structures that rise from a sandy substrate with a typical height of 3 – 5 meters.
necdotal information from commercial divers of the north coast suggest that these
s
elf
as,
have
e potential for development. It is along these outer shelf terraces where deep
ermatypic reefs have been reported for the USVI (Nemeth et al., 2004; Herzlieb et al.,
i
t.
C
,
w
100-700 m, where ahermatypic corals may be
found, perhaps forming deep coral reef communities. The north shelf of St. Thomas
exhibits a deep shelf with promontories rising from sill depths of 50 to 70 m. These
t
tures of th
ent of
deep hermatypic reefs. This may also apply for the north coast of Isla e Culebra and
the south coast of Isla
PR. At depths of 390 fat
Thomas, the H. M. S. Challenger dredged several species of azooxanthellate corals,
inclu
e reef forming species,
tusa
An early assessment of the frequency distribution of types of ocean botto
Puerto ico and th
ogic
as
uiz (1
information compiled from nautical charts and other
main
bot
acro
gra
sula
and be
different coasts (T
ls a
ow
s (
west coast and constitut a common bottom type from depths between 100 – 300
fat
z, 198
rth a
sts
solidat
(mud, clay) as the dominant bottom type at depths between 100 – 300 fathoms and
rocky bottoms at shallower depths. According to Ruiz (19
coast exhibits a
mixed composition
nd
ttom
etween
fathom with co
a
s.
A
patch reefs are also common off Aguadilla, Quebradillas, Isabela, Dorado, and perhap
other north coast locations.
The bathymetric characteristics of the U. S. Virgin Islands north and south insular sh
and slope (Figure 7) are similar to those described for Puerto Rico. An important
difference is that the insular shelf break of the USVI, particularly north of St. Thom
and also east of St. John, and southwest of St. Croix exhibits a series of deep terraces
where, because of the availability of hard bottom and the clear waters coral reefs
th
h
n press; Armstrong et al., in press). The submerged ridge that connects the shelf of S
roix with the southeast shelf of Puerto Rico represents a major hard bottom system
ith pinnacles that reach depths between
opographic fea
e shelf may be potentially avorable sites for developm
f
d
de Vieques,
homs (709 m) north of St.
din th
g
Lophelia per
.
ms in the
R
e USVI geol
al platforms w prepared by R
984), based on
sources. The
types of ocean
toms vary
ss the depth
dient of the in
r slope profile
tween the
able 8). Cora
re reported d n
m
to 300 fatho
545 meters) in the
e
homs (Rui
4). The no
nd south coa
present uncon
ed sediments
84), the east
of hard grou and sandy bo
s at depths b
100 - 300
s,
rals present at sh llower depth
42
necdotal information from commercial divers of the north coast suggest that these
s
elf
as,
have
e potential for development. It is along these outer shelf terraces where deep
ermatypic reefs have been reported for the USVI (Nemeth et al., 2004; Herzlieb et al.,
i
t.
C
,
w
100-700 m, where ahermatypic corals may be
found, perhaps forming deep coral reef communities. The north shelf of St. Thomas
exhibits a deep shelf with promontories rising from sill depths of 50 to 70 m. These
t
tures of th
ent of
deep hermatypic reefs. This may also apply for the north coast of Isla e Culebra and
the south coast of Isla
PR. At depths of 390 fat
Thomas, the H. M. S. Challenger dredged several species of azooxanthellate corals,
inclu
e reef forming species,
tusa
An early assessment of the frequency distribution of types of ocean botto
Puerto ico and th
ogic
as
uiz (1
information compiled from nautical charts and other
main
bot
acro
gra
sula
and be
different coasts (T
ls a
ow
s (
west coast and constitut a common bottom type from depths between 100 – 300
fat
z, 198
rth a
sts
solidat
(mud, clay) as the dominant bottom type at depths between 100 – 300 fathoms and
rocky bottoms at shallower depths. According to Ruiz (19
coast exhibits a
mixed composition
nd
ttom
etween
fathom with co
a
s.
A
patch reefs are also common off Aguadilla, Quebradillas, Isabela, Dorado, and perhap
other north coast locations.
The bathymetric characteristics of the U. S. Virgin Islands north and south insular sh
and slope (Figure 7) are similar to those described for Puerto Rico. An important
difference is that the insular shelf break of the USVI, particularly north of St. Thom
and also east of St. John, and southwest of St. Croix exhibits a series of deep terraces
where, because of the availability of hard bottom and the clear waters coral reefs
th
h
n press; Armstrong et al., in press). The submerged ridge that connects the shelf of S
roix with the southeast shelf of Puerto Rico represents a major hard bottom system
ith pinnacles that reach depths between
opographic fea
e shelf may be potentially avorable sites for developm
f
d
de Vieques,
homs (709 m) north of St.
din th
g
Lophelia per
.
ms in the
R
e USVI geol
al platforms w prepared by R
984), based on
sources. The
types of ocean
toms vary
ss the depth
dient of the in
r slope profile
tween the
able 8). Cora
re reported d n
m
to 300 fatho
545 meters) in the
e
homs (Rui
4). The no
nd south coa
present uncon
ed sediments
84), the east
of hard grou and sandy bo
s at depths b
100 - 300
s,
rals present at sh llower depth
42