Marine Biodiversity of Eastern Tropical Pacific Coral Reefs. Chap. 7, pp. 203-250 <i>in:</i> Coral Reefs of the Eastern Tropical Pacific
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The eastern tropical Pacific (ETP) is an isolated oceanic region exposed to extreme
oceanographic conditions, including low salinity, low pH, high temperatures during El
Niño, and low temperatures during La Niña and seasonal upwelling. The coral reefs in this
region have a relatively limited suite of species compared to other coral reef areas of the
world, but much like more diverse reefs the species present interact in complex ways. Here
we synthezise the knowledge of taxonomic groups of reef organisms from prokaryotes to
vertebrates, including algae, sponges, cnidarians, annelids and other worms, molluscs,
crustaceans, echinoderms and fishes. We also present summaries on the biodiversity of
associated functional groups and habitats, including (a) reef zooplankton and cryptic fauna,
and (b) soft benthic environments, rhodolith beds and mesophotic environments. Several
factors that structure the biodiversity of ETP coral reefs are explored, including biological,
physical and chemical controls. ETP coral reefs are relatively simple systems that can be
used as models for studying biodiversity and interactions among species. We conclude this
review by highlighting pressing research needs, from very basic inventories to more
sophisticated studies of cryptic assemblages, and to investigations on the impacts of natural and anthropogenic effects on ETP coral reef biodiversity.
