USF oceanographic geologists Brett Jarrett and Lisa Merman examine a rock sample taken from 170' on Pulley's Ridge.
Scientists believe the area is a paleoshoreline.
There, it was discovered that benthic communities differ greatly from those previously studied at the southern portion of Pulley Ridge. Water clarity was fair, and sediments were composed primarily of quartz. Notably, with a decrease in biological cover, the nature of the underlying Pulley Ridge rock edifice was better revealed. The sediments, rock, and biological communities there were similar to those described above. Several different species of algae were collected for classification.