Indian ocean reefs

Abstract

Indian Ocean reefs include numerous fringing reefs and atolls but only one true barrier reef. Reefs of Toliara (Madagascar), Mayotte, and the Maldive archipelago are described. These reefs all show zonation and all are dominated by corals. Massive and branched forms make up the postglacial reefs, which reach thicknesses of up to 30 m with high accretion-rates of >10 m/kyr. Modern sediment facies are characterized by skeletal grains. Holocene sea levels obtained from reef studies are controversial, and transgressive and transgressive–regressive curves are discussed.