DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF CARIDEAN SHRIMPS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SLIMYSEA PLUME PSEUDOPTEROGORGIA-AMERICANA AT PINE CAY, TURKS-AND-CAICOS-ISLANDS, BRITISH-WEST-INDIES

Of 305 colonies of the slimy sea plume Pseudopterogorgia americana Gme lin, 1791 sampled at Pine Gay, Turks and Caicos Islands (British West Indies), 277 contained at least 1 caridean shrimp. Sampling occurred o ver 4 seasons at depths of 1.8 to 43.3 m. The 2639 shrimps (including identifiable fragments) comprised 9 species. The predominant species i n descending numbers were Pseudocoutierea antillensis Chace, 1972, Hip polyte nicholsoni Chace, 1972, Periclimenes sp. A, and Periclimenes pa tae Heard & Spotte, 1991. Populations of all 4 varied significantly by depth, but only the numbers of P. antillensis varied seasonally. Spec ies diversity did not vary seasonally but was affected significantly b y depth. Species abundance was unaffected by either season or depth. F emales of the 4 principal species are ovigerous throughout the year. T he disproportionate abundance of nonovigerous P. antillensis in spring could indicate variable seasonal reproduction.