Description:
Estuarine Subtidal Coral Reef. The reef is on the back side of a barrier island. At low tide, the reef is covered by about 1 to 2 feet of water; at low low tide the top platform of the reef is covered by only a few inches of water.
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Conditions: Corals at LaParguera are stable, showing periods of past reef destruction with areas of growth. All staghorn coral has been lost through human deprivation and storms.
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Disturbances: Upper surface of coral platform (highest corals) show some bleaching from a 2007 Caribbean bleaching event. Some broken coral at base of coral ledge with new plate coral are growing on the rubble. Coastal runoff with increasing sediment, nutrient, pollution, and trash loads is having an impact on all LaParguera coral reefs. |
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Comments: This reef is on the back side of a string of small mangrove and sand barrier islands, thus is classified as Estuarine. It is not exposed to direct marine wave action. |
