The Nearshore-Sandy Substrate Biotope

Occurs extensively on the sandy flats of the central lagoon along the north shore of the island and in some of the shallow flats of the inshore waters. Beds of sea grasses (Thalassia and Syringodium) and algae (Halimeda, Penicillus, and Padina), animals such as echinoids (Lytechinus), bivalve molluscs (Codakia, Gouldia), and a few solitary coral colonies (Isophyllia, Porites, Siderastrea) are scattered throughout this biotope.

The nearshore-sandy and muddy substrates resemble the basin center biotope in their sediment composition, but with a significant proportion of altered material derived from land erosion. Inshore and in the protected lagoon waters, Halimeda and infaunal bivalves are the major sediment contributors, and from there the graduation outwards from the exposed reef environment leads to a predominance of Homotrema and coral fragments.

Shelley Bay on the northern shore of Bermuda is an example of a Nearshore-sandy substrate.