Research Station Carmabi

ID of non coral species: fish, algae and sponges

To identify fish species click the link below

We have compiled a preliminary guide to categorize those communities not covered by classical benthic categories (e.g., macroalgae, corals, sand, sponges etc.). It is preliminary intended to reveal changes on substrates where corals and macroalgae are relative rare. Rather than using corals and macroalgae as indicators of shifts from reef-building to non-reefbuilding species, we believe that shifts from CCA (calcifyers) to turfalgae (non-calcifyers) could be equally (if not more) informative on benthic community dynamics.

The document can be downloaded Substrates of the Caribbean

To identify algal species click the link below

To identify sponge species click the link below
http://www.spongeguide.org