1.1.2
SW Wall Reef - 40 meters
the base of the
W Wall Reef in Isla Desecheo (Plate 19). Most of the available hard substrate was
olonized by benthic algae (combined mean cover: 46.0 %), particularly by the
encrusting fan leaf alga, Lobophora variegata mean: 25.8 %) (Table 32). The red
coralline Y-twig alga (Amphiroa sp.), leafy flat-blade alga (Stypopodium zonale) and the
Sea Pearl (Ventricaria ventricosa) were common within substrate depressions and
crevices. Fleshy types, such as the fluorescent red bush alga (Wrangelia bicuspidata)
grew as a carpet in large patches over the reef slope (Plate 20). Green pinecone alga
(Rhipocephalus phoenix f. longifolius) was observed in sandy bottom sections at the
base of the reef.
Sponges, mostly present as large erect and branching forms were the dominant sessilebenthic invertebrate taxa in terms of substrate cover at the base of the SW Wall Reef
with a mean of 29.4 %. Sponges were observed growing attached to stony corals,
forming sponge-coral bioherms of considerable size that produced substantial
topographic relief. The most common associations involved the brown tube (Agelas
conifera, A. screptrum) and row pore sp
lysina spp.) with star corals (mostly M.
nnularis). The solid attachment surface provided by the coral structure allows brown
g
tus). Large basket sponges (Xestospongia muta) were
bserved at the base of the SW Wall and also represent important microhabitats for reef
d
A series of large sponge-coral bioherms separated by sand patches lie at
S
c
(
onges (Ap
a
tube sponges (Agelas spp.) to grow many large branches into the water column, creatin
a complex structure that was used as protective habitat by small schooling fishes, such
as the blue and sunshine chromis (Chromis cyanea, C.insolata) and the masked goby
(Coryphopterus persona
o
fishes and invertebrates. It was observed that when water currents were strong, re
hinds (Epinephelus guttatus) swim into the cone of the basket sponge to avoid the force
of the current. The base of the basket sponge appears to be one of the preferred
microhabitats of the arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis).
Scleractinian corals presented a mean substrate cover of 8.42 % (range:1.83 – 20.70
%). The high variability of substrate cover was mostly associated with the discontinuity
of the reef habitat, and the presence of large massive corals interspersed within the
sandy bottom at the base. A total of nine species of scleractinian corals were included
111
SW Wall Reef - 40 meters
the base of the
W Wall Reef in Isla Desecheo (Plate 19). Most of the available hard substrate was
olonized by benthic algae (combined mean cover: 46.0 %), particularly by the
encrusting fan leaf alga, Lobophora variegata mean: 25.8 %) (Table 32). The red
coralline Y-twig alga (Amphiroa sp.), leafy flat-blade alga (Stypopodium zonale) and the
Sea Pearl (Ventricaria ventricosa) were common within substrate depressions and
crevices. Fleshy types, such as the fluorescent red bush alga (Wrangelia bicuspidata)
grew as a carpet in large patches over the reef slope (Plate 20). Green pinecone alga
(Rhipocephalus phoenix f. longifolius) was observed in sandy bottom sections at the
base of the reef.
Sponges, mostly present as large erect and branching forms were the dominant sessilebenthic invertebrate taxa in terms of substrate cover at the base of the SW Wall Reef
with a mean of 29.4 %. Sponges were observed growing attached to stony corals,
forming sponge-coral bioherms of considerable size that produced substantial
topographic relief. The most common associations involved the brown tube (Agelas
conifera, A. screptrum) and row pore sp
lysina spp.) with star corals (mostly M.
nnularis). The solid attachment surface provided by the coral structure allows brown
g
tus). Large basket sponges (Xestospongia muta) were
bserved at the base of the SW Wall and also represent important microhabitats for reef
d
A series of large sponge-coral bioherms separated by sand patches lie at
S
c
(
onges (Ap
a
tube sponges (Agelas spp.) to grow many large branches into the water column, creatin
a complex structure that was used as protective habitat by small schooling fishes, such
as the blue and sunshine chromis (Chromis cyanea, C.insolata) and the masked goby
(Coryphopterus persona
o
fishes and invertebrates. It was observed that when water currents were strong, re
hinds (Epinephelus guttatus) swim into the cone of the basket sponge to avoid the force
of the current. The base of the basket sponge appears to be one of the preferred
microhabitats of the arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis).
Scleractinian corals presented a mean substrate cover of 8.42 % (range:1.83 – 20.70
%). The high variability of substrate cover was mostly associated with the discontinuity
of the reef habitat, and the presence of large massive corals interspersed within the
sandy bottom at the base. A total of nine species of scleractinian corals were included
111