Depth zonation and growth form of crustose coralline algae: Flower Garden Banks, northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Abstract

Although the crests are capped by a living coral reef with 18 species of hermatypic corals (15-50 m depths), crustose coralline algae are the dominant sediment contributors and framework builders below 50 m. Depth zones spanning 20-200 m have been established on the banks and slopes by using eleven genera of corallines. -from Authors