Unusual Formations in the B. R. Chinchorro Bank: Microatolls
Abstract
There are unique reef patches in the Biosphere Reserve Banco Chinchorro
reef lagoon that have an unusual formation. They appear to be miniature
atolls. These formations are at a depth of 2-6 m; however, a few meters
away, presenting flowering microatolls occur while others are strongly
impacted. In this context, to define the causality of this phenomenon,
an analysis of three of these formations was carried out; to try to
relate the structure of the corals that make up these formations to the
factors of the environment. Records in nictemeral cycles, twelve
environmental parameters, and micronutrients. Despite their closeness,
the diversity of these patches is high in two of them and very low in
the third. These results show notable differences that typify each of
them, according to their position on the reef (leeward and windward), in
addition, these patterns relate to the underwater scurry of possible
relict water that drains from the lagoon microsystem of the main island
of the reef, Cayo Centro, towards the microatolls.