VI.
Conclusions
Puerto Rico and the U. S.
flat, gently sloping terraces of the outer shelf and/or reef tops in oceanic islands
s and St. John, and southwest of St. Croix, as well as in the islands of
of
4- Ahermatypic coral banks have not been reported for the US Caribbean EEZ.,
USVI are
west and
southeast coasts that offer the best possibilities for existence of deep
d associated
specialists (curators)
ampling abrupt slope habitats suggest that the biological
f community structure, ecosystem function and relevant
oceanographic processes for particular deep reef sites within the US Caribbean
1- Hermatypic coral reefs in deep terraces of the outer shelf, rocky outcrops and
vertical wall features of the insular slope, submerged volcanic ridges, and
oceanic seamounts comprise the deep reef systems of
Virgin Islands
2- Deep (30-70m) hermatypic “coral reefs” are known to occur along relatively
and seamounts of PR (Vieques, Desecheo, Bajo de Sico) and associated with
the shelf-edge north of St. Thomas, southwest of St. Croix and southeast and
east of St. John
3- Exploratory surveys at the shelf-edge off south Vieques, north of Culebra, St.
Thoma
Mona and Monito are strongly recommended for assessment of the distribution
deep hermatypic coral reefs in the region
but at least 33 species of azooxanthellate corals, including the deep water reef
builder, Lophelia pertusa have been collected.
5- The bathymetry of the northern and southern slopes of PR and the
characterized by an abrupt, almost vertical drop, without any large topographic
features (platforms) where extensive deep (ahermatypic) reef banks could
develop. There are two prominent ridge systems submerged along the
(ahermatypic) coral reefs.
6- Most of the information regarding deep water habitats an
communities in Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands was produced more than
100 years ago, during the early ocean exploration surveys that included the
Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during 1873, dredging surveys by “Blake” during
1878-79, U. S. Fish Commission “Fish Hawk” in 1899, and the JohnsonSmithsonian Expedition aboard the Yacht Caroline in 1933.
7- Biological characterizations of deep reef communities in P R and the USVI
are mostly limited to “regional” assessments contributed by
of particular taxonomic groups
8- Limitations imposed by sampling gear (trawling nets), depth, time, cost, and
the difficulty of s
information available is incomplete
9- Inferences o
EEZ are presently inexistent
151
Conclusions
Puerto Rico and the U. S.
flat, gently sloping terraces of the outer shelf and/or reef tops in oceanic islands
s and St. John, and southwest of St. Croix, as well as in the islands of
of
4- Ahermatypic coral banks have not been reported for the US Caribbean EEZ.,
USVI are
west and
southeast coasts that offer the best possibilities for existence of deep
d associated
specialists (curators)
ampling abrupt slope habitats suggest that the biological
f community structure, ecosystem function and relevant
oceanographic processes for particular deep reef sites within the US Caribbean
1- Hermatypic coral reefs in deep terraces of the outer shelf, rocky outcrops and
vertical wall features of the insular slope, submerged volcanic ridges, and
oceanic seamounts comprise the deep reef systems of
Virgin Islands
2- Deep (30-70m) hermatypic “coral reefs” are known to occur along relatively
and seamounts of PR (Vieques, Desecheo, Bajo de Sico) and associated with
the shelf-edge north of St. Thomas, southwest of St. Croix and southeast and
east of St. John
3- Exploratory surveys at the shelf-edge off south Vieques, north of Culebra, St.
Thoma
Mona and Monito are strongly recommended for assessment of the distribution
deep hermatypic coral reefs in the region
but at least 33 species of azooxanthellate corals, including the deep water reef
builder, Lophelia pertusa have been collected.
5- The bathymetry of the northern and southern slopes of PR and the
characterized by an abrupt, almost vertical drop, without any large topographic
features (platforms) where extensive deep (ahermatypic) reef banks could
develop. There are two prominent ridge systems submerged along the
(ahermatypic) coral reefs.
6- Most of the information regarding deep water habitats an
communities in Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands was produced more than
100 years ago, during the early ocean exploration surveys that included the
Voyage of H. M. S. Challenger during 1873, dredging surveys by “Blake” during
1878-79, U. S. Fish Commission “Fish Hawk” in 1899, and the JohnsonSmithsonian Expedition aboard the Yacht Caroline in 1933.
7- Biological characterizations of deep reef communities in P R and the USVI
are mostly limited to “regional” assessments contributed by
of particular taxonomic groups
8- Limitations imposed by sampling gear (trawling nets), depth, time, cost, and
the difficulty of s
information available is incomplete
9- Inferences o
EEZ are presently inexistent
151