Comparison of Myodocopid Ostracodes in Two Zones of the Belize Barrier Reef Near Carrie Bow Cay with Changes in Distribution 1978–1981

The number of myodocopid species (51) in the vicinity of Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, is the highest yet reported for any geographic area of similar size. Replicate sampling in two different sand-bottomed zones, a shallow (1.5 m) lagoon site and a deeper (18–30 m) fore-reef site, from 1978–1981, shows that myodocopid species and families differed between the zones, and that species and family composition varied from year to year, possibly due to disturbance by and recovery from a hurricane. Myodocopids were less abundant, but species diversity greater and yearly changes much smaller in the deeper, less disturbed fore-reef site than in the shallower lagoon site which is subject to greater storm disturbance. Some changes in species and family abundance following a storm may be related to differences in life-history strategies.