Atoll Research Bulletin No. 477 Sponge Predators May Determine Differences in Sponge Fauna between Two Sets of Mangrove Cays, Belize Barrier Reef by Janie L. Wulff Issued by National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution

Mangrove roots in the well-protected channels and ponds among dense mangrove stands provide very similar habitats for sponges in the Twin Cays and Pelican Cays and harbor extraordinarily dense and diverse sponge communities in both locations. The species of sponges are very different, however, possibly because of an important difference in context: the Twin Cays mangrove roots are embedded in peat banks, whereas the Pelican Cays mangrove roots are embedded in coral reefs, which may provide habitat for sponge-feeding fishes. Current and previous observations of feeding preferences and habitat requirements of potential sponge predators suggest that sponge predators play a key role in determining substantial differences in the sponge faunas, both in species composition and in species diversity, of Twin Cays and Pelican Cays.