45
bare rock faces (Nelson and Appledoorn, 1985). At Isla Desecheo, a rich marine life
with abundant corals, sponges and colonial hydroids were reported above 120 m.
According to Nelson and ple orn (1985), a c
pe o
ic habitat profile
which appears to be “typical” around mainland Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islan s
presents a sandy bottom composition at a depth of 450 m. Between 450 and 350
meters the slope is gent
grees) and t
by unconsolidated sand
but with inte
ops and sla
mostly devoid of attache
ove 350 met rs, the slop
s
degrees and there is an increased nu
with some attached spo
predominantly slab rock
approximately 300 meters, with relief
particular site. In gener
southern se o
outcrops are m
th
lo
surveyed east of St. Croix, and both north and so
As in deeper s
2
ost no suitable areas for attachment of invertebrate biota until the interface of a
tica
at about 180
bove 140 meters, depth at which overall productivity increases markedly.
ge
ber
soft corals, sponges and hydroids (Nelson and Appledoorn, 1985).
the southern
th
k, wherea
he
all ascend
slabs or rock o
reached. The next 100 meters along the profile towards the surface is characterized by
Ap
biota. Ab
o R
do
o a
se
he bottom habitat remains dominated
rspersed ba
e
o
Vir
ond
Is
ty
lan
f be
dependent
he
nth
re
d
b
ops
r
le (5 – 15 de
sediments,
d
nges, hydroids, soft and
rubble zone
al, the rubble zone is m
ert
re rock outcr
e increase
and crinoids. A
, w
s
to 25 – 30
h of
on the
ck on the
rge
mber of hard ground habitat, mostly rocky outcr
was generally encountered at a dept
and density of the rubble
th
hard corals
stly composed of slab r
gin
o
la
cti n of Pu
ic nd e U. S.
ds
as
boulde
ore typical of e northern insular s pe
h o
, a
f S
s w
t.
el
Th
l a
om
s fo
as
r
an
the
d
sl
St.
ope
Jo
s
hn
ec
, U
tion
SV I.
ut
lop
00
e
m)
sec
, th
tio
auperate (Nelson and A
e b
ns
o
, th
ttom
e
i
ses
s m
si
os
letly
ben
sa
th
nd
ic
ppledoorn, 1
y
inv
and
ert
e
eb
ve
rat
n m
e b
985). Above the rubble
o
iot
re
a a
unp
ss
ro
oc
du
iat
cti
ed
ve,
wi
w
th
ith
this
deep rubble
zone (300 –
alm
ver
exhibits few attached invertebrates a
noticeable a
Lar
of hard and
The wall on
northern section a slope
series of
meters, the slope decre
zone is dep
l wall
meters. The deeper end of the vertical wall (180 – 140 m)
nd a depauperate fish fauna. Ambient light is
num s of reef fishes are associated with an increase in abundance and diversity
in
of 50 – 70 d
tcrop terra
se
sul
s m
ar
ar
slo
ke
pe
egrees is more typical,
ces up to a
dly
is
to
an
20
al
–
mo
depth of abo
30
st
d
ve
egr
rtic
ee
al
s a
sm
w
ut 90 meters. Above 90
s
oo
ith
the
roc
w
p o
s o
ing
is
n t
as a
the
to
u
a
f the wall
bare rock faces (Nelson and Appledoorn, 1985). At Isla Desecheo, a rich marine life
with abundant corals, sponges and colonial hydroids were reported above 120 m.
According to Nelson and ple orn (1985), a c
pe o
ic habitat profile
which appears to be “typical” around mainland Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islan s
presents a sandy bottom composition at a depth of 450 m. Between 450 and 350
meters the slope is gent
grees) and t
by unconsolidated sand
but with inte
ops and sla
mostly devoid of attache
ove 350 met rs, the slop
s
degrees and there is an increased nu
with some attached spo
predominantly slab rock
approximately 300 meters, with relief
particular site. In gener
southern se o
outcrops are m
th
lo
surveyed east of St. Croix, and both north and so
As in deeper s
2
ost no suitable areas for attachment of invertebrate biota until the interface of a
tica
at about 180
bove 140 meters, depth at which overall productivity increases markedly.
ge
ber
soft corals, sponges and hydroids (Nelson and Appledoorn, 1985).
the southern
th
k, wherea
he
all ascend
slabs or rock o
reached. The next 100 meters along the profile towards the surface is characterized by
Ap
biota. Ab
o R
do
o a
se
he bottom habitat remains dominated
rspersed ba
e
o
Vir
ond
Is
ty
lan
f be
dependent
he
nth
re
d
b
ops
r
le (5 – 15 de
sediments,
d
nges, hydroids, soft and
rubble zone
al, the rubble zone is m
ert
re rock outcr
e increase
and crinoids. A
, w
s
to 25 – 30
h of
on the
ck on the
rge
mber of hard ground habitat, mostly rocky outcr
was generally encountered at a dept
and density of the rubble
th
hard corals
stly composed of slab r
gin
o
la
cti n of Pu
ic nd e U. S.
ds
as
boulde
ore typical of e northern insular s pe
h o
, a
f S
s w
t.
el
Th
l a
om
s fo
as
r
an
the
d
sl
St.
ope
Jo
s
hn
ec
, U
tion
SV I.
ut
lop
00
e
m)
sec
, th
tio
auperate (Nelson and A
e b
ns
o
, th
ttom
e
i
ses
s m
si
os
letly
ben
sa
th
nd
ic
ppledoorn, 1
y
inv
and
ert
e
eb
ve
rat
n m
e b
985). Above the rubble
o
iot
re
a a
unp
ss
ro
oc
du
iat
cti
ed
ve,
wi
w
th
ith
this
deep rubble
zone (300 –
alm
ver
exhibits few attached invertebrates a
noticeable a
Lar
of hard and
The wall on
northern section a slope
series of
meters, the slope decre
zone is dep
l wall
meters. The deeper end of the vertical wall (180 – 140 m)
nd a depauperate fish fauna. Ambient light is
num s of reef fishes are associated with an increase in abundance and diversity
in
of 50 – 70 d
tcrop terra
se
sul
s m
ar
ar
slo
ke
pe
egrees is more typical,
ces up to a
dly
is
to
an
20
al
–
mo
depth of abo
30
st
d
ve
egr
rtic
ee
al
s a
sm
w
ut 90 meters. Above 90
s
oo
ith
the
roc
w
p o
s o
ing
is
n t
as a
the
to
u
a
f the wall