Zooxanthellae and chlorophyll a responses in the scleractinian coral Montastrea cavernosa at Triángulos-W Reef, Campeche Bank, Mexico

Samples of Montastrea cavernosa were collected from 3 m to 18 m depth, in tite leeward dope of Triangulos-W Reef. Campeche Bank, Mexico. Population densily of zooxanthellae and chlorophyll ti contents per square centimeter and per zooxanthellae were determined for each coral colony. These parameters did not differ signuicantly among depths. The regressions of chlorophyll a concentration per square centimeter and per zooxanthellae as a function of population density of zooxanthellae present the same trends of thase reported by other authors. It is possible that nitrogen availability controls these parameters in M. cavernosa in natural cooditions in lile reef.