NATIO ISTORY

October 1987
C h i n c h o r r o a t o l l i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by g r a d u a l and c l e a r m o r p h a l o g i c a i
changes n o r t h t o s o u t h , a l o n g i t s l o n g e s t a x i s , b o t h i n t h e e n c l o s e d
a n d e x p o s e d a r e a s . The g e n e r a l m o r p h o l o g y o i t h e r e e f s t r u c t u r e s an t h e
w i n d w a r d m a r g i n o f t h e a t o l l , a r e g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e d b y t h e d e p t h o-f
t h e s u b j a c e n t s u b s t r a t e a n d t h e p r e s e n c e o f an e x t e n s i v e a n d g e n t l y
d i p p i n g p l a t f o r m ; t h i s p l a t f o r m i s n o t f o u n d an o t h e r w e s t e r n C a r i b -
bean a t ~ l l s .

M o s t i n t e r e s t ~ n ga r e t h e comples s p u r a n d g r o o v e s y s t e m s t h a t s!sw a
g r a d a x l c h a n g e Srem m u l t ~ p l e s y s t e m s o f s p u r s , 9e a s e r i e s od cevy!eh
b u t p o o r l y d e v e l o p e d r ~ d g es y s t e m s and t h e n t o l o c a l d i s a p p e a r a n c e s o-f
t h e s e f e a t u r g s a t s e v e r a l s e c t i o n s od t h e a t e i l , The l a g o o n a r e 2 5 a1 %a
r e $ l @ c t a change i n t h e r e e f B o r m a t i a n s due t o a d e p t h g r a d i e n t a l o n g
t h e s o u t h t o n o r t h , m a j o r a x r s o-f t h e a t o l l .

C h i n c h o r r a A t o l l , o f 8 t h e s o u t h - e a s t c o a s t 04 t h e Y u c a t a n P e n i n s u l a , i s
one o f t h e L a r g e s t s t r u c t u r e s 04 i t s t y p e i n t h e C a r i b b e a n b a s i n . Due
t o i t s s i z e and g e o g r a p h i c a l p o s i t i o n , n o r t h 04 t h e Be1 i z e r e e f com-
p l e x , Chinckorro A t o l l has aroused a s t r o n g i n t e r e s t i n the s c i e n t i f i c
communi t y . However, f e w s t u d i e s h a d been c o m p l e t e d on t h e a t 0 1 1 , n o t -
w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e B e l i z e r e e f complex h a s been i n t e n s i v e l y s t u d i e d
i n t h e p a s t two d e c a d e s ( S t o d d a r t , 1962; P u r d y , 1 9 7 4 ; James a n d
G i n s b u r g , 1979; R u t z l e r a n d M a c i n t y r e , 1 9 8 2 a ) .

l n s t i t u t o de C i e n c i a s d e l M a r , UNAM.
A p a r t a d o P o s t a l 1152, Cancun 77500, Q. Roo. M e x i c o .
C h ~ n c h o r r oA t o l l was w e l l known t o t h e S p a n i s h s a i l o r s o f t h ~ srxteenth
c e n t u r y and was p r o b a b l y named T r i a n g u l o , by t h e n . E n g l ~ s hseaman a l s o
h a d an i n t e r e s t i n i t , and i t was c h a r t e d i n 1839 b y B a r n e t t , a l t h o u g h
t h e c h a r t was n o t p u b l i s h e d u n t i l 1850 ( S t o d d a r t , 1 9 6 2 ) ; t h i s c h a r t
h o w e v e r , i s s t i l l t h e b e s t one a u a ~l s b l e . D a r w i n ( 1 8 4 2 ) m e n t i o n e d a
r e @ + named N o r t h e r n T r i a n g l e s , probabl;j C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l , b e t w e ~ n
T u r n e B f e I s l a n d s and Cozurnel I s l a n d , w h i l e d i s c u s s i n g t h e n a t u r e 04 t h e
W e s t e r n C a r i b b e a n r e e f s . I n c i d e n t a l l y , none o f t h e Belizean a t o l l s , nor
C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l , were c o n s i d e r e d b y him t o b e t r u e a t o l l s formed by
s u b s i d e n c e ( D a r w i n , 18421. Grrscom ( 1 9 6 2 ) v i s i t e d t h e c a y s 0-6 C h ~ n c h a -
r r o A t o l l i n an o r n i t k o i o g i c a i e x p e d i t ~ o na n d made some comments on t h e
r e e f s , S t o d d a r t Iff982'1 reviews t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on C h i ~ c h c r r ' r ?
A t o l l a t t h e t i m e . And Chavez ( I % % > d e r r l b e d t h e genera3 ~ h a ~ ~ i ~ t e p i s -
t i c s of t h e a a1 1 and hot tam b ~ o t a ,Hcsweuer, v e r y S i t t l e r s kfiown o f
the rep+ structures ronsfltute t h i s aQsll,

C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l ( 1 8 " 35' N a n d 87" 25' W ) , i s l o c a t e d 30 krn e a s t w a r d

f r m t h e Y u c a t a n P e n i n s u l a and a b o u t 100 krn n o r t h f r o m Turne-f-fe I s l a n d s
and L i g h t h o u s e r e @ + i n B e l i z e . I t i s 47 krn l o n g , 18 km w i d e and h a s a
t o t a l a r e a af more t h a n 700 s q u a r e km ( F i g , 1 ) .

The a t o l l B c u n d a i i o n r i s e s 4rom a su m a p i n e r i d g e shaped by n o r m a l

-
- f a u l t i n g , upon w h i c h t h e ! u v n e + S @ IsTands a r e 1 c a t e d <Dillon and
V e d d e r , 1973). T h i s r i d g e (42,s c a n s t r u c t e d d u r i n t h e C ~ r r n a t i o no i t h e
Yucatan b a s i n and l a t e r m o d i % i e d by c o n s i d e r a b l e c o r a l r e e f a c c r e t i m
n o s e t . a1 ., 1979). O i l i o n a n d Vedde
menPs o f T u r n e f Q e I s l a n d s and G l o v e r s
l i m e s t o n e r e s p e c t i v e l r ) , were d e p i l s i t e d d u r i n g s l o w s u b s i d e w c
b l o c k s , a t t h e same t i m e t h a t t h e Cayman T r o u g h was d e v e l o p i n
C r e t a c e o u s and e a r l y T e r t i a r y t i m e s .

CLIMATE AND HSDROL0GY.- The s o u t h e r n p a r t o f t h e Y u c a t a n P e n i n s u l a h a s

a s u b t r o p i c a l c l i m a t e , AM (XI, Koeppen m o d i f i e d s y s t e m C G a r c i a 9 H 9 6 4 I .
The r a i n y season P a s t s f r o m June t o O c t o b e r ; a f t e r t h i s p e r i o d , s p o r a d -
i c heavy r a i n f a l l c o u l d o c c u r d u r i n g w i n t e r a n d e a r l y s p r i n g due t o t h e
c o l d n o r t h w i n d s . The a n n u a l a v e r a g e r a i n f a l l on t h e m a i n l a n d i s a r o u n d
1400 mm. T r a d e w i n d s a r e t h e d o m i n a n t ones t h r o u g h t h e y e a r , a l t h o u g h
n o r t h w i n d s may p r e d o m i n a t e f r o m O c t o b e r t o May. H u r r i c a n e s a r e t h e
m a j o r c l i m a t i c e v e n t od t h e y e a r , I r o m June t o November. A c c o r d i n g t o
G e n t r y C1971I t h e r e i s a 50% p e r y c a r p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t a h u r r i c a n e w i l l
s t r i k e the Yucatan Caribbean s h o r e l i n e .

T h e r e i s l i t t l e i n f o r m a t i o n on h y d r o l o g y and w a t e r movement a r o u n d t h e
C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l a r e a . M o s t o-f t h e a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n c m e s f r m
r e f e r e n c e s t o s p o r a d i c measurements i n t h e B e l i z e a n r e e f f o r m a t i o n s
( S t o d d a r t , 1974; James and G i n s b u r g , 1979; B u r k e , 1982; Greer and
K j e r v e , 1982 and K j e r v e e t a l . , 1 9 8 2 ) . M e r i n o I i n p r e s s ) f o l l o w e d t h e
o c e a n i c c u r r e n t p a t t e r n s w i t h d r i f t c a r d s , on t h e l e e w a r d and seaward
o f t h e a t o l l . Wust ( 1 9 6 4 ) c o n s i d e r s t h a t somewhere between t h e B e l i z e a n
a t o l l s and C h i n c h o r r o , t h e s u r f a c e c u r r e n t i s d e f l e c t e d b y t h e c o n t i -
n e n t a l mass t o w a r d s t h e Y u c a t a n C h a n n e l . The p r e s e n c e o f s t r o n g , b u t
s p o r a d i c c o u n t e r c u r r e n t s o v e r t h e f o r e r e e f on t h e w i n d w a r d and l e p -
w a r d s i d e o f t h e t h e a t o l l , h a s been r e p e a t e d l y o b s e r v e d b y t h e
authors.

ODS

The s t u d y of t h e a t o l l was c a r r i e d o u t t h r c u g h two t f e s o i a c t ~ v ~ t ~ e s ,

d u r r n g t h r e ~c r u l s s s l o t h a ~ t o i l I n 1979, 1983 ana 1984, i n t b r $ f i s t
i n s t a n c e , s e v e r a l w e s t t o e a s t and n o r t h t o s o u t h B r a n s e c t s w e r e made,
i n o r d e r l a u b t a r n a g e n e p a l knowledge o f t h e a t o l 1 c h a r a c t e r r s t r c s .
D a t a o b t a i n e d during t h e s e t r a n s e c t s r e - f e r t 9 b a t h y m e t r t c p r o S ! l e s ,
g e n ~ r a lm o r p h c ~ l o g r04 t h e a r e a , I d e n t 1 - f cat ! o n o f t h e r e e f s i v u c r u r e s ,
s u b s t r a t e t y p e and c o n b i t l o n , and b ~ c i t ~a cs s o c i a t i o n s pre;ertt, Second-
l y , b a s e d on t h e i n f o r m a t ton o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e t r a n s e c t s s u r v e y , s e l e c -
t e d s i t e s 09 t h e w i n d w a r d and l e e w a r d m a r g i n s , and r n t h e l a g o o n a r e a
of t h e a t 0 1 1 , were chosen f o r de t a i l e d a n a l y s e s o f t h e r e e f m o r p h o l o g y
and b i o t a p r e s e n t .

I n t h e s e l e c t e d s i t e s ( c h o s e n because p r o m i n e n t m o r p h o l o g i c a l f e a t u r e s
o r g r o u n d e d s h i p s ) , t h e n e a r b y a r e a was s u r v e y e d b o t h b y t o w i n g and
swimming d i v e r s , i n o r d e r t o v e r i f y t h e commonness ob t h e f e a t u r e s t o
be a n a l y z e d . O b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e s e l e c t e d s i t e s c o n s i s t e d o f measure-
m e n t s 04 d e p t h s , d i m e n s i o n s and d i s t r i b u t i o n p a t t e r n s 0 4 t h e r e e f
s t r u c t u r e s , a s w e l l a s r e g i s t e r s o f b o t t o m t y p e s , and s p e c i e s c o m p o s i -
t i o n 04 s u b s t r a t e c a n t r o l l i n g b i o t a .

D e p t h s were d e t e r m i n e d w i t h s m a l l p o r t a b l e e c h ~ s e u n d e r s o r w i t h d i e i n g
d e p t h gauges, d e p e n d i n g on t h e e x t e n t and d e p t h o f t h e s t u d y a r e a . Reef
d i m e n s i o n s were measured w i t R marked 1 i n e s . S p e c i e s abundance and c o r a l
c o v e r b y d i r e c t o b s e r v a t i o n i n 5 , 25, 5 0 , 75 and 100% c a t e g o r i e s ; spa-
t i a l r e f e r e n c e w h i l e e s t i m a t i n g t h e abundances was g i v e n b y t h e measur-
i n g l i n e s . I d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e c o r a l s p e c i e s was done " i n s i t u "
whenever p o s s i b l e , f o l l o w i n g W e l l s (19561, and Goreau and W e l l s I 1 9 6 7 ) ;
G o r g o n i a n s a f t e r Bayer ( 1 9 6 1 1 ; Sponges a f t e r De L a b e u n a e l s ( 1 9 5 5 ) w i t h
h e l p f r o m P. Gomez IUNAM>, and m a c r o a l g a e a f t e r T a y l o r ( 1 9 7 2 ) b y D r .
L a u r a H u e r t a IILPN). The g r o u n d e d modern s h i p s t h a t b o r d e r t h e e a s t w a r d
m a r g i n o f t h e a t o l l and r i s e more t h a n 10m above sea l e v e l , were u s e d
a s permanent s t a t i o n s whenever p c ~ s s i b l e , and t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e c a y s , a s
p o s i t i o n i n g p o i n t s a l l a l o n g t h e s t u d y a r e a . Grounded s h i p s l o c a t i o n on
t h e a t o l l were f i x e d b y r a d a r and s e x t a n t b e a r i n g s ( F i g . 1 ) .
 STITUTI L#\I OF CHINCHORRO ATOLL.

The p e r i p h e r a l r e e f on C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l measures a b o u t 115 km ( F i g , li.

The l o n g e s t a x i s 04 t h e r e e f ! s o u t h t o n o r t h ) i s p a r a l l e l t o t h e E a s t
margin 0f the Yucatan P e n i s u l a . Three cays are found i n s i d e the a t o l l :
Cay0 N o r t e ( 0 . 9 s q u a r e k m ) , Cayo C e n t r o ( 6 . 1 s q u a r e kmi and Caro L o b o s
( l e s s t h a n 0 . 1 s q u a r e km). Cayo N o r t e and Cayo C e n t r o a r e c o v e r e d w i t h
mangroves and s c a t t e r e d c o c o n u t p a l m s . Cayo L o b o s , t h e o n l y c a y c l o s e
t o t h e w i n d w a r d m a r g i n oB t h e a t 0 1 1 , h a s no p a l m s n o r mangroues and i s
c o v e r e d m o s t l y by b u s h e s . C o r a l r u b b l e c o n s t i t u t e s t h e beaches,

The l a g o o n r5 s h a i l c : ~ ~ r a, n g i n g f r o m -%Om I n t h e soi;thern s e c t lor7 t o -1

o r -2m on t h e n o r t h e r n one, The s o u t h s e c t i o n i s c h a r a c t e r ! z e d b y t h e
p r e s e n c e 0 f numerous p a t c h r e e f s and c o r a l k n o l l s . Some o f t h e p a t c h e s
a r e q u i t e l o n g ( u p t o 3 km, a n d p a r a l l e l t o t h e w i n d w a r d m a r g i n . The
number and s i z e 0 f t h e p a t c h r e e f s d e c r e a s e g r a d u a l l y f r o m s o u t h t o
n o r t h , a1 t h o u g h t h e y a r e a l w a y s p r e s e n t on t h e l a g o o n . I n t h e n o r t h
s e c t i o n t h e y a r e l o c a t e d m a i n l y on t h e c e n t r a l a r e a .

C h i n c h o r r u kt041 i s n o t u n i f o r m , t h e r e a r e c l e a r d i f f e r e n c e z . i n +:he
m o r p h o l o g i c a l - f e a t u r e s and r e @ +f o r m a t i o n s , b o t h f r o m w i n d w a r d Pa
I e e w a r b 2nd f r c m s o u t h t o n u s t f n o r d e r t o f 3.c j 1 t a t @ i t s d + z c r i p -
t i o n , we have a r b i t r a r i l r d i v i d e d t h e r e e f i n t o a w i n d w a r d , a ? e @ w a r d ,
and i a g o o n s e c t i o n s ; i n each one o f t h ~ s e , t h e d e s c r i p t i o n ~ i ' KIP i
s t a r t e d -From t h e s o u t h and w i l l p r o c e e d t o w a r d t h e n o r t h e r n end CI+ t h e
atoll.

The w i n d w a r d m a r g i n o f t h e a t o l l i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y t h e p r e s e n c e 0 f an
e x t e n s i v e and g e n t l y d i p p i n g p l a t f o r m , d e s c e n d i n g a t a l o w a n g l e i f r o m
3 t o 8 d e g r e e s ) down t o -35 t o -40m, where i t g i v e s way t o an a l m o s t
v e r t i c a l s l o p e b e y o n d -60m ( F i g . 21. T h i s f l a t , c a l c a r e o u s p l a t f o r m ,
w h i c h i s t h e most i m p o r t a n t m o r p h o l o g i c a l f e a t u r e on t h i s m a r g i n , seems
t o s t r o n g l y determine the r e e f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , as i s discussed below.

The w i n d w a r d m a r g i n i n c l u d e s a l l t h e a r e a t h a t c o r r e s p o n d s t o t h e r e a r
r e e f zone, t h e r e e f c r e s t zone and t h e f o r e r e e f zone. The d e s c r i p t i o n
w i l l p r o c e e d a c c o r d i n g l y and, a s s t a t e d b e f o r e , f r o m s o u t h t o n o r t h
when d i f f e r e n c e s a r e r e c o g n i z e d .
Rear Reef Zone

I n t h e s o u t h e r n and c e n t r a l s e c t i o n s o f t h e a t o l l t h e c o r a l g r o w t h on
t h e r e a r r e e f zone e x t e n d s f o r 80 t o d50m, between t h e r e e f c r e s t and
an e x t e n s i v e sandy a r e a t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s p a r t o f t h e r e a r r e e f
platform.

-L 6e-t: '51'i G ; $ 3 T
~E a i TEE$, i : L,%@ t o tkle TsE f C P @ C r ~5 ~ L r > ' , E P @ d bj
r u b b l e , ~ h i c h1 5 g r a d u a l l y r e p l a c e d b y a t h ~ c kl a y e r o f sand, Upon +he
r b b b l e t h e o n l y s c l e r a c t ~ n r a np r e s e n t i s P o r i t e s a s t r e o r d e s , and
dense a l g a l m a t s o f T u r b i n a r ~ at u r b ~ n a t a , S t y p o ~ o d l u mz o n a l e and
C a u l e r p a racemosa, No c r u s t o s e c a l c a r e o u s a l g a e were o b s e r u e d I n
these a l g a l mats.

Lagoonward, t h e r u b b l e g r a d u a l l y d i s a p p e a r s , g i v i n g p l a c e t o a ssnd
p l a t d o r m w h i c h may e x t e n d f o r a n o t h e r 20017 ( s h o r t e r i n t h e C e n t r a l
- erf .~s. .;.-. r n . j , I P I ! S sand p l a t f o r m ends a b r u p t l y i n t o t h e lagoorr Gottcm i n
.2-, a -s '

t h e dorm o f a. s a n d w a i l 2 o r 3m h i g h . The s a n d p l a t f o ~ r c i s p r imar l y

i n h a b i t e d by sparse c l u s t e r s 0 4 macroalgae o f the genera P e n i c i Il u s ,
k h l irnedaP U d o t e a and Ripocephallu;. No rgeagraraser, w e r e ~ b s e ~ u e d .
,.-
Pew, r ~ l a t l v e i y! a ? ~ @c o r a l p a t c h e s a r e f o u n d on t h i s p l a t f o r m , A de-
p r e s s i o n i f i t h e sand b o t t o m u s u a l l y s u r r o u n d s t h e p a t c h , -6,8 t o -0.9rn
belo1,v t h e sand p l a t B o r n l e u e l . These p a t c h r e e f s a r e -from 3 l a 8m i n
d i a m e t e r a n d up t o 2 . M i n h e i g h t , h i g h l y e r o d e d , f o r m i n g c a v e s t h a t
p r o v i d e s h e l t e r 40r r e e f f i s h e s . The d o m i n a n t c o r a l on t h e s e p a t c h e s i s
M o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s and t h e c o m p o s i t i o n 0 4 t h e r e m a i n i n g c o r a l Qauna
i s s i m i l a r t o t h e one f o u n d on t h e r e a r r e e f zone r i d g e s ( T a b l e s d and
21.

I n t h e n o r t h s e c t i o n , t h e r e a r r e e f zone i s d i 4 f e r e n t f r o m t h e s o u t h
a n d c e n t r a l s e c t i o n s . I t c o n s i s t s o f a c a l c a r e o u s pavement w h i c h e x -
t e n d s t o w a r d t h e l a g o o n w h i t h o u t c o n s p i c u o u s reeB s t r u c t u r e s . The
b o t t o m i s c o u e r e d w i t h c o r a l r u b b l e , s a n d , and s m a l l and s c a t t e r e d
s c l e r a c t i n i a n c o l o n i e s where P o r i t e s a s t r e o i d e s d o m i n a t e s ; b u t i n
g e n e r a l i t i s p o o r l y p o p u l a t e d b y c o r a l s . Water d e p t h s r a n g e f r o m -2.4m
a t t h e d e e p e s t p a r t s t o l e s s t h a n -1.0m b e s i d e t h e r e e B c r e s t . The
inner l i m i t o f the r e a r r e e f i n t h i s s e c t i o n i s d i f f i c u l t t o estimate,
s i n c e t h e r e i s n o t a c l e a r edge s e p a r a t i n g i t f r o m t h e l a g o o n zone. I n
f a c t , i n t h e NE c o r n e r o f t h e a t o l l t h e r e a r e no a p p a r e n t changes i n
t h e b o t t o m c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s u n t i l Cayo N o r t e i s r e a c h e d , a l t h o u g h t h e r e
i s an i n c r e a s e i n t h e number and s i z e o f t h e s a n d p a t c h e s t o w a r d s t h e
cay.

P a l y t h o a c a r i bbea 1s r e l a t i v e l y common and many p a t c h e s c o v e r s m a l l

a r e a s o f s u b s t r a t e on t h e r e a r r e e f z o n e . M i l l e p o r a c m p l a n a t a may
f o r m t h i n c r u s t s o f n o more t h a n 15cm h i g h , i n c l u d i n g t h e u p w a r d
g r o w i n g b l a d e s . I n most p l a c e s however, t h e s u b s t r a t e i s exposed o r
c o v e r e d b y f i l a m e n t o u s a l g a e , g r o w i n g d i r e c t l y upon t h e c a l c a r e o u s
p a v e m e n t . Dense m a t s o f t h e brown a l g a e T u r b i n a r i a t u r b i n a t a a r e
-found d u r i n g t h e summer m o n t h s . G o r g o n i a n s a r e a l s o s c a r c e ( T a b l e 2 ) .

Reef C r e s t Zone

Irk t h e s o ~ t h c r rand ~ c ~ n t r a ls e c t i o n s , t h e c c e s t z o n e c ~ n s l tt u t e s a
c a l c a r e o u s c r u s t ;:kae e x t e n d s -from t h e r e a r r e e i zone t o t h e b e g r n n r n g
od t h e s p u r a n d g r o o v e s y s t e m , and c o n s t i t u t e s t h e r i m 0 4 t h e r e e f . The
u p p e r p a r t od t h e c r e s t zone i s v e r y c l o s e t o t h e w a t e r s u r f a c e ( f r o m
- 0 . 2 t o - 0 . 3 ~ 1 ) a n d r e l a t i v e l y deep and n a r r o w c h a n n e l s ( - 1 . 0 t o -1.3m
d e e p , 1 . 0 t o 1.5m w i d e ) , r u n t h r o u g h t h e c r e s t c o n n e c t i n g t h e r e a r r e e f
w i t h t h e f o r e r e e f ( F i g . 3 ) . I n t h e a r e a 04 t h e s h i p " T o b a c c o T r a d e r "
{ F i g . I ) , t h e c h a n n e l s do n o t c u t t h r o u g h t h e f o r e r e e f , i n s t e a d t h e y
i n srndll p o o l s i n s i d e the c r e s t .

Few c o r a l c o l o n i e s w e r e Q o u n d on t h e c r e s t , w h i c h i s m o s t l y c o v e r e d b y
n o d u l o u s and b r a n c h e d c a l c a r e o u s a l g a e 0 4 t h e g e n e r a
h i thothamnium, and o t h e r s . A l t h o u g h these a
Germ a s e p a s a t e t h e y resemble t h e a l g a l r i d
Cays i n Panama ( G l y n n , 19739, a n d t h e c o r a l l i n e microatolls i n Cozurnel
I s l a n d ( B o y d e t a l , 1 8 8 3 ) . These a l g a e m o s t l y grow c l o s e t o t h e s u r f a c e
w h e r e t h e y f o r m an i r r e g u l a r l i p , b r o k e n a t many p l a c e s .

On t h e n o r t h s e c t i o n t h e c r e s t mone i s n o t a s w e l l d e f i n e d a s i n t h e
p r e v i o u s s e c t i o n s . Were a f l a t , c a l c a r e o u s pauement, f o r m s t h e c r e s t .
C o r a l c o l o n i e s a r e s e l d o m f o u n d upon t h i s pauement. The c r e s t i s r e l a -
t i v e l y deep ( - 0 . 6 t o 1.0m) and c o n s t i t u t e s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e a l s o
r e l a t i v e l e y f l a t calcareous p l a t f o r m that c o n s t i t u t e s the beginning o f
t h e f o r e r e e f . T o w a r d t h e 1 agoon, a s e x p l a i n e d a b o v e , t h e c a l c a r e o u s
b o t t o m p r e u a i l s , w i t h f e w a b r u p t changes i n t h e b o t t m r e g u l a r i t y .
F l e s h y and f i 1 amen t o u s a l g a e , a n d l a r g e c o l o n i e s o f t h e sponge
A n t h o s i s m e l l a u a r i a n s a r e t h e m a i n b i o t i c components i n t h e a r e a .

F o r e Reef Zone

I n t h e s h a l l o w a r e a s o f t h e f o r e r e e f mone, a complex s y s t e m o f s p u r
a n d g r o o v e s i s f o u n d . The c o m p l e x i t y o f t h i s s y s t e m i s one o f t h e m o s t
i n t e r e s t i n g f e a t u r e s o f C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l ( F i g . 4 ) and i s d i s c u s s e d i n
d e t a i l elsew e r e ( J o r d a n and M a r t i n , i n p r e p a r a t i o n ) .

The p r ~ s e n c eo f t h e s p u r and g r o o u e s i s u t i l i z e d i n t h i s p a p e r t o d i -
w i d e t h e f o r e r e e f zone i n t w o s u b z o n e s : d ) t h e i n n e r f o r e r e e f ( I F R )
where w e l l d e v e l o p e d a n d g r o w i n g s p u r s a r e Bound, down t o a d e p t h o f
-f5rn, a n d 2 ) The o u t e r f o r e r e e B (OFR) s e a w a r d f r o m t h e IFR a l l t h e way
t o t h e edge o f t h e d o r e r e e d zone where t h e i n s u l a r s l o p e b e g i n s (-60m
a p p r o x i m a t e l y ) , On t h e OFW a c t i v e l y g r o w i n g s p u r s a r e n o t f o u n d , b u t
c a l c a r e o u s P i d g e - l ike s t r u c t u r e s , w i t h a para1 i e l l a y o b t s i n i l a r t o the
s p u r and g r o o v e s y s t e m a r e Bound i n m a p y l o c a l i t i e s a n d a t d i f f e r e n t

On t h e s o u t h a n d c e n t r a l s e c t i o n s , t h e f i r - s t s e t s o f t h e SGS c o n s i s t s
a$ b u t t r e s s - l i k e s p u r s , a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e r e e B c r e s t Corm a c a l c a -
r e o u s r i m t h a t e x t e n d s Crm t h e r e a r r e e d zone t~ t h e s e a w a r d l i m i t o f
t h e b u t t r e s s e s , These s p u ~ sa r e v e r y w i d e a n d i r r e g u l a r a d j a c e n t t o t h e
c r e s t . A s t h e s p u r s e x t e n d s e a w a r d , t h e y become t h i n n e r a n d more r e g u -
10.r ( F i g , 5 > , T h e s p u r s a r e d e e p l y e r o d e d a n d p i t t e d a n d a l m o s t d e v o i d
1 "

o f c o r a l s a t t h e s h a i l o w e s t end, b u t a r e e o u e ~ e db y c r u s t o s e a l g a e . The
S i d e s s.; t h e spurs and t h e s e a w a r d f a c e a r e a l s o i r r e g u l a r a n d a b r u p t l y
s l o p e d , As w t e r d e p t h i n c r e a s e s , a y r u T i B i s c o r a ? a s s e m b l a g e , i n w h i c h
a n d Porites a s t r e o i d e s 2 r e t h e darninant spe-
c i e s , g ~ z . d u a l l r s u b s t i t u t e the a l g a l c o u e r , The b o t t o m o f t h e g r o o v e s
i s C i a l e d w i t h c o r a ! r u b b l e a n d a l m o s t no s a n d a t a l l ( T a b l e s I and 2 ) .

Sea!.w~rdf r o m t h e f i r s t s e t s OC s p u r s , a s 9 c o n d s e t a p p e a r . I n t h e
s o u t h s e c t i o n a t t h e a r e a o-$ t h e s h i p " F a l s t a Q B " , t h e s p u r s o f t h e
second s e t , w h i c h a r e l o n g e r than loom, i n t e r f i n g e r w i t h t h e s p u r s o f
the P i r s t set ( F i g . 4 ) . Northward, a t the Cassel's area i n the Central
s e c t i o n o f t h e a t o l l ' s m a r g i n , t h e r e i s no i n t e r m i n g l i n g between t h e
s p u r s o f t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d s e t s ( F i g . 6 ) . A f l a t p l a t f o r m e x t e n d s
+ o r 30 t o 40m between b o t h s e t s , c l e a r l y s e t t i n g them a p a r t drom each
o t h e r ( F i g . 4 ) . The s e c o n d s e t 04 s p u r s a r e t h e m o s t d e v e l o p e d o n e s
od t h e S6S i n a1 1 l o c a l i t i e s . L i v i n g c o r a l c o v e r a g e on t h e s e s p u r s
a p p r o a c h e s d00%. M i l l e p o r a c o m p l a n a t a , A q a r i c i a t e n u i f o l i a a n d
P o r i t e s p o r i t e s , together w i t h large c o l o n i e s o f Acropora palmata,
a r e t h e d o m i n a n t s p e c i e s ( T a b l e s f and 2 ) .

A t t h e a r e a o f t h e " C a s s e l " s h i p , a c l e a r l y d i s t i n c t t h i r d s e t od
s p u r s , s e p a r a t e d b y n o more t h a n 2 o r 3m o f d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e s e c o n d
one, i s f o u n d . L i v i n g c o r a l c o v e r upon t h e s e s p u r s i s n o t a b l y l o w e r
t h a n t h a t dound on t h e p r e v i o u s s e t s , a1 t h o u g h some l a r g e c o l o n i e s o f
w o r a p a l m a t a and M o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s a r e p r e s e n t .

A p p r o x i m a t e l y d o u r m i l e s n o r t h w a r d f r o m t h e C a s s e l l a r e a , b u t s t 1 1 1 on
t h e c e n t r a l s e c t i o n o f t h e a t o l l , a t CLd-l, t h e second s e t 09 t h e SGS
h a s s p u r s t h a t a r e much w i d e r t h a n t h o s e on s o u t h e r n l o c a t i o n s , The
d i s t a n c e between s p u r s ( o n t h e o r d e r o f 20 t o 40mj i s a l s o g r e a t e r . The
,
l a r g e s p u r s oB t h i s l o c a l i t y a r e a l s o asymrnetr i c a l an asymmetry t h a t
seems t o a r i s e 4 r o a a d i d 4 e r e n t i a l c o r a l g r o w t h between t h e n o r t h and
s o u t h s i a p ~ so-f t h e s p u r s ( F i g . 4 i .

A t t h e n o r t h s e c t i o n a+ t h e a t o l l , n o SGS o r any o t h e r r e e f s t r u c t u r e s
a r E f o u n d i n t h p I F P a r e a , w h e r e t h e $ w e r e e 4 1s a < r a t , c a i c a r e s u s
a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e r e e C c r e s t ( F i g . $1,
n t fr6m -2;0m t o -3,Orn: d i s a s c e s t i n g a t
becomes a b a r r s n a r e & , similar
e e d s of t h e Y u c a t a 2 "gn i nsu 1 2

21 O u t e r F o r e Reef (OFF?) .
The o u t e r $ o r e r e e f i s b a s i c a l l y deterrn n e d b y t h e i l a t , c a l c a r e o u s
pavement t h a t c o n s t i t u t e s t h e + o r e r e e f p l a t f o r m . Hsweuer, upon t h i s
p l a t f o r m s e v e r a l r e4 f e a t u r e s a r e f o u n d , f e a t u r e s t h a t as i n t h e S G S ,
m one l o c a l i t y t o a n o t h e r , These r e e f s t r u c t u r e s a r e n o t
t o a s s p u r s i n t h i s p a p e r , i n o r d e r t o d i Q f e r e n t i a t e $hem 4r0m
t h e a c t i v e l y g r o w i n o n e s Q o u n d a t t h e SG l e a d , and because o f
t h e i r l o w h e i g h t and s c a r c i t y a f c o r a l c o v e r , we w i l l re4ei- t o them as
I. j dae.2
". %

e southern sect i p s i t e , beyond t h e S

tR Cram -25 % a - p a r s e l y c o v e r o d by a
Is, e a n s t i t u k l n

i n height,

n t r a l s e c t i o n a t t h e Cass 1 1 s h i p a r e a , and seawar

ad t h e SGS, a t a d e p t h o -1Bm, l o n g r i d g e s w i t h
s l o p e s and a h e i g h t o f o n l y % 0 t o 1 . 9 m , resernbl i n g e l o n
a r e i o u n d . These r i d g e s have consolidated calcareous s
l i v i n g c o r a l c o v e r i s r a t h e r l o w , w h i l e g o r g o n i a n s and sponges a r e
abundant ( f a b l e s 1 a n d 21. The r i d g e s have a p a r a l l e l l a y o u t , p e r p e n d i -
c u l a r t o t h e r e e f c r e s t ( F i g . 45.

S e v e r a l s e t s od t h e s e r i d g e s o c c u r i n p r o g r e s i v e s t a g e s a s t h e b o t t o m
becomes d e e p e r , and a l t h o u g h t h e r i d g e s do n o t appear t o be c o n t i n u o u s
f r o m ane s e t t o a n o t h e r , some s e t s a r e so c l o s e t o each o t h e r t h a t
t h e i r r i d g e s overlap^. A t a d e p t h o f -40 t o -45m, b e f o r e r e a c h i n g t h e
edge od t h e f o r e r e e f p l a t f o r m , t h e r i d g e s y s t e m d i s a p p e a r s , g i v i n g
p l a c e t o m a 1 1 r o u n d e d p a t c h e s s i m i l a r t o t h e ones dound an t h e S o u t h
section.

A t t h e W-1 a r e a , a v e r y s i m i l a r l a y o u t was f o u n d , w i t h t h e r i d g e s e t s
s t a r t i n g a t a d e p t h o f -18m ( F i g . 4 ) . The c o r a l b i o t a i s s i m i l a r t o
t h a t f r o m t h e b o t t o m p l a t f o r m , i n w h i c h g o r g o n i a n s p r e d o m i n a t e and t h e
s c l e r a c t i n i a n s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d m o s t l y b y s m a l l c o l o n i e s . Sponges a r e
a l s o e x t r e m e l y abundant ( T a b l e s 1 and 2 ) .

On t h e n o r t h s e c t i o n a t t h e NU-l s i t e , where t h e r e i s n o SGS, f r o m a

d e p t h 04 -18m d o ~ ~t no -25m, s i m i l a r r i d g e s t o t h e ones p r e v i o u s l y
d e s c r i b e d a r e f o u n d . The l a y o u t i s n o t as r e g u l a r a s on t h e o t h e r s e t s
a t t h e s o u t h e r n a r e a s , L i v i n g c o r a l couerage i s r a t h e r l o w , g o r g o n i a n s
and sponges a r e e x t r e m t r abundant { T a l e s 1 and 2 ) .

A t NU-2, I n t h e n o r t h e r n end 04 t h e a t o l l , t h e o u t e r r e e f i s d i B 4 e r e n 4 ,
ram t h e c r e s t a r e a t c a d e p t h ob -1 covered slope i s found,
Om a s e t ob ampa art o r % m a l l w a l l - l i k e id appear. These
r i d g e s a r e s i m i a? t o t h e m e e . dsscpibed abo ewhat i a r g e r a n d
w i t h a v e r y u n i orrn l x y u u t ( F i g , 4). T h i s p i ds abruptly a t
-29 t o -30m, rsahere a marked i n c r e a s e i n the s l o p e s f t h e ba
( t o more t h a n 3 5 9 > ,c o n t i n u i n g d w n t o -50m, w h e ~ e t h e s l o p e ends i n a
h o r i z o n t a l sand-covered p l a t f o r m . On t h i s deeper s l o p e , a n o t h e r s e t o f
w i d e r and h i g h e r r i d g e s a r e f o u n d , The c o r a l b i o t a upon t h e r i d g e s i s
a g a i n s i m i l a r t o t h e one f o u n d on t h e o t h e r r i d g e systems, a l t h o u g h
the s c l e r a c t i n i a n cover i s h i g h e r .

Lagoon Zone

As i t happens i n t h e w i n d w a r d mar t h e l a g o o n p e e + s t r u c t u r e s change

he l o n g e s t a x i s sd t h e a t s b a s i c a i l r as a f u n c t i o n o f a
r d decreasing bottom depth

I n t h e S o u t h s e c t i o n , w h e r e t h e a u e r a g e d e p t h i s -7m t o -
p a t c h r e @ + %a r e f o u n d , Lagoonal pa vary i n s i z e
w e l l as i n t h e s e l e r a c t i n i a n domin e s , depending
and o r i e n t a t i o n 04 a g i v e n p a t c h , We d i v i d e d t h e p a t c h r e e f s f o u n d
i n s i d e t h e l a g o o n , i n t o t h r e e m a i n t y p e s : 1) w e l l d e u e l o p e d , 2) l o w
l y i n g p a t c h r e e f s , and 3) e l o n g a t e d p a t c h r e e f s ,

W e l l d e v e l o p e d p a t c h e s , r e a c h t h e w a t e r s u r f a c e even i n t h e d e e p e s t
p a r t s o f the lagoon ( F i g , 9 > , I n these r e e % s , l a r g e c o l o n i e s o f
M s n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s f o r m t h e edges and dense and e x t e n s i v e s h e e t s o f
P o r i t e s p o r i t e s , surround these f o r m a t i o n s as a secondary b e l t . I n
t h e i n n e r m o s t l a g o o n a l p a t c h e s , t h e upper p o r t i o n 09 t h e p a t c h i s cov-
e r e d b y a l g a e o f t h e g e n e r a P e n i c i l l u s and Udotea and sometimes b y
e x t e n s i v e b e d s o f P. p o r i t e s . I n t h e s o u t h e r n m o s t p a t c h r e e f s , w h i c h
a r e exposed t o t h e r e f r a c t e d waves e n t e r i n g t h r o u g h t h e open a t o l l
m a r g i n between Cayo Lobos and Wreck R e e f , A c r o p o r a p a l m a t a i s t h e
dominant s p e c i e s , s u r r o u n d e d b y e x t e n d e d t h i c k e t s o f A c r o p o r a
c e r v i c o r n i s and i s o l a t e d heads o f M. a n n u l a r i s . The l a g o o n b o t t o m
between p a t c h e s , c o n s i s t s 04 a h a r d b o t t o m c o v e r e d b y sand, m o s t l y
d e v o i d o f s e a g r a s s e s o r a l g a e . Coarse c o r a l r u b b l e p r e d m i n a t e s on t h e
n e a r b y a r e a o f Cayo L o b o s .

L o w - l y i n g p a t c h r e e f s a r e composed m a i n l y b y e x t e n s i v e and dense masses

o f m o s t l y dead A, c e r v i c o r n i s and b i g c o l o n i e s o f M. a n n u l a r i s ,
t h a t can have a r e l i e f o f more t h a n 2rn o v e r sandy b o t t o m s 04 -6 t o -8m
i n d e p t h . These c o l o n i e s show a s i g n i f i c a n t b i o e r o s i o n and a r e c o v e r e d
on t h e t o p b y a l g a e . C o l o n i e s o f C o l p o p h y l l i a n a t a n s , S o l e n a s t r e a
b u o r n o n i and S i d e r a s t r e a s i d e r e a a r e a l s o p r e s e n t , m a i n 1 y i n a r e a s
a d j a c e n t t o t h e s e C o r m a t i o n s . G o r g o n i a n s a r e n o t v e r y abundant on t l i e s e
s h o a l s , and c o l o n i e s a r e i n g e n e r a l s m a l l o r m e d i u m - s i z e d ( F i g . 9 ) .

The e l m g a t e d p a t c h r s e - f s a r e f o u n d an t h e apes o f L P - I and LP-2 sam-

p l i n g s t a t i o n s ( s e e F i g , 1) These b a r r i o s - l i k e r e e + s t r u c t u r e s r i s e
o n l y 2 t o 3171 + r a m t h e b o t t o m w i t h o u t r e a r h ~ n g Che serr#ace, and 4
r u n p a r a l l e l t o t h e ato1l"s PI^. The l a r q f s t one, e x c e e d s 3Mm I n l e n g t h
and i s 50 t o 10 rn wbde, p i s i n g +rrm a -9 o r -813I G g o s n b o t t o m { F i g . 9 ) .
The S and SW s i e s o f t h e s e p a t c h e s , n a v e a s t e e p s l ~ p ee n d i n g an t h e
s a n d cov@~-.ed &ot$.~m where
~ d e n s e a g g r - e g a t f o n s 0 B $.he queen c o n c h
a r e seen c l o s e t o t h e s h ~ a l ,By c o n t r a s t , t h e e a s t
s ~ d eh a s a smooth s l o p e t o w a r d s t h e a d j a c e n t s a n d d l o a r w h i c h i s no-
t i c e a b l Y c o v e r e d by m a c r o a l gae, M a s s i v e mu1 t i l a b a t e d r o i on i e s 04
M o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s grow i n b o t h edges, b u t t h o s e on t h e s e a w a r d
s i d e a r e b i g g e r . As i n t h e w e l l d e v e l o p e d p a t c h r e e f s 04 t h i s a r e a
A c r o p o r a p a l m a t a i s m o s t 1 y a b s e n t , and i f p r e s e n t i t i s v e r y s c a r c e .
G o r g o n i a n s a r e r a r e on t h e w ~ n d w a r ds l o p e o f t h e s e e l o n g a t e d p a t c h
r e e f s (Tab1 e 2 ) ,

On t h e c e n t r a l s e c t i o n a v e r a g e b o t t d e p t h i s - 4 t o -5m, a1 t h o u g h i n
some p l a c e s i t c o u l d be a s much as 8 ) - The b i g g e s t c a y
f o u n d i n t h e a t 0 1 I , Cayo e n t r o i s l o c a t e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n . The c a y i s
s u r r o u n d e d b y a s k a l law 1 goon c o v e r e d by t h e s e a g r a s s l h a l 1 a s s i a
t e s t u d i n u m , The dense b e d s s f t h i s phanesagam g r a d u a l l y d i m i n i s h away
-from t h e c a y , i v i n g p l a c e t o s a n d y b o t t o m s dom n a t e d b y c a l c a r e o u s
.
r n a c r o a l gae Sc t t e r f d g o r g o n i a n c o l o n i e s a r e .fo n d on t h i s e n v i r o n m e n t .
On t h e l e e w a r d s i d e oB t h e l a g o o n an e x t e n s e c a l c a r e o u s p l a t f o r m c o u
m o s t 04 t h e b o t t o m . T h i s p l a t - f o r m o$ o n l y 2m i n d e p t h i s b a r e l y c o v e r e d
b y b i o t a o r s a n d , and n o s i g n i f i c a n t r e e f f e a t u r e s were f o u n d upon i t ,

Patch r e e f s i n the c e n t r a l s e c t i o n a r e l e s s abundant than i n t h e s o u t h

s e c t i o n and t e n d t o be l o c a t e d i n t h e deeper m i d d l e l a g o o n a l a r e a and,
t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t , i n t h e s e a w a r d s i d e . Two d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f p a t c h e s
c h a r a c t e r i z e t h i s s e c t i o n 04 t h e l a g o o n . Same a r e q u i t e s m a l l , w i t h
d i a m e t e r s 0% a b o u t 20 t o 30m, a l w a y s c i r c u l a r i n shape and r i s i n g 3 t o
4m above t h e b o t t o m w i t h o u t r e a c h i n g t h e s u r f a c e ; t h e m a i n c o r a l b u i l d -
e r of t h e s e p a t c h r e e f s i s M o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s . The o t h e r p a t c h
r e e f s a r e a l s o non-emergent b u t a r e i r r e g u l a r i n s h a p e , w i t h a t e n d e n c y
t o have t h e i r l o n g e s t a x i s p a r a l l e l t o t h e l o n g e s t a x i s o f t h e A t o l l
( F i g . 9 ) . Both t y p e s a r e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a poor development o f c o r a l s
( T a b l e 1 ) . G o r g o n i a n s , on t h e o t h e r hand, a r e v e r y abundant a n d d i v e r s e
( T a b l e 2 ) . The s u b s t r a t e i s e x t e n s i v e l y c o v e r e d b y m a c r o a l g a e . Where
patch ree-fs are found i n the T h a l l a s s i a testudinum area, a r i n g f r e e
o-f s e a g r a s s s u r r o u n d s t h e p a t c h , p r e s u m a b l y m a i n t a i n e d b y g r a z i n g a c t -
i v i t y (Ogden e Q a1 ., %973>.

The n o r t h s e c t i o n o f t h e l a g o o n i s even s h a l l o w e r t h a n t h e c e n t r a l one.

A v e r a g e d e p t h i s -1 t o -2m, b u t c o u l d r e a c h a s much a s -5m t o w a r d s t h e
center (Fig. 8). A s c a r c i t y o f patch r e e f s characterize t h i s p a r t o f
t h e l a g o o n , where two c a y s (Cayo N o r t e ) a r e p r e s e n t i n t h e n o r t h e r n t i p
o f t h e a t o l l , The sandy b o t t o m o f t h e l a g o o n f l o o r a r o u n d them, i s
c o v e r e d b y dense beds o f T h a l l a s s i a t e s t u d i n u m w h i c h a r e g r a d u a l l y
r e p l a c e d b y dense a l g a l p a t c h e s , away f r o m t h e c a y s . These p a t c h e s a r e
composed m a i n l y b y s p e c i e s o f t h e g e n e r a L a u r e n c i a , L o b o p h o r a ,
Dictyota, m, U d o t e a and o c a s s i o n a l l y P e n i c i l l u s , w h i c h
cover e x t e n s i v e areas o f the lagoon bottom. S c a t t e r e d b i g , massive
sponges oB t h e genus St-c!n!a and some i s o l a t e d c o l o n i e s o f t h e
a r e a1 so p r e s e n t g r o w i n g upon
bottom.

LEEWARD MARGIN

I n t h e l e e w a r d .irapg80 of C k ~ n c h o r r oA t o l l t h e r e i s n o t a w e l l d e f i n e d
r e e f c r e s t a n d ~ e e C a 1 s t r i ~ c t u r e sa r e l e s s p r o m i n e n t t h a n t h e ones on
t h w:ncir,~trc4
~ np.a7gEbioC tkCc a t 0 1 i .
I n t h e s o u t h seeiion 0 4 ,the a i o l i f r o m Cayo Lobos, w e s t w a r d t o Wreck
e e f , t h e e x t e r n a l c o n t o u r od C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l i s m a r k e d b y a s e r i e s o f
r i m - h a n k s t h a t tesernble a c h a i n o f 1 i t t l e c o r a l i s l a n d s , r e c o g n i z e d
o n l y b y t h e b r - e a R i n g w a v e s and changes i n b o t t o m appearance ( F i g . 1 ) .
These b a n k s h a v e an e : a n g a t e d shape, w i t h t h e l o n g e r a x i s p a r a l l e l t o
t h e edge 04 t h e atoll and r a n g e i n l e n g t h f r o m a l i t t l e more t h a n 100m,
t o l e s s t h a n 800m, [ ~ i t han a v e r a g e s i z e o f r o u g h l y 400m. The w i d t h o f
t h e c h a n n e l s b e t w e n t h e b a n k s a l s o v a r i e s , f r o m 300 t o a l m o s t 2000m.
The d e p t h o f t h e s e c h a n n e l s r a n g e s f r o m -5 t o -1lm. The d e p t h a t w h i c h
the upper s u r f a c e o f t h e rim-banks i s found, decreases g r a d u a l l y f r o m
-4 t o -5m a t S k y l a r k Ledges, t o l e s s t h a n -2m a t Wreck R e e f .

The r i m - b a n k s on t h e S k y l a r k Ledges a r e a a r e f o r m e d b y p a t c h e s o f
s c l e r a c t i n i a n c o r a l s i n t e r s p e r s e d w i t h sandy a r e a s , where n o z o n a t i o n
p a t t e r n i s a p p a r e n t . These b a n k s n o r m a l l y r i s e o n l y a c o u p l e o f m e t e r s
above t h e b o t t o m and t h e c o r a l f a u n a i s d o m i n a t e d b y dense s t a n d s o f
A c r o p o r a p a l m a t a and A , c e r v i c o r n i s . P o r i t e s p o r i t e s f o r m s
e x t e n s i v e c a r p e t s a l t e r n a t i n g w i t h s a n d p a t c h e s , where l a r g e i s o l a t e d
c o r a l heads o f g o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s a r e f o u n d . The g e n e r a l a p p e a r a n c e
o f t h e s e r i m - b a n k s i s t h a t o f a g r o u p o f clumped c o r a l h e a d s .
O t h e r r i m - b a n k s more on t h e l e e w a r d m a r g i n , l i k e B l a c k f o r d and Wreck
R e e f , p r e s e n t a c l e a r z o n a t i o n p a t t e r n f r o m seaward t o l e e w a r d . A s e c -
t i o n o f t h e bank w i l l g i v e t h e p r o f i l e 0 4 an a s y m m e t r i c a l dome, w i t h
t h e peak c l o s e t o t h e l e e w a r d s i d e ( F i g . 9). A. p a l m a t + c o v e r s t h e
p e a k , w ~ t hdense s t a n d s o f l a r g e and s t u r d y c o l o n i e s , s t r o n g l y o r i e n t e d
t o w a r d t h e f o r e r e e f . Between t h e A . g a l m a t a s t a n d s , e x t e n s i v e p a t c h -
e s of A. c e r v i c o r n i s a r e f o u n d . These a r e s u r r o u n d e d by e l o n g a t e d
t h i c k e t s oB A q a r i c i a t e n u i f o l i a . From t h e peak o f t h e b a n k , t h e b o t -
tom g r a d u a l l y descends t o -4m, where a s m a l l c l i f f o f 2 t o 3m m a r k s t h e
end od t h e b a n k . T h i s c l i f f i s c o v e r e d b y l a r g e c o l o n i e s o f M o n t a s t r e a
a n n u l a r i s , C o l p o p h y l l i a n a t a n s and M e a n d r i n a m e a n d r i t e s , whose
abundance and magn i t u d e d i m i n i s h t o w a r d t h e f o r e r e e 6 s i de od t h e b a n k .
G u r g o n i a n s a r e abundant and d i v e r s e ! T a b l e s 1 and 2).

From CL-2, a l l t h e way t o t h e n o r t h e r n end 09 t h e a t o l l , a w i d e and

f l a t c a l c a r e o u s p l a t f o r m d e l i n e a t e s t h e s h a l l o w r i m ( - 1 t o - % . 5 m > on
t h e l e e w a r d m a r g i n . H e r e , t h e r e i s n o t a s h a r p l i m i t between t h e r e e f
c r e s t and t h e r e a r r e e f , e i t h e r f r o m t h e b i o l o g i c a l o r t h e m o r p h o l o g i -
c a l p o i n t o f v i e w . A l t h o u g h i n some p l a c e s a l o n g t h e r i m , s m a l l c o r a l
p a t c h e s r e a c h t h e s u r f a c e B o r m ~ n ga l o c a l c r e s t ; t h e s e c o r a l b u i l d u p s
a r e more abundant i n t h e c e n t r a l and n o r t h s e c t i o n s , h t do n o t show an
o r d e r o f appearance ( F i g s . 5 and 41,

F o r e Reed,

The -fore r e e B on t h e l e e w a r d s i d e u+' t h e a t o l l i s d r a s t i c a l l y d i f d e r e n t

f r o m t h a t s f t h e w i n d w a r d s i d e , T h e e x t e n s i v e f o r e r e @ +p l a t f o r m s f t h e
w i n d w a r d m a r g i n i s n o t f o u n d h e r e , Spur and g r o o v e s y s t e m s a r e a l s o
a b s e n t on t h e l e e w a r d m a r g i n , a l t h o u g h r i d g e s y s t e m s a r e dound b o t h on
t h e s o u t h and n o r t h ends o f t h e a t o i l ,

On t h e s o u t h e r n s e c t i o n a t Wreck r e e f a r i d g e s y s t e m a p p e a r s upon a
r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t and b a r e c a l c a r e o u s p l a t f o r m , T h i s s y s t e m c o n s i s t s o f
p a r a 1 l e l r i d g e s p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e l o n g e s t a x i s o-f t h e a t 0 1 1 , w i t h a
s p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n t h a t r e s e m b l e s a s p u r and g r o o v e s y s t e m , The r i d g e s
o f t h i s s y s t e m , however, a r e v e r y t h i n ( f r o m 2 t o 3m i n w i d t h ) a n d do
n o t appear t o be a c t i v e l y g r o w i n g ( F i g . 4 ) .

The s y s t e m c o n s i s t s 04 t h r e e i n t e r m i x e d s e t s o-f r i d g e s , i n t h e - f i r s t
s e t a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y -8m, t h e r i d g e s a t t a i n a h e i g h t 09 a l m o s t 417-1,
d e c r e a s i n g g r a d u a l l y i n h e i g h t a l o n g i t s l e n g t h ( 4 0 t o 70m) t o l e s s
t h a n h a l f a m e t e r a t t h e s e a w a r d l i m i t a t -10 o r -12m. B e f o r e t h e f i r s t
s e t o f r i d g e s d i s a p p e a r , i t o v e r l a p s a second s e t . The r i d g e s a+ t h e
second s e t a r e o n l y d t o I . % i n h e i g h t a t t h e b e g i n n i n g , and a l s o
d e c r e a s e i n h e i g h t as d e p t h i n c r e a s e s , and t h e y a r e somewhat s h o r t e r
t h a n t h e r i d g e s o f t h e f i r s t s e t . A g a i n , b e f o r e t h e r i d g e s o f t h e se-
c o n d s e t r e a c h t h e i r end a t h i r d s e t o f r i d g e s i s dound, a l s o o v e r l a p -
p i n g w i t h t h e ones o f t h e second s e t . The r i d g e s od t h e t h i r d s e t r i s e
o n l y 0.5m above t h e b o t t o m , and t h e y l o o k more 1 i k e an o r d e r e d 1 i n e o f
s m a l l r o c k s r a t h e r t h a n r i d g e s . The p a t t e r n h o w e v e r , i s s i m i l a r t o t h e
o t h e r o n e s . The t h i r d s e r i e s ends a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y -18m.

The r i d g e s c o n s i s t o f c o n s o l i d a t e d c a l c a r e o u s m a t e r i a l w h i c h i s d e e p l y
p i t t e d and e r o d e d , b u t t h e y s u p p o r t a r e l a t i v e l y r i c h c o r a l l i n e f a u n a .
Coral cover, a t the shallowest p a r t s o f the r i d g e s o f the f i r s t s e t , i s
g r e a t e r t h a n 50 o r do%. S c l e r a c t i n i a n s show a c l e a r l y d e c r e a s i n g g r a d i -
e n t i n c o l o n y s i z e and number o f c o l o n i e s , Srm t h e s h a l l a w t o t h e
deeper p 2 r t s 04 t h e r i d g e s , and c o n c a r d a n t l y , C r o n t h e C i r s t t o t h e
t h i r d s e t 04 r i d g ~ s ,The d o m i n a n t s p e c i ~ sQound u p a n t h e idy ye:. a r e
M o n t a s l ~ e ac a v e r n o s a , Pi. a n n u l a r i s , S i d e r a s t r e a s i d e r e a k n d E,
g o r i t e s ( T a b 1 2s 1 and 2 ) .

Beyond t h e r i d g e s y s t e m and dawn t a t h e o u t e r l i m i t o f t h e B O ~ P peed

p l a t f o r m ( - 3 3 m l , a b u n d a n t c o r a l p a t c h e s 04 2 o r i n diameter are
found; t h e s e a r e a b u n d a n t ?y c o v e r e d b r s c l e r z c t t n i a n s , ~ r g w i a nand ~
s p o n g e s . On t h e +ope r e e f c o l o n i e s o f X e s t o s p o n q ~ am u t a up t o 2m i n
h e i g h t a r e common ( F i g . 101. A t t h e o u t e r l i m i t o+ t h e d o r e r e e f
p l a t f o r m , t h e p a t c h e s i n c r e a s e b o t h i n s i z e and number, f o r m i n g a deep
c o r a l l i n e r i m o f more t h a n 3m i n h e i g h t , w h i c h p r o v i d e s a s u b s t r a t a f o r
many o r g a n i s m s o f t h e c o r a l community. The a l g a L o b o p h o r a v a r i e q a t a
can be h i g h l y a b u n d a n t , t h u s c o v e r i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l e f r a c t i o n o f t h e
s u b s t r a t e . C a r b o n a t e s a n d w i t h a t h i c k n e s s i n e x c e s s o f 0.5m c o v e r s t h e
h a r d s u b s t r a t e , between t h e c o r a l p a t c h e s ( F i g . d l ) ,

C o r a l c o m p o s i t i o n i s s i m i l a r f o r t h e p l a t f o r m and r e e f s l o p e a r e a , t h e
main species are A q a r i c i a d r a g i l i s , A, a q a r i e i t e s , Montastrea
c a v e r n o s a and M y c e t o g h y l i a l a r n a r c k i a n a . G o r g o n i a n s a r e a l s o r e l a t i -
v e l y abundant, t h e i r s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n i s s i m i l a r t o t h e p l a t d o r m
a r e a ( T a b l e s 1 and 2 ) . On t h e f o r e r e @ + s l o p e down t o a d e p t h o i -45 m ,
c o r a l p a t c h e s and r o c k y o u t c r o p s w i t h no a p p a r e n t o r d e r and w i t h a c a n -
sp i euous c o r a l / a l g a l b i o t a l i v i n g on them, a r e s t i 1 l v e r y a b u n d a n t , As
d e p t h i n c r e a s e s , p a t c h s i z e i s g r a d u a l l y r e d u c e d and s p o n g e s and non-
s y m b i o t i c g o r g o n i a n s 04 t h e g e n e r a E l i s e l l a and N i t e l l a , become
d o m i n a n t . T h i s c o n t i n u e s beyond 55m w h i c h was t h e d e e p e s t o b s e r v a t i o n
made i n t h i s a r e a .

A t CL-1 no s h a l l o w r e e f + e a t u r e s a r e f o u n d , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f l a r g e
i s o l a t e d c o r a l heads o f M o n t a s t r e a a n n u l a r i s between -3 and -8m, From
-8 t o -15m a sandy b o t t o m w i t h dew s c a t t e r e d c o r a l h e a d s and r o c k y o u t -
c r o p s p r e d o m i n a t e s . From -15m t o t h e edge o f t h e p l a t f o r m , t h e a p p e a r -
ence i s v e r y s i m i l a r t o t h a t d e s c r i b e d above f o r t h e Wreck Reef f o r e
r e e f a r e a , w i t h a r i m o f r o c k y o u t c r o p s a t t h e o u t e r l i m i t s . These
o u t c r o p s f a r m c o r a l l i n e s t r u c t u r e s up t o 7m h i g h , and a r e a l s o d e n s e l y
c o l on i z e d .

A t CL-2 on t h e c e n t r a l s e c t i o n o f t h e a t o l l t h e s h a l l o w l e e w a r d m a r g i n
i s s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f CL-1, b u t deeper t h a n -20m. The s l o p e a n g l e
changes f r o m 15 t o more t h a n 55 d e g r e e s ( F i g s . 2 and 5 ) . On t h i s s l o p e ,
c o r a l patches are e x t r e m e l y abundant, f o r m i n g a d i s t i n c t hardground
on t h e sandy s l o p e . C o r a l b i o t a , i n c l u d i n g s c l e r a c t i n i a n c o r a l s i s v e r y
p r o l i f i c a n d abundant on t h e s e p a t c h e s . T h i s h a b i t a t d i s a p p e a r s a t -51m
due t o a n o t h e r change i n t h e a n g l e o f t h e s l o p e , t h i s t i m e t o l e s s t h a n
20 d e g r e e s . A deep l a y e r o f s a n d c o v e r s t h e s l o p e , and sand e e l s
( N y s t a c t i c h t h r s h a l i s ) c o n s t i t u t e t h e d o m i n a n t f a u n a . A t -61m t h e
,
r e e f s l o p e d r a s t i c a l l y c h a n g e s t o a n e a r v e r t i s a l w a l l where sand
f a l l s were o b s e r v e d . O n l y s p o n g e s , a few n o n - s y m b i o t i c g o r g o n i a n s and
sea w h i p s were f o u n d h e r e .

On t h e n o r t h e r n end od t h e a t o l l a t Nb-1 a r e a , t h e m o r p h o l o g y and com-

p o s i t i o n oB t h e s h a l l o w m a r g i n , 1 5 s i m i l a r t o t h e one f o u n d on t h e
c e n t r a l w i n d w a r d m a r g i n . B u t f r o m -$Om down t o -25;ri the b o t t o m s l o p e s
down a t more t h a n 35 d e g r e e s , and a n o t h e r r i d g e srste;!? ii d o a n d on t h i s
slope (Fig. 4 ) .

The r i d g e s oQ t h i s a r e a , i n s h a r p c o n t r a s t w i t h % h e a t h e r r i d g @ s y s -
tems, a r e i i o h m a d e oS s o l i d s t r u c t u r e s . I n s t e a d tiher & r e c a n s t l t u t e d b y
a dense, b u t o r d ~ r e da g g ~ e g a t i o no f i n d e p e n d e n t , relatfusiy s m a l l c o r a l
h e a d s ; r e s e m b l i n g w i d e and l o w , l o o s @ l y made r a m p a r t s . A 1 t h o u g h t h e
sandy b o t t o m 0-f t h e s l o p e can be o b s e r v e d f r o m a l m o s t any p l a c e above
t h e r i d g e s , w h i c h a r e up t o 2m h i g h , sandy s p a c e s a r e v e r y n a r r o w
between t h e c o r a l heads t h a t c o n s t i t u t e t h e r i d g e . T h i s s y s t e m , a s a l l
t h e o t h e r s dound on C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l , shows a p a r a l l e l l a y o u t between
r i d g e s w h i c h i s p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e c r e s t zone.

The w i d t h s o f t h e s e r a m p a r t - l i k e r i d g e s r a n g e s Brom 12 t o 15m, and t h e

d i s t a n c e between them e x c e e d s t h e w i d t h o f t h e r i d g e s . C o r a l composi-
t i o n i s a g a i n v e r y r i c h and c o r a l d e n s i t y i s h i g h , a l t h o u g h d i s t r i b u -
t i o n i s p a t c h y and i s a f u n c t i o n 04 a v a i l a b l e h a r d s u b s t r a t e , on t h e
sandy s l o p e . T h i s community d i s a p p e a r s a t - 2 5 ~due t o a change i n t h e
o t t m s l o p e t h a t g i v e s l a c e t o an a l m o s t k o r ~ z ot a l s a n d - r s v e r e d
p l a t d o r m , w h i c h e x t e n d s a l l t h e way t o t h e o u t e r l i m i t od t h e d o r e r e @ +
and d r o p s t o a Rear v e r t i c a l s l o p e , a s i n CL-1,

CHINCHORRO ATOLL AND OTHER CARIBBEAN ATOLLS

Species c o m p o s i t i o n o f c o r a l s and g o r g o n i a n s o f C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l c o r r e -
sponds t o t h a t f o u n d e l s e w h e r e on t h e s h a l l o w r e e f e n v i r o n m e n t o+ t h e
C a r i b b e a n Sea (Goreau and W e l l s , 19.37; ROSS, 1971; K i n m i e , 1973;
J o r d a n , 1979, 1980; J o r d a n e t a l . , 1981; C a i r n s , 1982; M u z i k , 1982;
L a s k e r and C o f f r o t h , 1983). T h i s may a l s o be t h e case w i t h r e s p e c t t o
a l g a e , m a r i n e v a s c u l a r p l a n t s , a n d sponges.

Chinchorro A t o l l shares w i t h the southern B e l i z e a t o l l s the g e o l o g i c a l

f o u n d a t i o n upon w h i c h t h e y r e s t a n d a s i m i l a r s e t o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l con-
d i t i o n s , due t o t h e i r c l o s e g e o g r a p h i c a l p o s i t i o n on t h e w e s t e r n C a r i b -
beag. O t h e r C a r i b b e a n a t o l l s t h a t have been d e s c r i b e d , such a s t h e o n e s
f o u n d on t h e e a s t e r n s h e l f o f N i c a r a g u a ( M i l l i m a n , 19.39) a r e d i + f e r e n t
i n t h e i r b a s i c m o r p h o l o g ~a n d p o s s i b l y i n t h e i r g e o l o g i c a l h i s t o r y a s
w e l l . A l a c r a n Ree+ i n t h e Campeche Bank, on t h e G u l f o f M e x i c o , a l s o
shows a d i f S e r e a t b a s i c m o r p h o l o g y ( K o r n i c k e r e t a l . , 1 9 5 9 ) . However
t h e c o r a l c o m m u n i t i e s a n d t h e g e n e r a l z q n a t i o n p a t t e r n s upon a l l t h e s e
r e e f s , do n o t appear t o d i f f e r g r e a t l y whenever s i m i l a r e n v i r o n m e n t a l
c o n d i t i o n s predominate.

R e g a r d i n g i t s g e n e r a l m o r p h o l o g y , C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l seems t o be more
s i m i l a r t o t h e e x p o s e d G l o v e r s ReeC a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y t o L i g h t h o u s e
R e e f , t h a n t o t h e p r o t e c t e d T u r n e f i e I s l a n d s on t h e Be1 i z e A t 0 1 l -
c o m p l e x . A l t h o u g h C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l r e s t s on t h e same s u b m a r i n e r i d g e a s
T u r n e f f e I s l a n d s a n d is o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y t h e same s i z e , s t r o n g p h y s i o -
g r a p h i c d i f f e r e n c @ s ape $ o u n d between b o t h a t o l l s . M o s t o b v i o u s i s t h e
p t e x mangrove and l a g o o n s y s t e m t h a t d o m i n a t e s t h e s u r f a c e
a r e a o f t h e T u r n . 4 4 ~ I s l a c d s : u p t o 25X o f i t s t o t a l s u r a a c e i s c o v e r e d
b y mangpoves PStoddar'e, 1962.1, w o o r e a s on C R i n c h e r l - a Atall t h e emerged
inclwdang t n e c a y s , amaunt t o o n l y $ 2 oC i t s t o t a l a r e a , The
absence 0 4 p . ~ t r ! - ~, - q e - f % I P lt-t+ ragoina.1 a r e a 0: T u r n ~ F i e J s l a n
C S t o d d a r t , l r d 2 1 d i s c w r P s a d i i $ e r ence $,er t h C h ~ n c R u r r oA t o l l ,

Shal low spur i,r:d g t GGUC s y ; ? e m a!-e? w e 1 l d e u e l o p e d on G l o v e r s Reef

(James and f i ~ ~ s ~ u 197Y.j r g . a;$d z i s o p r o b a b l y on ~ ~ g h t k o u sRee e f
( S t o d d a r t , i 7 ~ 2 , S i n ! t;". ;:o t h o s e f o u n d 53 G h i n c h s r r s j A t 0 1 1 , The
s h a l l o w syQr s l i d groove s y s t e m CI+ Ch I n c h o r r ~A t o f i r e s e n b ? e s those
d e s c r i b e d b y James e t a1 ,, ( ! 9 9 L Z , a s s h a l l w spur and g r o o v e s on t h e
B e l i z e b a r r i e r r e e f and G l o v e r s r e e f ; and a l s o t o a c e r t a i n e x t e n t t h e
h i g h r e 1 i e 4 s p u r and g r o v e s y s t e m on C a r r i e Bow Cay CRutmler a n d
M a c i n t y r e , 1 9 8 2 b ~ ,a l s o on t h e B e l i z e b a r r i e r r e e f . Kt seems, h o w e v e r ,
t h a t t h e c o m p l e x i t y a n d v a r i a b i l i t y 04 C h i n c h o r r o ' s s p u r and g r o o v e ,
and r i d g e systerrrs h a s rto p a r a l l e l i n t h e B e l i z e a n r e e - f c o m p l e x .

The Bore r e e f b e r o n d Ch@ s p u r a n d g r o o u e a r e a o f t h e w i n d w a r d s i d e o f

C h i n c h o r r o 3ts14 i b+er s &;st i c a l l y -from t h e one d e s c r i bed f o r G l o v e r s
r e e d and ? h a b a ~ r e r r c e $ 6 4 P e t i z g (James and G i n s b u r g , 1879; R u t z l e r
and M a c i n t y r e , % 3 8 2 b > , I n t h e B e l i z e a n r e e f s c o r a l growth i s p r o l i Q i c a t
t h e base u$ t h e sps;r artd g r o o v e s y s t e m and khc bottsm o f t h e f o r e r e e B
s t e e p e n s g r a d u a i ir b t ~ ; r a p i d l y t o an almost v e r t i c a l w a l l a t -50 t o
-Born. Whereas on C h l n r h o r r o t u l l t h e r e i s an e x t e n s e g e n t l y s l o p i n g
p l a t 4 o r m d e s c e n d i n g a t no more than 8 d e g r e e s f r a m t h e base 09 t h e s p u r
a n d g r o o v e s y s t e m t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y -40m, where a s m a l l i n c r e a s e on t h e
s t e e p n e s s 04 the b o t t o m was a p p r e c i a t e d . A v e r t i c a l o r n e a r v e r t i c a l
w a l l seems t o @ x i s t b e y o n d -60m ( F i g . 2 ) . T h i s f o r e r e e f p l a t f o r m i s
s i m i l a r t o t h e one f o u n d a l o n g t h e e a s t e r n m a r g i n 04 t h e Y u c a t a n P e n i n -
s u l a , where t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f c o r a l r e e f s i s l a r g e l y r e l a t e d t o t h e
p r e s e n c e o-f t h e g e n t l y d i p p i n g - f o r e r e p 9 p l a t f o r m ( J o r d a n , 1980; J o r d a n
e t a l . , 1981).

C h i n c h o r r o ' s s o u t h t o n o r t h d e p t h g r a d i e n t seems t o be t h e r e s u l t o f
some s o r t 04 d i f f e r e n t i a l a c c r e t i o n and/or a c c u m u l a t i o n o f c a l c a r e o u s
m a t e r i a l , g i v i n g p l a c e t o an a p p a r e n t l y t i l t e d a t o l l ' s p l a t f o r m . T h i s
a p p a r e n t t i l t i n g , i s e v i d e n t on b o t h t h e w i n d w a r d and l e e w a r d m a r g i n s
od t h e a t o l l . However, t h e deep w a t e r tongue on t h e l a g o o n zone, t h a t
r u n s s o u t h t o n o r t h , may i n d i c a t e n o t i l t i n g o f t h e P l e i s t o c e n e base-
m e n t . T i l t i n g o f t h e P l e i s t o c e n e basement h a s been documented f o r t h e
B e l i z e B a r r i e r Reef ( P u r d y , 1974; P u r d y e t a l , 1 9 7 5 ) .
L i g h t h o u s e R e r f i n Be1 ime a l s o shows a d e p t h g r a d i e n t , a1 t h o u g h f r o m
w e s t t o e a s t , w h i c h c a n a c t u a l l y be r e i a t e d t o two d i f f e r e n t b o t t o m
l e v e l s , extending from t h e middle s e c t i o n o f the a t o l l (Stoddart,
1 9 6 2 ) . P a t c h r e e f s a r e r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e deeper a r e a s i n b o t h a t 0 1 1 s .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e d e s c r i p t i o n 04 G l o v e r s p a t c h r e e f s b y Wal l a c e and
Schaf ersman ( I F 7 7 > , C h i n c h o r r o p a t c h r e e f s a r e s i m i l a r i n t e r m s o f
show i n g a z o n a t i o n i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e w i n d w a r d and l e e w a r d s i d e s , a s
w e l l a s d i f f e r e n t brcita assernSlage.3, p s s b a . b l y a l s o r e l a t e d t o t h e
d e g r e e o f e x p o s u r e 40 w a v e a c t I o n . Some d i f f e r e n c e s may be s i m p l y
r e l a t e d t c p a t c h s i r u . The p p e s e n c e of en s x t ~ n s l u ep e e f d l a t between
t h e r e e f c r e s t and t h e l a g o o n crn t h e w i n c h a r d s i d e I S a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
common t o t h e B e 1 i zean zed Chi n c h s r r c a t o l l s . T h e a b r u p t t r a n s i t i o n o f
t h e r e a r r e e 4 4 1 a t Za t h e lagunri f l o o r i s a l s a a. common c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .

The g r a d u a l change i n the g e n e r a l m o r p h o l o g y a n d r e e f s t r u c t u r e s a l o n g

t h e l o n g e s t a x i s 08 C h i n c h o r r e A t o l l i s p r o b a b l y i t s m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , and seems t o be r e l a t e d t o t h e o u e r a l l d e p t h g r a d i e n t
a l o n g t h i s a x i s . The e f - f e c t o f t h i s g r a d u a l , b u t a t t h e same t i m e e x -
t e n s i v e change, s t r o n g l y s u g g e s t t h a t v a r i a b i l i t y i n t h e r e e d s t r u c -
t u r e s o f t h e a t o l l a r e r e l a t e d t o t h e m o r p h o l o g y imposed by t h e u n d e r -
l y i n g s u b s t r a t e and t h e e x p o s u r e t o wave a c t i o n , on a d e p t h g r a d i e n t .
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The a u t h o r s e x p r e s s t h e i r g r a t i t u d e t o D r . R o b e r t N, G i n s b u r g whose
comments and c r i t i c i s m 0-f t h e m a n u s c r i p t were m o s t a d e q u a t e , W P a 1 5 0
e x t e n d o u r r e c o g n i t i o n t o D r s , I a n G. M a c i n t r r e and P a t r i c i a B r i o n c s
f o r r e v i e w i n g t h e m a n u s c r i p t . Thanks a r e g i v e n t o B s c s r Marenc, Hartirr
M e r i n o and C a r l o s C a r c i a B O P d i v i n g a s s i s t a n c e a n d t o t h e c r 0s: i h e
v e s s e l "Wadael M e l g a r t J d u r i n g t h e 6979 c r u i s e t o O h i n c h a r ~ o ,a s :; rj + F.. ,:
- i i i

crew o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y oP M e x i c o r e s e a r c h vessel B/O " J u 5 2 o S i e p r a "

d u r i ng t h e 1983 and 6984 c y u i s e s . CTNfJEST'Atl-Mep i d a k i fld'j y i n:i i "4 +' F ~- 4 ~

a u t h o r s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e 1984 c r u i s e , T h i s work w a s p a v : : i a ! I y
suppar t e d $ y gr an t e P T / Q Y . . / N A h / 7 ~ - U ~ 4 & and PCCgB&$--02i 928 i-z j v 3 8 :Q the , ..
:

-first a u t h o r b y t h e c o n s e j o Nac i a n a l cipe Ci en!: i a *

-fecr;gic5;i .
a <;:'~,~~AC~.s~T7'

CHAVEZ, E . A . , and E . HIDALGO, 1864. S p a t i a l S t r u c t u r e 04 B c o t 5 i c

Communities od Banco C h i n c h u r r o , Mexico. I n : Advances i n R e e i
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DARWIN, C.R., 1842. The S t r u c t u r e and D i s t r i b u t i o n o f C o r a l R e e Q s .

Smith E l d e r 8 Co. ( L o n d o n > . 214p.

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I n v e r t e b r a t e P a l e o n t o l o g y . P a r t E : E 2 % - E l % 2 . Geol Soc. A m e r i c a
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t h e S o u t h e r n B e l i z e C o n t i n e n t a l M a r g i n and A d j a c e n t B a s i n s . I n :
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B a r r i e r and A t o l l R e e f s . S p e c i a l P u b l . 3 : 15-24, I n t . Assoc. o f
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A t 0 1 1.
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KINZIE, R.A., 1973. The Z o n a t i o n o f West I n d i a n G o r g o n i a n s . B u l l . Mar.

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KJERFVE, B , K. RUTZLEW, and G.H. KIERSPE, 1982. T i d e s a t C a r r i e Bow

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 kY
MEXICO

CARIBBEA
SEA

FIGURE 1.- L o c a t i o n and index map o f C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l . Drawing of t h e

A t o l l was based on a B r i t i s h survey i n 1839, w i t h m i n o r m o d i f i c a t i o n s
by t h e a u t h o r s . D o t t e d 1 i n e s mark bathymetr i c t r a n s e c t s ( F i g u r e 9 ) .
FIGURE 2.- Depth p r o f i l e s o f the f o r e reeB zone on the s o u t h , c e n t r a l
and n o r t h s e c t i o n s o f Chinchorro A t o l l , both i n l e e and windward s i d e s
(see F i g . 1 f o r s p a t i a l r e f e r e n c e ) . N o t i c e t h a t v e r t i c a l s c a l e i s
exaggerated more than 10 t i m e s .
F IGURE e e f C r e s t a t the s o u t h e r n s e c t i o n o+ t h e A t o l l . Th
channel c r o s s e s from t h e r e a r reeB zone towards t h e B i r s t s e t c spurs
on the f o r e r e e f zone. Bottom depth i s a p r o x i m a t e l r I . % .
 r and groove systems, and r i d g e systems ( s e e P
1 . Plan v i e w t h e l a y o u t and spatia
f Qeatures, o ent l o c a l i t i e s , both alon
and w i n c h a r d rnargi n s SGS= spur and groove srst@
r e e f c r e s t zone; R E u r s ; Rg= r i d g e s on the ou
r e e f r o n e ; Rrn= r m p a r p= c o r a l p a t c h ,
FIGURE 5 . - Spurs o f
F i g u r e 3 ) . Depth i s rn t o t h e h o t
s p u r s i s r a t h e r i r r e u l a r . The h y
d m i n a t e s t h e c o r a l l i n e 4auna. T h e s i d e s o
p i t t e d , and t h e r e i s no sand a t the channe
tall.
FIGURE 6 . - Spurs o f the second s e t . Groove between two spurs f i l l e d
w i t h sand. The s i d e s of the spurs a r e almost v e r t i c a l and c o r a l cover
i s v e r y h i g h , although masked by the f r o n d s o f the abundant gorgonians
(Goraonia f l a b e l l u r n ) . Depth a t the bottom i s 9m..
FIGURE 7.- Spurs oB the cond s e t . Seaward end 04 t h s p u r , observe
t h e abrupt end t h a t i s c on i n most spurs 04 the sec nd and t h i r d
s e t s . Coral cover i s dominated by A s a r i c i a a a a r i c i t e s B . c a r i n a t a
t h i c k e t s . Depth a t the base i s 12m. D i v e r i s 5' 6 " t a l l .
FIGURE 8 .- West t o e a s t b a t h y m e t r i c p r o f i l e s on t h e s o u t h , c e n t r a l
and n o r t h lagoon a r e a s 04 Chinchorro A t o l l . Trawsect l o c a t i o n i s s h w n
i n F i g u r e 1. Observe t h a t t h e l a g o o n b o t t o m b e c m e s s h a l l o w e r t w a r d s
the north.
FIGURE 9 . - Lagoon r e e f s t r u c t u r e s . Transverse p r o f i l e o f t h e main
t y p e s of c o r a l r e e f f o r m a t i o n s i n s i d e t h e a t 0 1 1's lagoon. Wreck Reef
r e p r e s e n t s r i m banks. Low l y i n g , r e f e r s t o s t r u c t u r e s f o u n d on the
s o u t h e r n end o f t h e lagoon. LP-1 ( e l o n g a t e d ) , r e f e r s t o t h e e l o n g a t e d
r e e f s i n s i d e t h e lagoon. CSP= c e n t r a l s e c t i o n p a t c h r e e f .
Figure 10.- L a r g e vase sponge ( X e s t o s p o n p i a m u t a ) a t -30m on t h e
southern leeward margin o f the a t o l l . D i v e r i s 5' 8" i n h e i g h t .
F i g u r e 11. P a t c h s e e f s an he l e e o-f Ch i n c h o r r o APol l a Qep
o b s e r v e t h e abundance o g o r g o n i ans a n d a1 gae c s l on i r i
p a t c h e s a t t h e edge o f Re a t 0 1 1 ' s p l a t f o r m .
TABLE 1.- Occurrence o f s c l e r a c t i n i a n c o r a l s a t d i f i e r e n t l o c a l i t i e s
oT C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l . H y d r o c o r a l s o i t h e genus M i l l e p o r e a r e i n c l u d e d
i n C h i s l i s t , because o f t h e i r g r o w t h f o r m and f u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p
t o t h e r e e f s t r u c t u r e . IFR= i n n e r f o r e r e e f ; OF& o u t e r f o r e r e e f ; CZ=
r e e f c r e s t zone; RR= r e a r r e e f zone; Pf?= p a t c h r e e + s ; FR= f o r e r e e f
zone ; R E k r i m b a n k s .

%. -quzrrosa
S ~ e p h m n i rnichelinii
a
rJjdracis &cactis
ki- &&ilis
Pcrop-ra paLmta
B. c e n i c o n i s
2.- p ~ o i i f e r a
Lcjxlcia a g a - i e i t e s f . a g a i c i t e s
A. a g a r i c i t e s f. purpusrea
k. a g x i c i t e s f. caisimta
A. a g a r i c i t e s f. h d l i s
A. acjaricites f. danai
A. fragilis
A. t e n u i f o l i a
A. lamircki
Leptoseris c u c u l l a t a
Siderastrea siderea
S. radians
Porites astreoides
P. p r i t e s
P , fusrcata
P. d i v a r i c a t a
Fevia fraqum
diploria c l i w s a
D. s t r i g o s a
D. labyrinthiformis
l n i c i m zrmlata
Colpophyilia natans

Solenastrea bourmni
Wandrina m a n d r i t e s
Dichocoenia s t o k e s i
D. stellaris
Dendrcgyra cylindrus
Mussa angulosa
Scolymia lacera
S. cubensis
Isophyllia s i n w s a
Isophyllastrea r i g i d a
Mycetophyllia lamarckiana
M. a l i c i a e
M. danaana
M. ferox
Eusmilia f a s t i g i a t a
TABLE 2 . - O c c u r r e n c e o f g o r g o n i a n s p e c i e s on d i f f e r e n t l o c a l i t i e s o f
C h i n c h o r r o A t o l l . IFR= i n n e r f o r e r e e f ; OFR= o u t e r f o r e r e e f ; CZ= r e e f
c r e s t z o n e ; RR= r e a r r e e f z o n e ; PR= p a t c h r e e d s ; FR= f o r e r e e f z o n e ;
RB= r i m b a n k s .

Elrytkropodium car i b a m m
Iciligorg Fa s c l r m n i
Brizreiur: asbestburn
Zorgoriiz fl&zUam
,-. m i ~ e
o e

u. v e n t d i m
P

Lophqorgia sp.
Pterogorgia anceps
P. citcina
P . guadalupensis
Pseudopterogorgia acerosa
P. m r i c a m
P. rigida
.
P kallos
Pseudopterogorgia sp .
Eunicea l a c i n i a t a
.
E calyculata
E . laxispica
E. m s a
E . tourneforti
Eunicea sp. 1
Eunicea sp. 2
m i c e a atlantica
M. elongata
M. muricata
M. pinnata
W i c e o p s i s f lavida
Plexaura f lexuosa
P. hommalla
Plexaurella dichotoma
P. grisea
P. nutans
Plexaurella sp. 1
Plexaurella sp. 2
Pseudoplexaura porosa
.
P f lagellosa
E l l i s e l l a barbadensis
E. elongata
Nicella schmitti