Reef Architecture and Zones
Reef Architecture -Structure of a ‘Typical’ Caribbean Reef (Goreau)
Reef Zones - Inshore Zone This is the area where the water and land meet -we’ll discuss this later
Reef Zones - Lagoon
In Bonaire - Lac lagoon
Reef Zones - Lagoon In Bonaire - Lac lagoon
Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
Reef Zones - Lagoon - common animals -Holothuria mexicana -Pencil urchin
Reef Zones - Lagoon - common animals -Holothuria mexicana -Pencil urchin -Eucidaris
Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinales -Acetabularia
Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinum -Acetabularia
Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinum -Acetabularia -Shaving brush - Penicillus
Reef Zones - Backreef
Near reef crest In backreef Diploria Porites Acropora Millepora
Reef Zones - Backreef Dissipation of Wave Energy wave direction 100% 3%
Reef Zones - Reef Crest
Maximum wave energy
Reef Zones - Reef Crest Dominant Species Acropora cervicornis Millepora complanata
Reef Zones - Forereef
Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone
Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone
Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone Sediment transport
Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone Sediment transport
Reef Zones - Forereef
Reef Zones - Forereef Slope and Deep Forereef 35 m
Reef Zones - Forereef Slope and Deep Forereef
Reef Zones - Reef Wall Reef Wall
Reef Zones - Reef Wall
lagoon backreefreefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef and wall
lagoon backreef reefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef and wall
Bonaire reefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef
Compare all this to the structure of a Pacific Atoll
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones
1. Head Corals
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 1. Head Corals -Depths of 5-10 m Montastrea annularis, Montastrea cavernosa, Porites astreoides, Colpophyllia natans and species of Diploria. These corals are massive and usually boulder-like and resistant to storm disturbance
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 2. Acropora palmata Zone
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 2. Acropora palmata Zone -high to moderate energy reefs -weaker than head corals but orients branches to minimize shear forces -faster grower -needs waves to wash sediment off
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone -area on the forereef of most diverse coral growth -lower wave energy but still good light
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 5. Plate Zone
Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 5. Plate Zone -favours growth of plate-like forms of a species or plate-like species to capture most light -corals are more fragile
Typical vs Bonaire reef profile