of these were red (34 taxa) or green algae (25 taxa) . Six species of 

 brown algae, 2 blue-green and one flowering plant (Syringodium 

 filiforme ) were also recorded. 



Figure 3 illustrates the amount of biomass at different depths in the 

 Virgin Islands. A wide range of measurements was found at similar 

 depths and no consistent pattern was evident. Thus, the maximtmi 

 (467.6g/.6m2) and minimum (16.9g/.6m2) biomass values recorded on 

 transect 1 were found at the same depth. Similar trends were evident 

 for transect 2. A summarization of algal biomass at various depths 

 in New England is given in Figure 4. It is a compilation of 31 

 separate dives on the New Hampshire coastline. Again, a wide range of 

 biomass readings was found. Even so, there was a peak area of produc- 

 tion in 3 - 9m and a significant reduction towards 12 - 15m. 



GENERAL PATTERNS OF LINEAR DISTRIBUTION 



Very few plants were found in the reef areas near the habitat. In 

 most cases the algae were restricted to cracks and crevices and they 

 were diminutive in size. The following species were recorded after 

 an exhaustive search: Bryopsis pltimosa , Neomeris annulata , Struvea 

 elegans , Udotea conglutinata , Valonia ventricosa , Padina sactaecrucis , 

 Pocockiella variegata , Sphacelaria tribuloides , Jania sp. , and 

 Wurdemannia miniata . 



The perimeter of each reef examined in Great Lameshur Bay (particularly 

 in the vicinity of the habitat) also showed areas in which no vegeta- 

 tion was evident. The barren areas varied in length from 2.4 - 3.7m. 

 Thereafter, a transitional area was evident to about 30m, where 

 sequentially the first plants occurred and there was an increase in 

 both species diversity and biomass. Communities of unattached blue- 

 green-a and brown algae ( Dictyota bartayresii ) were the first plants to 

 appear on the sandy flat areas of the transitional zones. Subsequently, 

 the green algae Udotea conglutinata was evident. Of five areas 

 measured, the barren zone extended between 1.5 to 3.7m from the reefs. 

 In four of the five areas, Dictyota bartayresii was the first species 

 to occur between 1.5 to 3.7m. The second species to occur was blue- 

 green-a, between 3.2 and 6.7m. Udotea conglutinata was the third 

 species to occur, generally between 6,0 and 9,0m. In the fifth area 

 blue-green-a occurred at 3.4m and Dictyota bartayresii was not found. 

 Pocockiella variegata , Digenia simplex , Wurdemannia miniata, Dictyota 

 bartayresii , Valonia ventricosa and Jania sp. were sometimes found as 

 diminutive plants on scattered coral heads. Beyond the transitional 

 areas, more extensive populations of sea grasses (Syringodium 

 filiforme ) and algae were evident. 



LINEAR DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF PLANTS ON QUADRANTS 



Tabulations of species distributions (with respect to distance from the 

 reef) were made for about 70 species near the habitat. Figure 5 



VI-112 



