The paper represents a preliminary treatment of the marine ecology of certain areas of the shallow sublittoral, mostly on West Island, on Aldabra. Seaward reefs on West Island are, for this island group, calm water localities. Detailed examinations of profiles, and additional observations, indicate that ‘ zones ’ can be recognized in the shallow sublittoral, but these ‘zones’ are more a function of the nature and physiography of the substrate and of the presence and density of marine Angiosperm vegetation than of the marine algae. Luxuriant marine algal flora is, on the reef-flat, found only in deep pools or channels landward of the ‘reef-ridge’, most commonly in the inner ridge/pool area. These circumstances seem to provide protection from direct wave action, together with adequate depth of water at all times. Similar conditions apparently apply in the area immediately lagoon ward of Western Channels, where a most luxuriant ‘turf’ of marine algae and marine angiosperms was located. The biomass of marine vegetation there was quite outstanding for Aldabra, representing a cover of virtually 100%, with much additional growth of one species over another throughout most of the `turf’ area.
The Mesophotic, Coral Reef-Associated, Marine Algal Flora of Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea
