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Motile cryptofauna of Tuléar reef flats

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Abstract

A study of 170 samples of the biota living within coral rock from the reef flat of the “Great Reef” at Tuléar (Madagascar) has revealed the important role played by motile cryptofauna in coral-reef ecosystems. Whereas many of these species are eurytopic, some are strictly linked to narrowly defined ecological conditions prevailing on the different coral-reef structures. The faunal assemblages vary with growth of the reef flat. The cryptofauna represents an important food resource for numerous fishes, with many species of prey and predators living closely together.

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Communicated by J. M. Pérès, Marseille

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Peyrot-Clausade, M. Motile cryptofauna of Tuléar reef flats. Mar. Biol. 59, 43–47 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00396981

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