First data on frequency and spatial distribution of borer polychaetes in Thalassia testudinum seagrass meadows off the Western Caribbean

Frequency and spatial distribution of polychaete borers associated with thalassia testudi-num, the dominant seagrass of the Caribbean sea, were analyyszed in two meadows off Puerto morelos, mexico and two beds off Carrie Bow Cay, Belize. in each of the studied meadow the sampling design included different spatial scales from a few meters to hundred meters. Polychaetes showed frequency values that varied significantly between and within the studied meadows (at different spatial scale), with abundan-ces higher in Puerto morelos. Further studies are necessary to determine whether these variations are due to local differences in physical and biological factors, between meadows, and/or are influenced by species features at metapopulation level.