2005; Gischler et al., 2008; Kench et al., 2009). More data,
especially from the late Holocene, is needed.
Summary
Indian Ocean reefs include numerous fringing reefs and
atolls but only one true barrier reef. Reefs of Toliara
(Madagascar), Mayotte, and the Maldive archipelago are
described. These reefs all show zonation and all are
dominated by corals. Massive and branched forms make
up the postglacial reefs, which reach thicknesses of up to
30 m with high accretion-rates of >10 m/kyr. Modern sediment facies are characterized by skeletal grains. Holocene
sea levels obtained from reef studies are controversial, and
transgressive and transgressive–regressive curves are
discussed.
Bibliography
Camoin, G. F., Montaggioni, L. F., and Braithwaite, C. J. R., 2004.
Late glacial to post glacial sea levels in the western Indian
Ocean. Marine Geology, 206, 119–146.
Ciarapica, G., and Passeri, L., 1993. An overview of the Maldivian
coral reefs in Felidu and North Male Atoll (Indian Ocean): platform drowning by ecological crises. Facies, 28, 33–66.
Dullo, W. C., Camoin, G. F., Blomeier, D., Casanova, J., Colonna,
M., Eisenhauer, A., Faure, G., and Thomassin, B., 1998. Sediments and sea level changes of the foreslopes of Mayotte,
Comoro islands: direct observations from submersible. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication, 25,
219–236.
Gischler, E., 2006. Sedimentation on Rasdhoo and Ari atolls,
Maldives, Indian Ocean. Facies, 52, 341–360.
Gischler, E., Hudson, J. H., and Pisera, A., 2008. Late Quaternary
reef growth and sea level in the Maldives (Indian Ocean). Marine
Geology, 250, 104–113.
Guilcher, A., 1971. Mayotte barrier reef and lagoon, Comoro
Islands, as compared with other barrier reefs, atolls and lagoons
in the world. In Stoddart, D. R., and Yonge, M. (eds.), Regional
Variation in Indian Ocean Coral Reefs. London: Academic
Press, pp. 65–86.
Guilcher, A., 1988. Coral Reef Geomorphology. Chichester,
New York: Wiley, 228 p.
Kench, P. S., Smithers, S. G., McLean, R. F., and Nichol, S. L.,
2009. Holocene reef growth in the Maldives: evidence of
a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand in the central Indian Ocean.
Geology, 37, 455–458.
Kennedy, D. M., and Woodroffe, C. D., 2002. Fringing reef growth
and morphology: a review. Earth-Science Reviews, 57,
255–277.
Masse, J. P., Thomassin, B., and Acquaviva, M., 1989. Bioclastic
sedimentary environments of coral reefs and lagoon around
Mayotte island (Comoro archipelago, Mozambique channel,
SW Indian Ocean). Journal of Coastal Research, 5, 419–432.
Montaggioni, L. F., 2005. History of Indo-Pacific coral reef systems
since the last glaciation: development patterns and controlling
factors. Earth-Science Reviews, 71, 1–75.
Naseer, A., and Hatcher, B. G., 2004. Inventory of the Maldives’
coral reefs using morphometrics generated from Landsat ETMþ
imagery. Coral Reefs, 23, 161–168.
Pichon, M., 1964. Contribution a l’etude de la repartition des
Madreporaires sur le recif de Tulear, Madagascar. Recl. Trav.
Station Mar. Endoume, 2, 81–203.
Pichon, M., 1971. Comparative study of the main features of some
coral reefs of Madagascar, La Reunion and Mauritius. In
Stoddart, D. R., and Yonge, M. (eds.), Regional Variation
in Indian Ocean Coral Reefs. London: Academic Press, pp.
185–216.
Pichon, M., 1978. Recherches sur les peuplements a dominance
d’anthozoaires dans les recifs coralliens de Tulear (Madagascar).
Atoll Research Bulletin, 222, 447 p.
Purdy, E. G., and Bertram, G. T., 1993. Carbonate concepts from the
Maldives, Indian Ocean. American Association of Petroleum
Geologists Studies in Geology, 34, 1–56.
Indian Ocean Reefs, Figure 8 Holocene sea-level curves for
western Indian Ocean (from Kench et al., 2009).
INDIAN OCEAN REEFS
593
especially from the late Holocene, is needed.
Summary
Indian Ocean reefs include numerous fringing reefs and
atolls but only one true barrier reef. Reefs of Toliara
(Madagascar), Mayotte, and the Maldive archipelago are
described. These reefs all show zonation and all are
dominated by corals. Massive and branched forms make
up the postglacial reefs, which reach thicknesses of up to
30 m with high accretion-rates of >10 m/kyr. Modern sediment facies are characterized by skeletal grains. Holocene
sea levels obtained from reef studies are controversial, and
transgressive and transgressive–regressive curves are
discussed.
Bibliography
Camoin, G. F., Montaggioni, L. F., and Braithwaite, C. J. R., 2004.
Late glacial to post glacial sea levels in the western Indian
Ocean. Marine Geology, 206, 119–146.
Ciarapica, G., and Passeri, L., 1993. An overview of the Maldivian
coral reefs in Felidu and North Male Atoll (Indian Ocean): platform drowning by ecological crises. Facies, 28, 33–66.
Dullo, W. C., Camoin, G. F., Blomeier, D., Casanova, J., Colonna,
M., Eisenhauer, A., Faure, G., and Thomassin, B., 1998. Sediments and sea level changes of the foreslopes of Mayotte,
Comoro islands: direct observations from submersible. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication, 25,
219–236.
Gischler, E., 2006. Sedimentation on Rasdhoo and Ari atolls,
Maldives, Indian Ocean. Facies, 52, 341–360.
Gischler, E., Hudson, J. H., and Pisera, A., 2008. Late Quaternary
reef growth and sea level in the Maldives (Indian Ocean). Marine
Geology, 250, 104–113.
Guilcher, A., 1971. Mayotte barrier reef and lagoon, Comoro
Islands, as compared with other barrier reefs, atolls and lagoons
in the world. In Stoddart, D. R., and Yonge, M. (eds.), Regional
Variation in Indian Ocean Coral Reefs. London: Academic
Press, pp. 65–86.
Guilcher, A., 1988. Coral Reef Geomorphology. Chichester,
New York: Wiley, 228 p.
Kench, P. S., Smithers, S. G., McLean, R. F., and Nichol, S. L.,
2009. Holocene reef growth in the Maldives: evidence of
a mid-Holocene sea-level highstand in the central Indian Ocean.
Geology, 37, 455–458.
Kennedy, D. M., and Woodroffe, C. D., 2002. Fringing reef growth
and morphology: a review. Earth-Science Reviews, 57,
255–277.
Masse, J. P., Thomassin, B., and Acquaviva, M., 1989. Bioclastic
sedimentary environments of coral reefs and lagoon around
Mayotte island (Comoro archipelago, Mozambique channel,
SW Indian Ocean). Journal of Coastal Research, 5, 419–432.
Montaggioni, L. F., 2005. History of Indo-Pacific coral reef systems
since the last glaciation: development patterns and controlling
factors. Earth-Science Reviews, 71, 1–75.
Naseer, A., and Hatcher, B. G., 2004. Inventory of the Maldives’
coral reefs using morphometrics generated from Landsat ETMþ
imagery. Coral Reefs, 23, 161–168.
Pichon, M., 1964. Contribution a l’etude de la repartition des
Madreporaires sur le recif de Tulear, Madagascar. Recl. Trav.
Station Mar. Endoume, 2, 81–203.
Pichon, M., 1971. Comparative study of the main features of some
coral reefs of Madagascar, La Reunion and Mauritius. In
Stoddart, D. R., and Yonge, M. (eds.), Regional Variation
in Indian Ocean Coral Reefs. London: Academic Press, pp.
185–216.
Pichon, M., 1978. Recherches sur les peuplements a dominance
d’anthozoaires dans les recifs coralliens de Tulear (Madagascar).
Atoll Research Bulletin, 222, 447 p.
Purdy, E. G., and Bertram, G. T., 1993. Carbonate concepts from the
Maldives, Indian Ocean. American Association of Petroleum
Geologists Studies in Geology, 34, 1–56.
Indian Ocean Reefs, Figure 8 Holocene sea-level curves for
western Indian Ocean (from Kench et al., 2009).
INDIAN OCEAN REEFS
593