Settlement experiments were deployed over a range of 10-
250m off Lee Stocking Island, the Bahamas during two time intervals
(Sept. 94 - Jan. 95; Jan. 95 - Sept. 95). The experiments enabled the analysis
of the effects of five treatments which differed in orientation, depth
and degree of exposure. During both time periods recruitment declined sharply
with increasing depth. Peak recruitment for most taxa occurred between
20-50m. Sites located above 50m exhibited high cover on exposed surfaces
and were dominated by filamentous and macroalgae, while deeper sites were
characterized by serpulid and spirorbid polychaetes. Shallow sites yielded
the greatest disparities between exposed and cryptic settlement surfaces.
Filamentous and, to a lesser degree, macroalgae dominated the exposed surfaces.
Tunicates, bryozoans, sponges and scleractinians occupied the cryptic surfaces.
Greater recruitment occurred on horizontal cryptic than on vertical cryptic
surfaces. For depths less than 100m, fish grazing may be a significant
ecological determinant as grazing scars were observed on exposed vertical
surfaces.