No abstract

jetties in south Texas to determine distribution and community composition of gorgonian species present. In excess of 600 Leptogorgia colonies were recorded consisting of Leptogorgia hebes, Leptogorgia setacea, and Leptogorgia virgulata. At Aransas Pass, L. virgulata was dominant, followed by L. setacea, and L. hebes. Overall density at the Aransas Pass north jetty was 0.0239 colonies m 22 , 0.0286 colonies m 22 at the Aransas Pass south jetty, and 0.0026 colonies m 22 at the Brazos-Santiago Pass north jetty. During surveys, animals observed in association with Leptogorgia colonies included juvenile fish, Simnialena uniplacata, Pteria colymbus, Neopontonides beaufortensis, Cyphoma gibbosum, and Conopea galeata. Morphological adaptations and tolerance to variances in water conditions allow Leptogorgia to be successful in jetty environments, providing important habitat for many organisms.