FWC Sentinel Site Report June 2018
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Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E
University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School November 2017 Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Megan E. Hepner University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Hepner, Megan E., "Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary" (2017). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7408 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Reef Fish Biodiversity in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by Megan E. Hepner A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Marine Science with a concentration in Marine Resource Assessment College of Marine Science University of South Florida Major Professor: Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D. Christopher Stallings, Ph.D. Steve Gittings, Ph.D. Date of Approval: October 31st, 2017 Keywords: Species richness, biodiversity, functional diversity, species traits Copyright © 2017, Megan E. Hepner ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to my major advisor, Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, who provided opportunities for me to strengthen my skills as a researcher on research cruises, dive surveys, and in the laboratory, and as a communicator through oral and presentations at conferences, and for encouraging my participation as a full team member in various meetings of the Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) and other science meetings. -
Variable Holocene Deformation Above a Shallow Subduction Zone Extremely Close to the Trench
ARTICLE Received 24 Nov 2014 | Accepted 22 May 2015 | Published 30 Jun 2015 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8607 OPEN Variable Holocene deformation above a shallow subduction zone extremely close to the trench Kaustubh Thirumalai1,2, Frederick W. Taylor1, Chuan-Chou Shen3, Luc L. Lavier1,2, Cliff Frohlich1, Laura M. Wallace1, Chung-Che Wu3, Hailong Sun3,4 & Alison K. Papabatu5 Histories of vertical crustal motions at convergent margins offer fundamental insights into the relationship between interplate slip and permanent deformation. Moreover, past abrupt motions are proxies for potential tsunamigenic earthquakes and benefit hazard assessment. Well-dated records are required to understand the relationship between past earthquakes and Holocene vertical deformation. Here we measure elevations and 230Th ages of in situ corals raised above the sea level in the western Solomon Islands to build an uplift event history overlying the seismogenic zone, extremely close to the trench (4–40 km). We find marked spatiotemporal heterogeneity in uplift from mid-Holocene to present: some areas accrue more permanent uplift than others. Thus, uplift imposed during the 1 April 2007 Mw 8.1 event may be retained in some locations but removed in others before the next megathrust rupture. This variability suggests significant changes in strain accumulation and the interplate thrust process from one event to the next. 1 Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, J. J. Pickle Research Campus, Building 196, 10100 Burnet Road (R2200), Austin, Texas 78758, USA. 2 Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C9000, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. -
III. Species Richness and Benthic Cover
2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. III. Species Richness and Benthic Cover Background The most species-rich marine communities probably occur on coral reefs and this pattern is at least partly due to the diversity of available habitats and the degree to which species are ecologically restricted to particular niches. Coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean in particular are usually thought to hold the greatest diversity of marine life at several levels of biological diversity. Diversity on coral reefs is strongly influenced by environmental conditions and geographic location, and variations in diversity can be correlated with differences in reef structure. For example, shallow and mid-depth fore-reef habitats in the Caribbean were historically dominated by largely mono-specific zones of just two Acropora species, while the Indo-Pacific has a much greater number of coral species and growth forms. Coral reefs are in a state of decline worldwide from multiple stressors, including physical impacts to habitat, changes in water quality, overfishing, disease outbreaks, and climate change. Coral reefs in a degraded state are often characterized by one or more signs, including low abundances of top-level predators, herbivores, and reef-building corals, but higher abundances of non-hermatypic organisms such as seaweeds. For the Florida Keys, there is little doubt that areas historically dominated by Acropora corals, particularly the shallow (< 6 m) and deeper (8-15 m) fore reef, have changed substantially, largely due to Caribbean-wide disease events and bleaching. However, debate continues regarding other causes of coral reef decline, thus often making it difficult for resource managers to determine which courses of action to take to minimize localized threats in lieu of larger-scale factors such as climate change. -
California State University, Northridge an Ecological
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE AN ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF TROPICAL CORAL REEF RESPONSES TO PAST AND PROJECTED DISTURBANCES A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology By Elizabeth Ann Lenz May 2014 The thesis of Elizabeth A. Lenz is approved by: Robert C. Carpenter, Ph.D. Date: Eric D. Sanford, Ph.D. Date: Mark A. Steele, Ph.D. Date: Peter J. Edmunds, Ph.D., Chair Date: California State University, Northridge ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Peter J. Edmunds first and foremost for being my fearless leader and advisor - for the incredible opportunities and invaluable mentorship he has provided to me as a graduate student in the Polyp Lab. I am ever so grateful for his guidance, endless caffeinated energy, constructive critiques, and dry British humor. I would also like to thank my loyal committee members Drs. Robert Carpenter and Mark Steele at CSUN for their availability and expert advise during this process. Their suggestions have greatly contributed to my thesis. I would not only like to acknowledge Dr. Eric Sanford from UC Davis for serving on my committee, but thank him for his incessant support throughout my career over the last 7 years. I will always admire his contagious enthusiasm for invertebrates, passion for scientific research, and unlimited knowledge about marine ecology. My research would not have been possible without the technical support and assistance from my colleagues in Moorea, French Polynesia and St. John, USVI. I am grateful to Dr. Lorenzo Bramanti, Dr. Steeve Comeau, Vince Moriarty, Nate Spindel, Emily Rivest, Christopher Wall, Darren Brown, Alexandre Yarid, Nicolas Evensen, Craig Didden, the VIERS staff, and undergraduate assistants: Kristin Privitera-Johnson and Amanda Arnold. -
The Epizootiology of Coral Diseases in South Florida
The Epizootiology of Coral Diseases in South Florida Research and Development EPA/600/R-05/146 May 2006 The Epizootiology of Coral Diseases in South Florida by Deborah L. Santavy1, Jed Campbell1, Robert L. Quarles1, James M. Patrick1, Linda M. Harwell1, Mel Parsons2 , Lauri MacLaughlin3 , John Halas3, Erich Mueller4, 5, Esther C. Peters4, 6, Jane Hawkridge4, 7 1United States Environmental Protection Agency National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory Gulf Ecology Division 1 Sabine Island Drive Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 2United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 Science and Ecosystems Support Division 980 College Station Road Athens, GA 30605 3NOAA, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Upper Region, MM 95 Overseas Highway Key Largo, FL 33037 4Mote Marine Laboratory Center for Tropical Research 24244 Overseas Highway (US 1) Summerland Key, FL 33042 5Perry Institute for Marine Science 100 N. U.S. Highway 1, Suite 202 Jupiter, FL 33477 6Tetra Tech, Inc. 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340 Fairfax, VA 22030 7Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road Peterborough, United Kingdom PE1 1JY Notice The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Health and Environmental Effect Research Laboratory (NHEERL), Gulf Ecology Division (GED), the U.S. Department of Commerce (U.S. DOC) National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) National Park Service (NPS) Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP) jointly conducted this program. The report has undergone U.S. EPA’s peer and administrative reviews and has received approval for publication as a U.S. -
Modeling Larval Connectivity Among Coral Habitats, Acropora Palmata
University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2007 Modeling larval connectivity among coral habitats, Acropora palmata populations, and marine protected areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Christopher John Higham University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Higham, Christopher John, "Modeling larval connectivity among coral habitats, Acropora palmata populations, and marine protected areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary" (2007). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/2213 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Modeling Larval Connectivity among Coral Habitats, Acropora palmata Populations, and Marine Protected Areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary by Christopher John Higham A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Geography College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Paul Zandbergen, Ph.D. Jayajit Chakraborty, Ph.D. Susan Bell, Ph.D. Data of Approval: April 10, 2007 Keywords: GIS, ArcGIS, TauDEM, D∞ flow routing, ocean currents, flow direction, contributing flow, upstream -
Reef Explorer Guide Highlights the Underwater World ALLIGATOR of the Florida Keys, Including Unique Coral Reefs from Key Largo to OLD CANNON Key West
REEF EXPLORER The Florida Keys & Key West, "come as you are" © 2018 Monroe County Tourist Development Council. All rights reserved. MCTDU-3471 • 15K • 7/18 fla-keys.com/diving GULF OF FT. JEFFERSON NATIONAL MONUMNET MEXICO AND DRY TORTUGAS (70 MILES WEST OF KEY WEST) COTTRELL KEY YELLOW WESTERN ROCKS DRY ROCKS SAND Marathon KEY COFFIN’S ROCK PATCH KEY EASTERN BIG PINE KEY & THE LOWER KEYS DRY ROCKS DELTA WESTERN SOMBRERO SHOALS SAMBOS AMERICAN PORKFISH SHOALS KISSING HERMAN’S GRUNTS LOOE KEY HOLE SAMANTHA’S NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY OUTER REEF CARYSFORT ELBOW DRY ROCKS CHRIST GRECIAN CHRISTOF THE ROCKS ABYSS OF THE KEY ABYSSA LARGO (ARTIFICIAL REEF) How it works FRENCH How it works PICKLES Congratulations! You are on your way to becoming a Reef Explorer — enjoying at least one of the unique diving ISLAMORADA HEN & CONCH CHICKENS REEF MOLASSES and snorkeling experiences in each region of the Florida Keys: LITTLE SPANISH CONCH Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key & The Lower Keys PLATE FLEET and Key West. DAVIS CROCKER REEF REEF/WALL Beginners and experienced divers alike can become a Reef Explorer. This Reef Explorer Guide highlights the underwater world ALLIGATOR of the Florida Keys, including unique coral reefs from Key Largo to OLD CANNON Key West. To participate, pursue validation from any dive or snorkel PORKFISH HORSESHOE operator in each of the five regions. Upon completion of your last reef ATLANTIC exploration, email us at [email protected] to receive an access OCEAN code for a personalized Keys Reef Explorer poster with your name on it. -
Tortugas Ecological Reserve
Strategy for Stewardship Tortugas Ecological Reserve U.S. Department of Commerce DraftSupplemental National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Environmental National Ocean Service ImpactStatement/ Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management DraftSupplemental Marine Sanctuaries Division ManagementPlan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), working in cooperation with the State of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and the National Marine Fisheries Service, proposes to establish a 151 square nautical mile “no- take” ecological reserve to protect the critical coral reef ecosystem of the Tortugas, a remote area in the western part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The reserve would consist of two sections, Tortugas North and Tortugas South, and would require an expansion of Sanctuary boundaries to protect important coral reef resources in the areas of Sherwood Forest and Riley’s Hump. An ecological reserve in the Tortugas will preserve the richness of species and health of fish stocks in the Tortugas and throughout the Florida Keys, helping to ensure the stability of commercial and recreational fisheries. The reserve will protect important spawning areas for snapper and grouper, as well as valuable deepwater habitat for other commercial species. Restrictions on vessel discharge and anchoring will protect water quality and habitat complexity. The proposed reserve’s geographical isolation will help scientists distinguish between natural and human-caused changes to the coral reef environment. Protecting Ocean Wilderness Creating an ecological reserve in the Tortugas will protect some of the most productive and unique marine resources of the Sanctuary. Because of its remote location 70 miles west of Key West and more than 140 miles from mainland Florida, the Tortugas region has the best water quality in the Sanctuary. -
(REEF) Monitoring of the Artificial Reef Gen
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Monitoring of the Artificial Reef Gen. Hoyt S Vandenberg 2011 Annual Project Report Submitted to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Artificial Reef Program Background The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg is a 523’ steel hulled missile tracking ship that was intentionally sunk seven miles off Key West, Florida, on May 27, 2009, to serve as a recreational diving and fishing artificial reef. The ship lies in 140’ of water; at its broadest point the deck is 71’ wide, creating habitat from 45’ to the sandy bottom. The Vandenberg is the largest artificial reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the second largest in the world. The City of Key West, the Artificial Reefs of the Keys (ARK), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) worked closely to obtain, clean, scuttle and sink the vessel, as well as raise funds for the effort. Prior to the sinking, the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) was contracted by the FWC to conduct a study with pre- and post-deployment monitoring of the fish assemblages associated with the Vandenberg and adjacent reef areas. A Year One report that summarized the cumulative survey effort of five survey events in 2009 and 2010 was compiled and is available on the REEF website (http://www.REEF.org/reef_files/Vandenberg_1year_finalreport_w_appendicies.pdf). The FWC artificial reef program is supporting continued monitoring by REEF, on an annual basis, through 2012. This report summarizes the 2011 results. REEF is an international non-profit marine conservation organization that runs hands-on grassroots activities designed to educate and engage local communities in conservation-focused activities. -
Distribution of Clionid Sponges in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), 2001-2003
University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2005 Distribution of Clionid Sponges in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), 2001-2003 Michael K. Callahan University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Callahan, Michael K., "Distribution of Clionid Sponges in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), 2001-2003" (2005). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/2803 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Distribution of Clionid Sponges in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), 2001-2003 by Michael K. Callahan A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Biological Oceanography College of Marine Science University of South Florida Major Professor: Pamela Hallock Muller, Ph.D. Carl R. Beaver, Ph.D. Walter C. Jaap, B.S. Kendra L. Daly, Ph.D. Date of Approval: March 28, 2005 Keywords: Bioerosion, Cliona delitrix, Coral Reefs, Monitoring © Copyright 2005, Michael K. Callahan AKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Pamela Hallock Muller for her tireless effort and patience. I would also like to thank and acknowledge my committee members Dr. Carl Beaver, Walter Jaap, and Dr. Kendra Daly and the entire CREMP research team for their help and guidance. -
Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002
Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002 Edited by Clive Wilkinson PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor Dedication This book is dedicated to all those people who are working to conserve the coral reefs of the world – we thank them for their efforts. It is also dedicated to the International Coral Reef Initiative and partners, one of which is the Government of the United States of America operating through the US Coral Reef Task Force. Of particular mention is the support to the GCRMN from the US Department of State and the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. I wish to make a special dedication to Robert (Bob) E. Johannes (1936-2002) who has spent over 40 years working on coral reefs, especially linking the scientists who research and monitor reefs with the millions of people who live on and beside these resources and often depend for their lives from them. Bob had a rare gift of understanding both sides and advocated a partnership of traditional and modern management for reef conservation. We will miss you Bob! Front cover: Vanuatu - burning of branching Acropora corals in a coral rock oven to make lime for chewing betel nut (photo by Terry Done, AIMS, see page 190). Back cover: Great Barrier Reef - diver measuring large crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) and freshly eaten Acropora corals (photo by Peter Moran, AIMS). This report has been produced for the sole use of the party who requested it. The application or use of this report and of any data or information (including results of experiments, conclusions, and recommendations) contained within it shall be at the sole risk and responsibility of that party. -
Anemones, Form Associations with Several Invertebrates Such As Cleaner Shrimps (Limbaugh Et Al
2009 Quick Look Report: Miller et al. VII. Anemone and Corallimorpharian Density Background Most historical and recent studies of Caribbean reef fauna, including those in the Florida Keys, have generally focused on either stony corals or fishes. This is not surprising, given that corals are primary framework builders, while fishes, along with certain shellfish species (e.g. queen conch and spiny lobster) are generally the most economically important fishery targets. In the Florida Keys, however, commercial marine-life fisheries and aquarium hobbyists remove an incredible diversity and number of invertebrates and fishes (Bohnsack et al. 1994). Otherwise known as the marine ornamental fishery, aquarium fisheries target a diversity of fish, invertebrate, and algal species, in addition to sand and live rock from West Palm Beach to Key West (FWCC 2001). State and Federal waters near Key West and Marathon in the Florida Keys constitute 94% of the total fishes and invertebrates removed in southeast Florida for the marine aquarium trade. Commercial data do not include an undocumented effort from recreational fishers, nor are data available concerning species abundance patterns and population trends relative to fishing effort (NOAA 1996). Key Largo has been protected from marine aquarium trade species collection since 1960 in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, followed by the protection in federal waters in 1975 with the establishment of Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. The Looe Key area has been protected since 1981, as well as Everglades National Park (Florida Bay), portions of the Dry Tortugas area, Biscayne National Park, and Fish and Wildlife Service management areas. There is a paucity of basic ecological information for most Florida Keys anemone and corallimorpharian (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) species, and even fewer studies have explored the population effects of exploitation.