Abstract
AN extensive Acropora palamata (Lamarck) barrier reef flourished off the south-east coast of Florida in an area considerably north of present-day reef development during the early Holocene transgression. Pipeline construction across the continental shelf 40km north of Miami (26°15′15″N, 80°03′52″W) has disclosed this relict shelf-edge reef that is at least 95 km long. Radiocarbon dates indicate that reef growth terminated ∼7,000 yr ago, which coincides with the time of extensive flooding of the continental shelf. This relict barrier reef forms a low (10-m relief) ridge—the crest of which occurs at depths of 15–30 m—extending along the shelf break from Palm Beach southwards to Miami1,2. Present-day fauna on the surface of the ridge include alcyonarians, sponges and scattered coral heads2,3. The study reported here indicates that the early Holocene provided favourable conditions for reef development in the western Atlantic.
Published Version
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