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<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;font-size:12pt"><P><SPAN>Coral reef environments have distinct Zones created by differences in depth, morphology, wave and current energy, temperature, and light. At a larger spatial scale, reef environments also differ based on their general geographic location – their Region. A benthic classification type may have distinctly different ecological communities based on the Zone and/or Region in which it occurs. For example, Spur and Groove has different ecological characteristics depending on its location in Lagoon, Reef Crest or Fore Reef Zones. Zone and Region should be considered when evaluating benthic classification in ecological terms.</SPAN></P></DIV> |