The deepest photosynthetic macroscopic organisms in the mesophotic reefs of Cuba are crustose coralline algae (CCA). CCA belong to the phylum Rhodophyta (red algae) and look like patches of pink 'paint' on the reef. To make species identifications, we need to collect them for microscopic and molecular analyses.
Crustose Coralline Algae
Image courtesy of Cuba’s Twilight Zone Reefs and Their Regional Connectivity. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).

The deepest photosynthetic macroscopic organisms in the mesophotic reefs of Cuba are crustose coralline algae (CCA). CCA belong to the phylum Rhodophyta (red algae) and look like patches of pink "paint" on the reef. To make species identifications, we need to collect them for microscopic and molecular analyses.

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