Chad,

That's useful information. I'm not entirely sure how the reef at Tobacco Caye is classified but the entire north-south reef is barrier reef on which Tobacco Caye sits. I noticed that there's a lot of coralline algae in the splash zone where I found the micros, some of it encrusting the shells of course.

I think I noted previously that the dead, exposed reef was created by the surge of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, according to the lodge manager. Some mangroves have begun to take root on the leeward side of the exposed reef. That leeward side is quite shallow, with Thallasia beds through much of the area. The officials didn't seem concerned about the shallows, only about the exposed portion.

David

-----Original Message-----
>From: Chad Allen Ferguson <[log in to unmask]>

>
>David,
>I guess it depends on what part of the "dead reef" you were walking on and whether the reef was a bank barrier or a fringing type.  If it was really shallow, near the crest of a fringing reef, it could have been cyanobacterial mats they were protecting.  Those really are fragile.  On a bank/barrier, it could have been something to do with a corraline algae, which often binds and cements the sediment at the top of the reef.
>
>You are probably better off snorkling if its deep enough in such settings as I've experienced similar restrictions doing work in protected seagrass beds.
>
>CF


"When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal." - Richard Milhous Nixon

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