Population biology of Trapezia spp. And other coral-associated decapods

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Abstract
The population structure of 3 coexisting species of Trapezia [T. ferruginea, T. corallina, T. formosa] and 4 other common decapod species [Alpheus lottini, Fennera chacei, Harpiliopsis depressa, Teleophrys cristulipes] associated with the reef coral Pocillopora in the Eastern Pacific Ocean was studied. Most species carry eggs throughout the year, and egg number is highly correlated with body size. Trapezia postlarvae (= postmegalopa) recruit in April and June only and reach adult size by the following January. Sex ratios vary among species and may be affected by the frequency of movement among coral heads. Decapod abundance is often higher on the shallow reef flat, where Pocillopora cover is more continuous and predatory fishes are less common. In contrast to many ''community'' studies, area (coral head size) is not an important predictor variable, except for a modest effect on abundance. Instead, season and reef location emerge as the most important correlates with population structue of decapod species associated with Pocillopora.