Study locations and representative benthic images.

<p>A) Geographic location of East and West Flower Garden Banks (northwest Gulf of Mexico) and general location of sampling areas (black dots); B) Geographic locations of U.S. Virgin Islands sites (BP: Black Point, CR: Coculus Rock, CS: College Shoal, FC: Flat Cay, GR: Grammanik, SE: Seahorse); C) Representative image analyzed for <i>Orbicella franksi</i> cover and barnacle (<i>Lithotrya dorsalis</i>) density; D) 200% zoom of black inset box in 1C exemplifies view used to count <i>L</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> apertures (some of which are indicated by arrowheads). These barnacle signs were readily distinguishable from colony skeletal lumps and other features (some of which are indicated by [placed to left of feature); and E) Close-up view of three <i>L</i>. <i>dorsalis</i> apertures in an <i>Orbicella franksi</i> colony from the FGB at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.).