The geomorphic evolution of slopes and sediment chutes on forereefs

Frequent slope failures of the forereef dropoff occur in living coral reefs on the island of Bonaire in the southern Caribbean. Topographic profiles of ten sites were taken perpendicular to shore, followed by an estimation of coral ages (M. annularis) along the topographic profiles. The coral ages were estimated from published rates of growth and sizes of the sampled corals. Comparisons of coral age and adjacent slope angle indicated that the steeper slopes are older and that mass failure of the slope reduces the steepness of the forereef front and destroys the coral community along the disturbed slope. Slopes grow until reaching a critical steepness, after which underwater sliding of the over-steepened forereef front results. In observed slides, the mechanical weakness in the reef structure that facilitates a slide failure was the result of a weak mud and coral rubble layer deposited 2 m below the living coral cover. The remaining slide scarp evolves into a sediment chute that conveys the resulting flow of biogenic sands from the shallow forereef terrace down the forereef edge. Because of the constant flow of sand down these channels, no corals can recolonize the sediment chutes and the chutes become stable topographic features. In addition, these indentations in the forereef front also serve as channels for the vertical density mixing of water of varying salinities and temperatures.