Research Article
Spatial variation of hermatypic coral assemblages in Cayos Cochinos
Archipelago, Honduras

Fabián A. Rodríguez-Zaragoza1, Carlos V. Pérez-de Silva1, Miguel A. Ruiz-Zárate2
Amílcar L. Cupul-Magaña3, Marco Ortiz4, Alicia Medina-Hernández5, Pablo Rico5
María R. Priego-Arenas1 & Álvaro Hernández-Flores6
1Laboratorio de Ecosistemas Marinos y Acuicultura, Departamento de Ecología
Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara
P.O. Box 45110, Jalisco, México
2Departamento de Biología Marina, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias
Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, P.O. Box 97100, Yucatán, México
3Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CUCosta, Universidad de Guadalajara
Av. Universidad de Guadalajara 203, Del. Ixtapa, P.O. Box 48280, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, México
4Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas
Facultad de Recursos del Mar, Universidad de Antofagasta, P.O. Box 170, Antofagasta, Chile
5WWF-México/MAR, Oficina WWF, Edificio FHIA, P.O. Box 2668-1191
Apartado Postal # 2067, San Pedro Sula, Cortes, Honduras
6 Centro Regional de Investigación Pesquera Yucalpetén, P.O. Box 97320, Yucatán, México

ABSTRACT. Spatial variations of hermatypic coral assemblages were evaluated at five sites in Cayos
Cochinos Archipelago, Honduras, in February 2008. Richness and coverage of corals and other benthic
morpho-functional groups were estimated using 56 videotransects. Topographic complexity and depth were
also measured by transect. Twenty-two coral taxa were recorded for Cayos Cochinos. Total species richness
was similar (16 and 17 taxa) at all sites, whereas species richness by transect was different among sites (6-12
taxa). Shannon diversity showed weak differences among sites (1.46-2.13), whereas Pielou evenness was not
different among sites. Simpson dominance was low with weak differences among sites (0.15-0.27). The total
cover of hermatypic coral was 16.5% at Roatan Bank, 10.5% at Salamandinga, 9.7% at Punta Pelicanos, 7.6%
at La Grupera, and 6.9% at Mariposales. The ANOSIM revealed assemblages of different corals between sites,
except between La Grupera, Punta Pelicanos, and Salamandinga. The NMDS associated La Grupera, Punta
Pelicanos, and Salamandinga given the greater contribution of Porites astreoides, Agaricia agaricites, and
Montastraea annularis; whereas the NMDS differentiated Mariposales and Roatan Bank, which had more
dissimilar assemblages with a greater predominance of Montastraea cavernosa, Agaricia agaricites, and
Diploria labyrinthiformis. According to the BIO-ENV method, coral composition and abundance were
correlated with the cover of articulated calcareous algae, sandy substrate, total hermatypic corals, rockycalcareous
substrate, fleshy macroalgae, and hydrocorals. In general, the differences found in the coral
assemblages of Cayos Cochinos could be due to geomorphological characteristics as well as the effects of
human activities in the study area.
Keywords: hermatypic coral assemblages, spatial variation, community ecology, Cayos Cochinos, Honduras.