At the southern end, the reef platform ends in an extensive sand deposit that slopes
down gently to a depth of about 50 meters. Towards the northern end, the shelf-edge
ef platform leads to an almost vertical wall down to a depth of 40 meters known as the
W Wall Reef. Our permanent transects for characterization of the deep hermatypic
oral reef communities were established along the 30 and 40 m depth contours in the
entral-south section of the SW Wall Reef (Figure 11 a-b). The total area of the SW
all Reef was estimated as 7,000 m
2
. It extends horizontally approximately 200 m
long a north south axis and extends down approximately 15 m, from a depth of 27 m at
e shelf-edge to a depth of 40 m at the base. The slope angle varies between 30 – 45°,
eing more abrupt at the northern section and increasing towards the south, where the
oral reef ends in an extensive coralline sand deposit. Towards the west-southwest and
own the slope, the SW Wall Reef ends in a gently sloping terrace of coralline sand with
oral rubble. The sandy fringe extends offshore approximately 50 meters and merges
ith a deposit of coarse coral rubble and calcite rock formations that appear to be relict
odoliths. These rhodolith structures of variable sizes are extensively colonized by
ncrusting biota, including benthic algae, erect and branching sponges and corals,
forming a reef system, Agelas Reef.
Agelas is a live hermatypic reef established at depths between 45 – 70 meters (148 –
230’) on the southwestern insular slope of Isla Desecheo (Figure 11 a-b). The reef
extends offshore approximately 200 m along a gently sloping terrace and ends at a
second drop-off rock wall at 70 meters. The north to south extension of this reef is still
undetermined. The reef has very low topographic relief as it lies over an essentially flat
platform and massive corals do not contribute significantly to its rugosity.
re
S
c
c
W
a
th
b
c
d
c
w
rh
e
103
down gently to a depth of about 50 meters. Towards the northern end, the shelf-edge
ef platform leads to an almost vertical wall down to a depth of 40 meters known as the
W Wall Reef. Our permanent transects for characterization of the deep hermatypic
oral reef communities were established along the 30 and 40 m depth contours in the
entral-south section of the SW Wall Reef (Figure 11 a-b). The total area of the SW
all Reef was estimated as 7,000 m
2
. It extends horizontally approximately 200 m
long a north south axis and extends down approximately 15 m, from a depth of 27 m at
e shelf-edge to a depth of 40 m at the base. The slope angle varies between 30 – 45°,
eing more abrupt at the northern section and increasing towards the south, where the
oral reef ends in an extensive coralline sand deposit. Towards the west-southwest and
own the slope, the SW Wall Reef ends in a gently sloping terrace of coralline sand with
oral rubble. The sandy fringe extends offshore approximately 50 meters and merges
ith a deposit of coarse coral rubble and calcite rock formations that appear to be relict
odoliths. These rhodolith structures of variable sizes are extensively colonized by
ncrusting biota, including benthic algae, erect and branching sponges and corals,
forming a reef system, Agelas Reef.
Agelas is a live hermatypic reef established at depths between 45 – 70 meters (148 –
230’) on the southwestern insular slope of Isla Desecheo (Figure 11 a-b). The reef
extends offshore approximately 200 m along a gently sloping terrace and ends at a
second drop-off rock wall at 70 meters. The north to south extension of this reef is still
undetermined. The reef has very low topographic relief as it lies over an essentially flat
platform and massive corals do not contribute significantly to its rugosity.
re
S
c
c
W
a
th
b
c
d
c
w
rh
e
103