Community in Cozumel

This picture was taken in Cozumel, Mexico on my cruise for spring break. The Island of Cozumel is a biologically diverse location with different physical features like mountains, rainforests, and coastal beaches. As you can see from the bright blue water, the ocean surrounding the island is full of life and color. Underneath the water, a whole host of ecological processes are at hand. The multiple sites of coral reefs show community structure and dynamics. The coral reefs are known to host a diverse array of tropical fish and other species. One of the most important species for Cozumel is the common starfish (Asteria rubens). The common starfish is an example of keystone predation. A keystone species is a species whose impact is disproportionate to the amount in the community. Keystone predation is the disproportionate impact of a predator who is less abundant in a community. The starfish, by feeding on a variety of prey species, helps reduces the populations and competition in the ecosystem. If the starfish were not present, more prey species populations in the preceding trophic level (typically an intermediate species) will increase. With that increase, the more dominant species will increase and reduce the other prey populations. This would lead to a decrease in biodiversity which you can calculate through Shannon's or Simpson's index. The starfish is able to stabilize the community and help it thrive and be even more diverse. It is so interesting how a trip to Cozumel can show how ecology impacts our daily lives.

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