Abstract
Abstract South Maria Ridge (34°S) is a 1500 km2 submarine ridge and bank system, less than 500 m deep, slowly accumulating photic and sub‐photic, clean skeletal carbonate gravels and sands having over 80%, and generally over 95%, CaCO3, mainly calcite. Contributing factors include the negligible supply of terrigenous sediment, the availability of stable rocky substrates for colonisation by epibenthos, and the prominent upwelling of nutrient‐rich waters, stimulating organic growth. Sediments comprise fragmental remains of diverse bryozoan colonies (10–74%), with lesser amounts of mainly infaunal bivalves (2–20%), gastropods (2–10%), ahermatypic corals (0–18%), calcareous red algae (1–16%), and benthic foraminifers (3–15%), and small contributions from serpulids, barnacles, echinoids, brachiopods, sponges, and pteropods. Major species are identified. The distribution of skeletal types is controlled initially by substrate, bathymetry, and energy level, and subsequently by topographically influenced tidal flo...
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