The distribution of microborings in molluscan shells from recent reef environments at Lee Stocking Island,Bahamas

Summary The distribution of microbial borings in bivalve shells was assessed between five research sites in windward and leeward environments at the Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. The research sites are on windward coral reefs (sites B at 2 m, Fat 12 m, and C at 30 m), a tidal channel stromatolite reef (site A at 5 m), and a leeward hard ground reef (site D at 3 m). A total of 22 ichnotaxa have been recognized within 100 samples. Each site contained between 14 and 17 ichnotaxa. Although the diversity of microborings, expressed both as number of taxa and number of individuals per taxon, is similar between sites, the following ranking (in descending order) was found: B-F-A-C-D.Rhopalia catenata was found to dominate at site D, whileReticulina elegans dominated at site C, andFasciculus dactylus dominated at site F. The results are in accordance with the known bathymetric distribution of the boring microorganisms.