Spatio-temporal density patterns of corallivorous invertebrates around Rodrigues Island, Western Indian Ocean
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Abstract. Priest JS, Ramah S, Ramkalam M, Korimbocus AM, Bhagooli R, Kaullysing D. 2025. Spatio-temporal density patterns of corallivorous invertebrates around Rodrigues Island, Western Indian Ocean. Indo Pac J Ocean Life 9: 92-99. Coral reef ecosystems globally are subject to multiple stressors making them targets for corallivore predation by organisms such as the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), Acanthaster (Gervais 1841) and gastropods, mainly Drupella (Thiele 1925). Around Rodrigues Island, little is known about COTS and gastropod corallivory. Surveys to assess COTS and Drupella cornus (Röding 1798) density were conducted using the belt transect method and random quadrat sampling, respectively, around Rodrigues Island from 2017 to 2020 at least once at six lagoon sites (1-2 m). In April 2024, additional surveys were carried out at nine lagoon sites (1-2 m) and seven dive sites (9-28 m), including previously surveyed locations. During this study, no COTS were observed along the surveyed transects, however, suspected COTS feeding scars were spotted on some coral colonies at two lagoonal sites. Significant spatio-temporal variations in D. cornus density were observed, with considerable increases at Rivière Banane from 0.07 ± 0.07 ind/m2 in 2018 to 0.93 ± 0.48 ind/m2 in 2024 and Var Brûlée from 0.40 ± 0.16 ind/m2 in 2017 to 2.07 ± 0.89 ind/m2 in 2024. Two-way ANOVA test revealed significant interaction between site and year (p < 0.01), suggesting that both spatial (site) and temporal (year) factors interact in influencing D. cornus densities. These findings suggest potential reef stress, possibly caused by fishing pressure, predator loss, and/or rising sea temperatures, and highlight the necessity for corallivore monitoring and intervention to protect the health and resilience of the coral reefs of Rodrigues. The study revealed that D. cornus, rather than COTS, poses a potential threat to Rodrigues reefs, particularly at Var?Brûlée and Rivière?Banane. Further research is warranted to gather additional data on corallivore distribution and their impact on the coral reefs of Rodrigues.
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