al., |
Inventory of the species observed in three of the northern islands of the Reserve Roncador, Serrana and Serranilla with some additional records from Quitasueño and the northern water territories.
Species with asterisk (*) correspond to new reports for the area. Species with asterisk (*D) or (*MP) corresponds to contributions of Diego Cardeñosa, PhD candidate Stony Brook University and Professors Paula Quiceno y Mario Londoño, Universidad de Antioquia, respectively. Species observed during the Seaflower Expedition (2015–2017) field work including in the reference (Fundación Colombia Azul et al., ; Acero, ; Acero et al., ; Polanco, ).
Outcomes and Discussion
A total of 411 species are recorded here for our study area, that is the northern islands of the reserve (i.e., Roncador, Serrana, and Serranilla) and the westernmost island Quitasueño. Considering that a total of 1,694 fish species (including shelf and slope fishes) are reported for the Greater Caribbean region (Robertson and Van Tassell, ), our study area harbors 24% (i.e., close to one fourth) of the region's fish species richness. Fifty four percent of the species reported here (i.e., 220) were inventoried by the authors (Table 1) during expeditions to Roncador in 2015 (n = 140), Serrana in 2016 (n = 155), and Serranilla in 2017 (n = 166). With 1,577 fish species reportedly native to and resident in the shallow waters (<100 m) of the Greater Caribbean (Robertson and Van Tassell, ), our findings demonstrated that just three of the smallest islands of the reserve encompass a remarkable proportion (i.e., 14%) of Greater Caribbean marine fish species richness. This high diversity is concentrated in an area less than 5% of Greater Caribbean extension. Interestingly, only 42% species (n = 92) were common to the three islands. When clustering sites based on fish community structure using the Jaccard index of similarity, relatively low values are observed between pairs of islands indicating that each island harbors relatively distinct fish communities. The fish faunas of Roncador and Serrana, for instance, are 62% similar, and those of Roncador and Serranilla are alike only by 52%. This result emphasizes the urgent need to protect the valuable and unique fish assemblages of these and other small islands and banks comprising the archipelago.
Another point worth remarking is the consistent absence (or at least rarity) of several large-bodied, commercially valuable species throughout the reserve threatened by overfishing (Chasqui et al., ). Most striking is the absence of the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, one of the most typical large epinephelines of Caribbean coral reefs (Bent-Hooker, ). High levels of overfishing are also apparent for large-bodied parrotfishes. The rarity of the blue parrotfish Scarus coeruleus, and the absence of the rainbow parrotfish S. guacamaia, suggest that these have been likely extirpated from the islands for several decades (Acero and Polanco, ). Serranilla has particularly depleted grouper populations. The yellowmouth grouper Mycteroperca interstitialis, the tiger grouper M. tigris, and the yellowfin grouper M. venenosa, for instance, have never been observed by any contemporary researcher in that island. Other relatively valuable fishes such as the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili, the permit Trachinotus falcatus, and the jolthead porgy Calamus bajonado are also commercially extinct or very close to extinct throughout the reserve.
The reserve is, however, a natural laboratory where several actively speciating groups show high species richness. About two thirds of the 18 recognized species of Hypoplectrus, a genus of small hermaphroditic serranids endemic to the Greater Caribbean, occur in the reserve with at least nine of them on the northern islands. Elacatinus, a genus of cleaning and sponge dwelling gobies also endemic to the western tropical Atlantic, includes 35% of its 20 recognized species on the reserve reefs, five of them in them occurring on the northern islands. Those genera, as well as several others, must be studied in detail to help understand Caribbean connectivity patterns and develop suitable management strategies.
Lastly, 9% (n = 19) of the species detected during the CCO Colombian expeditions are new reports for the reserve or at least to its northern part. These species are distributed in 15 families, namely Carcharhinidae (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), Dasyatidae (Hypanus sabinus), Gobiidae (Cryptopsilotris batrachodes), Fistulariidae (Fistularia tabacaria), Chaenopsidae (Acanthemblemaria aspera, A. maria, A. spinosa, Emblemariopsis sp.), Labrisomidae (Stathmonotus gymnodermis), Gerreidae (Eucinostomus lefroyi), Priacanthidae (Priacanthus arenatus), Labridae (Doratonotus megalepis), Antennariidae (Antennarius pauciradiatus, Histrio histrio), Diodontidae (Chilomycterus antillarum), Monacanthidae (Monacanthus ciliatus, Stephanolepis setifer), Kyphosidae (Kyphosus cinerascens), and Serranidae (Serranus tortugarum). Obtaining such high percentage of new reports through a relatively limited sampling effort indicates that if scientific fish ichthyocides were used the biodiversity of this unique Caribbean region will be more thoroughly evaluated and perhaps currently reported levels would most likely increase.
Statements
Data availability statement
The dataset “Fish biodiversity in three northern islands of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombian Caribbean),” which includes the most recently updated list of species in the northern area of the reserve, was assembled using the Darwin Core standard (DwC) and is available through the Integrated Publishing Tool of the Ocean Biogeographic Imation System (OBIS) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Colombian nodes (SIBM-SIB Colombia) (IPT link: https://ipt.biodiversidad.co/sibm/resource?r=fish_biodiversity_northern_islands_seaflower_biosphere_reserve_colombian_caribbean; GBIF Portal: http://www.gbif.org/dataset/d8e8b1bf-0b56-4cc0-bf75-c9283fad4aa2; DOI: http://doi.org/10.15472/ygq6i9, http://doi.org/10.15472/7rocx4). Future updates of this list will be published in the latter repository. Changes incorporated to each new version of the list will be summarized in the respective metadata section of the electronic resource.
Author contributions
AA, JT, AP, and NB-C built the database. AA, AP, and JT contributed to the writing and correction of the manuscript. AP and AA devised the data set. All the four authors reviewed the final version of the manuscript and contributed to the discussion.
Funding
This research was supported by Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad del Valle, INVEMAR, Coralina, and CCO through Colombia BIO–Colciencias project, agreement No. 341 of 2017 with the aim of joining efforts to characterize the biodiversity in areas of scientific interest with poor biological information in order to strengthen the scientific collections and the generation of genetic information of Colombian biodiversity. Projects involved: Biodiversidad íctica de la Isla Cayo Serrana durante la Expedición Seaflower 2016–Seaflower Expedition 2016, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad dela Valle, Coralina; Biodiversidad íctica de la Isla Cayo Serranilla durante la Expedición Seaflower 2017–Seaflower Expedition 2017, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad dela Vallle, INVEMAR, Coralina; Evaluación física y biológica de las unidades ecológicas someras en la isla Cayo Serranilla de la Reserva de Biósfera–Seaflower–Seaflower Expedition 2017, INVEMAR, Coralina.
Acknowledgments
Authors thanks the CCO which organized the expeditions. Diego Cardeñosa, Sabrina Monsalve, Camila Cáceres, Mario Londoño and Paula Quiceno whom contributed with new reports. Valeria Pizarro, J. D. González, and J. Prato contributed with photographic records. Alfredo Abril, A. Pérez, N. Howard Archibold contributed with information in the field. Erika Montoya who help us with the data managment. Contribution No.467, Inst. de Estudios en Ciencias del Mar (Cecimar); Invemar Contrib. No. 1215.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
inventory, new records, fish species, Actinopterygii, Chondrichthyes, Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla
Citation
Acero P. A, Tavera JJ, Polanco F. A and Bolaños-Cubillos N (2019) Fish Biodiversity in Three Northern Islands of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (Colombian Caribbean). Front. Mar. Sci. 6:113. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00113
Received
21 September 2018
Accepted
25 February 2019
Published
02 April 2019
Volume
6 - 2019
Edited by
Sonia Bejarano, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (LG), Germany
Reviewed by
Badi Raymundo Samaniego, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines; Andres López-Perez, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico; Hudson Tercio Pinheiro, California Academy of Sciences, United States
Updates
Copyright
© 2019 Acero P, Tavera, Polanco F and Bolaños-Cubillos.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Arturo Acero P. aacerop@unal.edu.co
This article was submitted to Marine Evolutionary Biology, Biogeography and Species Diversity, a section of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science
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