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2026
Tebbett, Sterling B.; Kelley, Fiona E.; Ling, Scott D.; McAndrews, Ryan S.; Ocalvey, Micaiah N.; Ramos, Samuel E. Suleimán; Chase, Tory J.
Habitat zonation of algal turf sediments and herbivores on two Caribbean coral reefs with comparison to the Great Barrier Reef Journal Article
In: Coral Reefs , pp. 1-13, 2026.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem function, Habitat gradient, Herbivorous fishes, Long sediment-laden algal turfs, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin
@article{Tebbett2026,
title = {Habitat zonation of algal turf sediments and herbivores on two Caribbean coral reefs with comparison to the Great Barrier Reef},
author = {Sterling B. Tebbett and Fiona E. Kelley and Scott D. Ling and Ryan S. McAndrews and Micaiah N. Ocalvey and Samuel E. Suleimán Ramos and Tory J. Chase},
url = {https://sampr.org/habitat-zonation-of-algal-turf-sediments-and-herbivores-on-two-caribbean-coral-reefs-with-comparison-to-the-great-barrier-reef/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-026-02901-3
},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-026-02901-3},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-06-04},
urldate = {2026-06-04},
journal = {Coral Reefs },
pages = {1-13},
abstract = {Algal turfs represent the dominant benthic cover on most coral reefs globally, with the sediments they trap having a marked effect on reef functioning. Yet our quantitative understanding of these sediments remains poorly resolved for most regions. Despite habitat zonation representing one of the strongest ecological gradients on coral reefs, the distribution of turf-associated sediments across this gradient is unresolved beyond some sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where reef crests are typified by the lowest sediment loads, shortest turf lengths, and highest herbivorous fish biomass. Here, we quantified the cross-habitat (flat, crest, and slope) distribution of turf length, sediment load, and key herbivores on two Caribbean reefs off Puerto Rico. Cross-habitat distribution of sediments was congruent with previous patterns on the GBR; sediment loads were lowest on the crest and highest on the flat, with a 1.7-fold difference between these habitats. Biomass of parrotfishes and surgeonfishes was inversely correlated with turf-bound sediments across habitats, peaking on the crest. Turf length was shortest on the crest at one reef, however, at the second reef, there was no difference in turf length across habitats, with shorter-than-expected turfs on the flat. The sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, was relatively abundant on the reef flat at this second reef, suggesting that this species may play a role in curtailing long sediment-laden algal turf development. This research extends the cross-habitat understanding of turf-associated sediments to the Caribbean, and suggests the role of urchins in these dynamics warrants specific investigation.},
keywords = {Ecosystem function, Habitat gradient, Herbivorous fishes, Long sediment-laden algal turfs, Puerto Rico, Sea urchin},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Algal turfs represent the dominant benthic cover on most coral reefs globally, with the sediments they trap having a marked effect on reef functioning. Yet our quantitative understanding of these sediments remains poorly resolved for most regions. Despite habitat zonation representing one of the strongest ecological gradients on coral reefs, the distribution of turf-associated sediments across this gradient is unresolved beyond some sites on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR), where reef crests are typified by the lowest sediment loads, shortest turf lengths, and highest herbivorous fish biomass. Here, we quantified the cross-habitat (flat, crest, and slope) distribution of turf length, sediment load, and key herbivores on two Caribbean reefs off Puerto Rico. Cross-habitat distribution of sediments was congruent with previous patterns on the GBR; sediment loads were lowest on the crest and highest on the flat, with a 1.7-fold difference between these habitats. Biomass of parrotfishes and surgeonfishes was inversely correlated with turf-bound sediments across habitats, peaking on the crest. Turf length was shortest on the crest at one reef, however, at the second reef, there was no difference in turf length across habitats, with shorter-than-expected turfs on the flat. The sea urchin, Diadema antillarum, was relatively abundant on the reef flat at this second reef, suggesting that this species may play a role in curtailing long sediment-laden algal turf development. This research extends the cross-habitat understanding of turf-associated sediments to the Caribbean, and suggests the role of urchins in these dynamics warrants specific investigation.
