“…Algae in temperate environments and seagrass in tropical environments have received some attention (Jakubauskas et al 2000, Wittlinger & Zimmerman 2000, Dekker et al 2001[review], Fyfe 2003, but previous hyperspectral studies in tropical coral reefs have preferentially targeted live, bleached and dead corals (Hedley & Mumby 2002 [review], Minghelli-Roman et al 2002. For coral reefs, several studies have presented spectral signatures of macroalgal species (Maritorena et al 1994, Myers et al 1999, Lubin et al 2001, Kutser et al 2003, Karpouzli et al 2004 or have considered algal morphotypes (fleshy, turf, encrusting) and groups (Phaeophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Rhodophyceae) , but very few studies have addressed the community level (Mumby et al 1997, Hochberg & Atkinson 2000, Purkis & Pasterkamp 2004.…”