Builders and taphonomic processes of Bajocian coral patch reefs in the Moroccan Central High Atlas

Abstract

Bajocian carbonate buildups of the High Atlas of Morocco occur as lenticular patches but rarely as barrier reefs of limited extent. Reef-building organisms are represented mainly by scleractinian corals, sponges, and spongiomorphs, associated with algae and other fauna. The core reef facies is dominated by either massive coral colonies with meandroid-thamnasteroid growth forms thickly branching corals with cerioid-phocoid growth forms. The coral assemblages are relatively diverse and represented by the genera Isastrea, Cosmophyllia, Edwardoseris, Kobymeandrea, Dimorpharaea, and Polystylidium, in addition to other branching forms. Massive and platy coral colonies prevail in the generally moderate diversity to high diversity, but very low diverse communities with branching and solitary corals may also occur in complex patch reef bodies. Corals appear to be most affected by biological and physical destruction. Delicate branching growth forms with fragile colonies were more affected by storm waves or action of currents.