*3.1. Zoantharian Distribution*

The lower intertidal zone measured an area of 12 km<sup>2</sup> at Salybia Bay (SB), which extends to Pequelle Bay (PB), and 7 km2 at Grande L'Anse (GA/TB). SB showed benthic hard coral (Scleractinia) cover at 47.3% ± 4.5 (Mean% ± SE) and zoantharian cover at 32.4% ± 5.1 (Figure 1A), and specifically dominant concerning *Porites porites* (Pallas 1766) 47.2% ± 4.6, and zoantharians (*Palythoa* and *Zoanthus* spp. making up 31.4% ± 5.0 (Figure 1B). PB, which extends towards the eastern end of SB was dominated by zoantharians (51.3% ± 6.5, Figure 1C), with *Zoanthus* sp. and *Palythoa* sp. benthic cover as 34.1% ± 4.44 and 17.3% ± 8.8, respectively (Figure 1D). TB had a high zoantharian cover of 72.2% ± 6.0 (Figure 1E), with *Palythoa* sp. representing most of the cover at 62.6% ± 9.2, and *Zoanthus* sp. covering 8.4% ± 3.6 benthic cover (Figure 1F). Of the three sites in this study, benthic coverages were dominated by *Po. porites* and *Pa. caribaeorum*. However, there seemed to be mixed cover of *Po. porites* (24.0% ± 3.4), *Zoanthus* sp. (34.1% ± 4.1), and *Pa. caribaeorum* (17.3% ± 8.8) at PB.

Other reef benthic components included coral rubble, sand, stone, rock, sea anemones, sea urchins, fireworms, and gorgonians. Cnidaria diversity at each site also showed the presence of *Siderastrea radians* (Pallas, 1766), various octocorals, *Millipora alcicornis* Linnaeus, 1758, *Stichodactyla helianthus* (Ellis, 1768) and *Epicystis crucifer* (Le Sueur, 1817), *Porites astreoides* Lamarck, 1816, and *Diploria clivosa* (Ellis and Solander, 1786). Simpson's Index of Diversity (1–D) was 0.57 (SB), 0.65 (PB), and 0.50 (TB) showing PB with the most cnidaria diversity. All three sites showed mean zoantharian cover between 37–72%, which highlighted a zone that was extensively covered by brown mats (*P. caribaeorum*), interspersed with green covered rocks (*Zoanthus* spp.) making this feature a common characteristic at all sites. In this zone, space for algae growth is almost negligible as seen by the low cover, <10% at all sites.

**Figure 1.** Mean benthic coverage (Mean% ± SD) at three sites in the lower intertidal zones illustrating reef-building "corals", zoantharians, algae represent green algae, and "Other" includes all other invertebrates, such as sea urchins, sea cucumbers (**A**,**C**,**E**), and mean benthic cover (Mean% ± SD) of *Porites*, *Palythoa*, and *Zoanthus* spp. (**B**,**D**,**E**); (**A**,**B**) Salybia Bay (**C**,**D**) Pequelle Bay (**E**,**F**) Grande L'Anse Bay.
