1. Biological Characterization of Marine Communities
1.1 Sessile-benthic Reef Community
1.1.1
SW Wall Reef - 30 meters
depth of 3 meters
the SW Wall was dominated by benthic
mac
s,
ass
ra
co
at
b
Lobophora
varieg
din
), calcareous
n
), fleshy red
(Wrangelia b
d
ine r
mp
sp.) ac
e
sente
6
% of
lon
man
ans
su
ed
le
The
encrusting
. var gata) was the dominant species with a mean cover of
23.8 %
%
is alga was obs rve
ing n pa
or m
er
the hard
, colo izing d
or
ctur s and tabi
sandy
section
15).
in
the
en
m
ur
o
%
ostly as large erect and bran
fo
a
u
ub
ial
topogra
ec
abita
ish
d
eb
(
16).
ny
instances, sponges were observed growing attached to stony co als, fo ing spo
coral bioher
(Plate 17). One of the most common associations
inv
gela conife
d ro pore onge (Aplysina spp.)
ve
, M. annularis
ar
sk
on
muta) were common in the reef and pr
m
a
fo
n
ies
(Gobiosom
row
s (Stenorhynchus seticorni
ttl
s (Op
ma
erson cleaner shrimps (Pe
s pedersoni).
nching and
laster
roseus) were the hydrocorals present. The latter was particularly common in crevices
and other microhabitats. Wire (black) coral ( tichopathes lutkeni) was abundant on the
SW Wall reef in shades of yellow-brown, red-brown and green. One colony of the
feather black coral (Antipathes pennace
species were observed within video-transect frames, with a combined mean substrate
cover of 8.6 % (range: 3.2 – 19.2 %) (Table 30). Great star and boulder star corals,
Substrate cover at a
0
on
roalgae, sand, sponge and m
ive co ls. A mbin ion of rown (
ata, Dictyota sp., Pa a sp.
gree (Halimeda discoidea
icuspidata) an corall
ed (A hiroa
m roalga repre
d 48.
the substrate cover a g per
ent tr
e ts
c
rv y
e
(Tab 29).
fan leaf alga (L
ie
(range 18.8 – 30.1 ). Th
e d grow
i
tches
ats ov
ground substrate
n
ead c al stru
e
s
lizing
s of the reef (Plate
Sponges were highly prom en in
t
reef b thos ( ea s
n
face c ve : 17
r
.3 ),
growing m
ching rms th t prod ced s stant
phic relief and prot tive h
t for f es an invert rates Plate
In ma
r
rm
ngems of considerable size
olved the brown tube (A
s
ra) an
w
sp
s
with
star corals (Montastrea ca rn a
os
) L
.
ge a
b
et p
s
ge Xestospo
s (
ngia
ovided icroh bitats r clea ing gob
a evelynae), ar
crab
s), bri e star
hioco
sp) and ped
riclimene
A total of 23 scleractinian corals, three hydrocorals and two antipatharian (black coral)
species were present along the SW Wall Reef at a depth of 30 m. The bra
box fire corals (Millepora alcicornis, M. squarrosa) and the rose lace coral (Sty
S
a) was present. Twelve scleractinian coral
105
1.1 Sessile-benthic Reef Community
1.1.1
SW Wall Reef - 30 meters
depth of 3 meters
the SW Wall was dominated by benthic
mac
s,
ass
ra
co
at
b
Lobophora
varieg
din
), calcareous
n
), fleshy red
(Wrangelia b
d
ine r
mp
sp.) ac
e
sente
6
% of
lon
man
ans
su
ed
le
The
encrusting
. var gata) was the dominant species with a mean cover of
23.8 %
%
is alga was obs rve
ing n pa
or m
er
the hard
, colo izing d
or
ctur s and tabi
sandy
section
15).
in
the
en
m
ur
o
%
ostly as large erect and bran
fo
a
u
ub
ial
topogra
ec
abita
ish
d
eb
(
16).
ny
instances, sponges were observed growing attached to stony co als, fo ing spo
coral bioher
(Plate 17). One of the most common associations
inv
gela conife
d ro pore onge (Aplysina spp.)
ve
, M. annularis
ar
sk
on
muta) were common in the reef and pr
m
a
fo
n
ies
(Gobiosom
row
s (Stenorhynchus seticorni
ttl
s (Op
ma
erson cleaner shrimps (Pe
s pedersoni).
nching and
laster
roseus) were the hydrocorals present. The latter was particularly common in crevices
and other microhabitats. Wire (black) coral ( tichopathes lutkeni) was abundant on the
SW Wall reef in shades of yellow-brown, red-brown and green. One colony of the
feather black coral (Antipathes pennace
species were observed within video-transect frames, with a combined mean substrate
cover of 8.6 % (range: 3.2 – 19.2 %) (Table 30). Great star and boulder star corals,
Substrate cover at a
0
on
roalgae, sand, sponge and m
ive co ls. A mbin ion of rown (
ata, Dictyota sp., Pa a sp.
gree (Halimeda discoidea
icuspidata) an corall
ed (A hiroa
m roalga repre
d 48.
the substrate cover a g per
ent tr
e ts
c
rv y
e
(Tab 29).
fan leaf alga (L
ie
(range 18.8 – 30.1 ). Th
e d grow
i
tches
ats ov
ground substrate
n
ead c al stru
e
s
lizing
s of the reef (Plate
Sponges were highly prom en in
t
reef b thos ( ea s
n
face c ve : 17
r
.3 ),
growing m
ching rms th t prod ced s stant
phic relief and prot tive h
t for f es an invert rates Plate
In ma
r
rm
ngems of considerable size
olved the brown tube (A
s
ra) an
w
sp
s
with
star corals (Montastrea ca rn a
os
) L
.
ge a
b
et p
s
ge Xestospo
s (
ngia
ovided icroh bitats r clea ing gob
a evelynae), ar
crab
s), bri e star
hioco
sp) and ped
riclimene
A total of 23 scleractinian corals, three hydrocorals and two antipatharian (black coral)
species were present along the SW Wall Reef at a depth of 30 m. The bra
box fire corals (Millepora alcicornis, M. squarrosa) and the rose lace coral (Sty
S
a) was present. Twelve scleractinian coral
105