The Gran Banco de Buena Esperanza (GBBE) coral reef system in Golfo de Guacanayabo in southeastern Cuba consists of a reticular structure comprising a maze of steep to vertical ridges with planar tops rising 20–25 m from the bay floor. The planar tops of the ridges are densely populated by small colonies of sediment-resistant Scleractinia with fragile, branching colony growth forms. The initiation of a reticulate reef system in the absence of karst or other antecedent hard substrates is unprecedented. In this note, we describe the unique geological setting, geomorphology and scleractinian diversity of the GBBE and present an explanation for its development. We suggest that convection-driven self-organization of coral skeletal fragments may be responsible for the reticulate pattern observed as 75 m of reef limestone accreted during Holocene time. Finally, we briefly discuss the evolutionary benefits of coral hybridization and the potential for rapid coral reef growth in turbid, muddy environments.

中文翻译：

---

古巴东南部Golfo de Guacanayabo的网状珊瑚礁系统

位于古巴东南部 Golfo de Guacanayabo 的 Gran Banco de Buena Esperanza (GBBE) 珊瑚礁系统由一个网状结构组成，包括从陡峭到垂直的山脊迷宫，平面顶部从湾底上升 20-25 m。山脊的平面顶部密密麻麻地生长着具有脆弱、分枝的菌落生长形式的抗沉积物石蜡菌的小菌落。在没有岩溶或其他先行硬质基质的情况下，网状礁系统的形成是前所未有的。在本说明中，我们描述了 GBBE 独特的地质环境、地貌和巩膜多样性，并对其发展进行了解释。我们认为，珊瑚骨骼碎片的对流驱动的自组织可能是在全新世期间观察到的 75 m 珊瑚礁石灰岩增生的网状图案的原因。