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Cryptic coral reef microhabitats and the functional role of brittle stars in biogenic sediment generation.

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Title: Cryptic coral reef microhabitats and the functional role of brittle stars in biogenic sediment generation.
Authors: de Bakker, D. M.1 (AUTHOR) didierdebakker@gmail.com, Perry, C. T.1 (AUTHOR), de Nooijer, L.2 (AUTHOR), Ramírez-Menéndez, A. J.3 (AUTHOR), Lloyd Newman, J. E.1 (AUTHOR), Hale, F.1 (AUTHOR), Alvarez-Filip, L.4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Coral Reefs. Jun2026, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p1351-1364. 14p.
Subject Terms: *Reef ecology, *Sedimentation & deposition, *Ecological niche, *Echinodermata, *Biogeochemical cycles, *Biogenic sedimentary rocks, *Marine biodiversity, *Coral reefs & islands
Abstract: Recent studies have highlighted the ecological importance of cryptic habitat space on coral reefs. These microhabitats, ranging from framework cavities to intra-branch space within marine macroalgae, can harbour diverse and ecologically relevant taxa. Here we show that brittle stars, ubiquitous across such cryptic habitats (reported densities exceeding 100 ind. m−2), represent an important, but previously neglected, source of skeletal sediment on reefs. Reef-derived carbonate sediment is generated by a range of reef biota and represents a critical geo-ecological process, contributing to reef structural development and vertical accretion via framework infilling, and the development and maintenance of lagoonal and shoreline habitats. Our sediment production estimates are based on skeletal carbonate content data for differently sized specimens of common brittle star morphotypes, combined with field-based density assessments from widespread microhabitat types (framework cavities, sub-rubble space and intra-algal skeletal branches) on Mexican Caribbean reefs. Resulting estimates suggest that brittle stars can make substantial contributions to reef sediment production (averaging 110 g m⁻2 yr⁻1; 95% CI 59–161). Spine-bearing taxa contribute disproportionately due to their high skeletal mass (> 6 g in large individuals) and high abundance (accounting for over 80% of sub-rubble populations). Resultant biogenic sediments are high-Mg calcite (15.6 ± 0.1 mol% MgCO₃) and predominantly disarticulate into fine to coarse-grained sand material (125 µm–2 mm). These findings highlight the underappreciated role of brittle stars in reef carbonate cycling. With many reef systems undergoing rapid changes in benthic ecology and microhabitat space availability, identifying and characterising links to biogenic sediment sources is central to understanding future reef sediment production regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 194723229
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
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  Data: Cryptic coral reef microhabitats and the functional role of brittle stars in biogenic sediment generation.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Bakker%2C+D%2E+M%2E%22">de Bakker, D. M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> didierdebakker@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Perry%2C+C%2E+T%2E%22">Perry, C. T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22de+Nooijer%2C+L%2E%22">de Nooijer, L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ramírez-Menéndez%2C+A%2E+J%2E%22">Ramírez-Menéndez, A. J.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lloyd+Newman%2C+J%2E+E%2E%22">Lloyd Newman, J. E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hale%2C+F%2E%22">Hale, F.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alvarez-Filip%2C+L%2E%22">Alvarez-Filip, L.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Coral+Reefs%22">Coral Reefs</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p1351-1364. 14p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reef+ecology%22">Reef ecology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sedimentation+%26+deposition%22">Sedimentation & deposition</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+niche%22">Ecological niche</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Echinodermata%22">Echinodermata</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biogeochemical+cycles%22">Biogeochemical cycles</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biogenic+sedimentary+rocks%22">Biogenic sedimentary rocks</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Marine+biodiversity%22">Marine biodiversity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coral+reefs+%26+islands%22">Coral reefs & islands</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Recent studies have highlighted the ecological importance of cryptic habitat space on coral reefs. These microhabitats, ranging from framework cavities to intra-branch space within marine macroalgae, can harbour diverse and ecologically relevant taxa. Here we show that brittle stars, ubiquitous across such cryptic habitats (reported densities exceeding 100 ind. m−2), represent an important, but previously neglected, source of skeletal sediment on reefs. Reef-derived carbonate sediment is generated by a range of reef biota and represents a critical geo-ecological process, contributing to reef structural development and vertical accretion via framework infilling, and the development and maintenance of lagoonal and shoreline habitats. Our sediment production estimates are based on skeletal carbonate content data for differently sized specimens of common brittle star morphotypes, combined with field-based density assessments from widespread microhabitat types (framework cavities, sub-rubble space and intra-algal skeletal branches) on Mexican Caribbean reefs. Resulting estimates suggest that brittle stars can make substantial contributions to reef sediment production (averaging 110 g m⁻2 yr⁻1; 95% CI 59–161). Spine-bearing taxa contribute disproportionately due to their high skeletal mass (> 6 g in large individuals) and high abundance (accounting for over 80% of sub-rubble populations). Resultant biogenic sediments are high-Mg calcite (15.6 ± 0.1 mol% MgCO₃) and predominantly disarticulate into fine to coarse-grained sand material (125 µm–2 mm). These findings highlight the underappreciated role of brittle stars in reef carbonate cycling. With many reef systems undergoing rapid changes in benthic ecology and microhabitat space availability, identifying and characterising links to biogenic sediment sources is central to understanding future reef sediment production regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s00338-026-02847-6
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 1351
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Reef ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sedimentation & deposition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological niche
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Echinodermata
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biogeochemical cycles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biogenic sedimentary rocks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Marine biodiversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coral reefs & islands
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Cryptic coral reef microhabitats and the functional role of brittle stars in biogenic sediment generation.
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            NameFull: de Bakker, D. M.
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            NameFull: Perry, C. T.
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            NameFull: de Nooijer, L.
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            NameFull: Ramírez-Menéndez, A. J.
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 07224028
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              Value: 45
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            – TitleFull: Coral Reefs
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