Ecology of Coral Reefs in the US Virgin Islands

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2008

Keywords

Coral Reef, Reef Fish, Coral Cover, Patch Reef, Coral Reef Fish

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6847-8_8

Abstract

The US Virgin Islands (USVI ) in the northeastern Caribbean, consist of St. Croix (207 km2), St. Thomas (83 km2), St. John (52 km2) and numerous smaller islands (Dammann and Nellis 1992). They are part of the Lesser Antilles and Leeward Islands on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean plate (Fig. 8.1). An extensive platform underlies St. Thomas and St. John and connects these islands to Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands. This platform extends about 32 km north of the islands and then slopes gradually to depths of over 300 m and eventually descends into the 8,000 m deep Puerto Rican Trench. South of the islands, the platform extends about 13 km and then abruptly drops off to over 4,000 m. St. Croix, about 60 km to the south, is on a separate platform which is much shallower than the northern Virgin Islands’ platform and extends less than 5 km from shore except on the east end of the island. The deepest part of the Virgin Islands Trough that separates St. Thomas and St. John from St. Croix is 4,200 m.

Comments

Complete list of authors: Richard S. Nemeth, James P. Beets, Alan M. Friedlander, Tyler B. Smith, Rafe Boulon, Christopher F. G. Jeffrey, Charles Menza, Chris Caldow, Nasseer Idrisi, Barbara Kojis, Mark E. Monaco, Anthony Spitzack, Elizabeth H. Gladfelter, Zandy Hillis-Starr, Ian Lundgren, William Bane Schill, Ilsa B. Kuffner, Laurie L. Richardson, Barry E. Devine, Joshua D. Voss

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Ecology of Coral Reefs in the US Virgin Islands, in B. M. Riegl & R. E. Dodge (Eds.), Coral Reefs of the USA, Springer, p. 303-373

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