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Reef Architecture and Zones
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Reef Architecture -Structure of a ‘Typical’ Caribbean Reef (Goreau)
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Reef Zones - Inshore Zone This is the area where the water and land meet -we’ll discuss this later
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Reef Zones - Lagoon
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In Bonaire - Lac lagoon
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Reef Zones - Lagoon In Bonaire - Lac lagoon
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Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
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Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
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Reef Zones - Lagoon -area of sediment deposition behind the reef crest - characterized by fine unstable sediment, patch reefs and Thalassia
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Reef Zones - Lagoon - common animals -Holothuria mexicana -Pencil urchin
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Reef Zones - Lagoon - common animals -Holothuria mexicana -Pencil urchin -Eucidaris
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Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinales -Acetabularia
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Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinum -Acetabularia
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Reef Zones - Lagoon - common plants -Thalassia testudinum -Acetabularia -Shaving brush - Penicillus
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Reef Zones - Backreef
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Near reef crest In backreef Diploria Porites Acropora Millepora
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Reef Zones - Backreef Dissipation of Wave Energy wave direction 100% 3%
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Reef Zones - Reef Crest
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Maximum wave energy
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Reef Zones - Reef Crest Dominant Species Acropora cervicornis Millepora complanata
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Reef Zones - Forereef
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Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone
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Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone
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Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone Sediment transport
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Reef Zones - Forereef Spur and groove (Buttress) Zone Sediment transport
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Reef Zones - Forereef
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Reef Zones - Forereef Slope and Deep Forereef 35 m
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Reef Zones - Forereef Slope and Deep Forereef
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Reef Zones - Reef Wall Reef Wall
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Reef Zones - Reef Wall
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lagoon backreefreefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef and wall
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lagoon backreef reefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef and wall
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Bonaire reefcrest forereef forereef slope deep forereef
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Compare all this to the structure of a Pacific Atoll
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones
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1. Head Corals
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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
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 2. Acropora palmata Zone
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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
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 3. Mixed Zone -area on the forereef of most diverse coral growth -lower wave energy but still good light
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 4. Sand Areas
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Coral Reef Zones - Coral Zones 5. Plate Zone
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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
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Typical vs Bonaire reef profile
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