The windward east coast of Martinique ranges from high, eroding Pleistocene volcanic cliffs in the north, to relatively low, early Tertiary, embayed shores partly capped by Pleistocene limestones, in the southeast. An extensive shallow carbonate shelf is developed off the central~t of this coast. The types of Holocene reefs found on Martinique correspond to the pattern that is characteristic for Lesser Antillean islands? the volcanic northern coast is barren; massive algal ridges have developed on benches cut in the limestones and other early Tertiary rocks of the southeast coast; on the central east coast, where the shelf is well-developed, an extensive and double bank barrier system has formed. Parts of the bank barrier reef system are reaching the mature stage typica! 0f high energy coasts and have algal ridge caps built primarily by crustose corallines.
The bank barrier reefs of Martinique are unusual in that the corals have been replaced on the crests by a carbonate pavement covered with dense, diverse stands of fleshy algae, Sargassum spp. being especially common. The term "fleshy algal pavement" has~pplied to this type of reef. Based on upstream-downstream measurements of dissolved oxygen, a winter productivity level of 33 g O₂/m²/day indicates that these extensive reefs with their dense plant cover may be the most productive in the eastern Caribbean.
Though transitional and less extensive reefs with fleshy algal pavements also occur on Grenada, St. Lucia, southeastern Basse Terre, and Nevis. All of these island shores are locally characterized by high sea water turbidites, presumably resulting from run-off, indicative of eutrophic conditions. However, where algal pavements are well developed