A Continued Survey of Successive Colonization of an Anchor Damaged Coral Reef in Greater Lameshur Bay, St. John, USVI
Block E. 1987. A Continued Survey of Successive Colonization of an Anchor Damaged Coral Reef in Greater Lameshur Bay, St. John, USVI. In Author unknown. School for Field Studies Student Research Reports Caribbean Program Sept-December 1987
Specific areas within boundaries of the US Virgin Islands underwent a study of coral succession, concluding that once coral damage has occurred the regeneration process includes other species to graze to help boost the coral survivorship rates. This study is a follow-up to the project started in November 1986 by Jonathan Yoder in the School for Field Studies. Sometime between late July and mid-September, 1986, a large area of primarily Montastrea annularis was damaged by the impact of a boat anchor. The large coral heads were broken up, damaging much of the coral and creating new surface area. The anchor scar is located off Yawzi Point in Greater Lameshur Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands. The Yoder study in 1986 quantified the colonizing organisms found in six quadrats within the damaged area. The present study found some new organisms growing on the broken up substrate as well as continued growth of the previously recorded patronizing organisms. General observations of the site include increased algal growth and an increase in abundance and diversity of other species present.
- Type
- Book Chapter
- Authors
- Block, Erin
- Units
- VIIS
- Keywords
- coral communities, coral damage, coral larvae, coral scarring, coral succession, coral survivorship, species grazing, US Virgin Islands