The coral fauna of Vitigliano: qualitative and quantitative analysis in a back reef environment (Castro Limestone, Late Oligocene, Salento Peninsula, Southern Italy)

Abstract

The Castro Limestone, Middle Chattian in age, consists of various reef facies and has been described as a fringing reef complex. The reef facies outcropping near Vitigliano and the associated coral fauna, which have been previously interpreted to be part of a back-reef subenvironment, are here defined both qualitatively and quantitatively. Three main quantitative methods have been used for the characterization of the back reef facies: 1) counts of coral colonies on a subvertical measured surface, 2) line-transects, 3) quadrats. The results obtained from the various quantitative methods are compared and discussed. Moreover the coral density has been quantified from both linear and areal measurements and has been evaluated to be around 20%. However, corals occur as scattered colonies and do not form a true framework.