Shallow-water sclerosponges on Jamaican reefs and a criterion for recognition of hurricane deposits

Abstract

We report here that excavation into the Acropora palmata rubble on the reef crest at 4 m water depth on Discovery Bay reefs, Jamaica, revealed the presence of numerous sclerosponges (Ceratoporella nicholsoni) living attached directly to the coral branches 1–2 m below the rubble surface. The coral branches excavated were deposited during a storm event (in August 1980) and consequently lack the zoned crusts showing a succession from photophilic (light-loving) to sciaphilic (shade-loving) secondary frame-builders which normally develop during slow steady incremental coral branch accumulation. Thus the nature and sequence of encrustations on coral rubble can indicate the speed of its accumulation.