Cruoriella rhodoliths from shallow-water back reef environments in La Parguera, Puerto Rico (Caribbean Sea) |
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Authors: | D L Ballantine A Bowden-Kerby N E Aponte |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Marine Sciences, P.O. Box 9013 University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681 USA e-mail: dballantine@rumac.uprm.edu Fax: +1-787-8995500, PR |
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Abstract: | The occurrence of shallow-water (0.9 to 1.3 m) rhodoliths in back reef environments in southwest Puerto Rico is reported.
The rhodoliths were generally cylindrical, discoidal or irregular in shape with an average longest dimension of 7.2 cm. They
occurred at a maximum density of 524 m−2. The rhodoliths were composed of mostly coral nuclei with concentric laminations of aragonite-producing Cruoriella armorica (Peyssonneliaceae, Rhodophyta). Maximum Cruoriella accretion around coral nuclei was 30 mm although accretions of 1 to 20 mm were more common. Based on measurements of Cruoriella accretion, these shallow water rhodoliths are estimated to have minimum ages of 12 to 24 years. It is further estimated that
approximately 2% of the rhodoliths are turned over daily.
Accepted: 1 October 1999 |
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Keywords: | Caribbean Cruoriella Peyssonneliaceae Rhodolith Rhodophyta |
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