North Community Working Group Meeting #1
March 27, 2014 South Florida Water Management District - Auditorium Coral Reef Conservation Program Introduction to Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystems – Part 1 March 27, 2014
Jamie Monty Manager FDEP Coral Reef Conservation Program Overview • Florida Reef Tract
• Southeast Florida coral reefs
• Southeast Florida Reef Profile
• Southeast Florida Biogeographic Regions
Photo By: Joe Marino Florida Reef Tract
Map By: Brian Walker Florida Reef Tract
More than 6,000 organisms: 40+ species of hard corals
350+ miles of coral reefs!
Photo By: Kirk Kilfoyle Map By: The Nature Conservancy Florida Reef Tract
More than 6,000 organisms: 30+ species of soft corals
350+ miles of coral reefs!
Photo By: Joe Marino Map By: The Nature Conservancy Florida Reef Tract
More than 6,000 organisms: 70+ species of marine sponges
350+ miles of coral reefs!
Photo By: Joe Marino Map By: The Nature Conservancy Florida Reef Tract
More than 6,000 organisms: 100+ species of fish
350+ miles of coral reefs!
Photo By: Joe Marino Map By: The Nature Conservancy Florida Reef Tract
More than 6,000 organisms: 600+ species of invertebrates
350+ miles of coral reefs!
Photos By: Joe Marino Map By: The Nature Conservancy SEFCRI Region
Also called:
• Southeast Florida Region
• Northern Third of the Florida Reef Tract (FRT)
• Mainland Florida
Map By: Brian Walker SEFCRI Region Extends From:
• Martin County – St. Lucie Inlet
• Palm Beach County
• Broward County
• Miami-Dade County – Northern border of Biscayne National Park Map By: Brian Walker SEFCRI Region Boundaries:
• North – St. Lucie Inlet • South – Northern border of Biscayne National Park • East – 3 Nautical Miles • West – Mean High Water
Map By: Brian Walker SEFCRI Region
Contains reef ecosystems that:
• Are extensive
• Are close to shore
• Co-exist with intensely urbanized areas
• Lack coordinated management
Map By: Brian Walker General SE FL Reef Profile General SE FL Reef Profile General SE FL Reef Profile General SE FL Reef Profile Biogeographic Regions
Map By: Walker 2012 Map By: Banks et al. 2007 Nearshore Ridge Complex
High branching coral cover sites
Staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis 40% cover
Photos By: DERM (upper) and Ken Banks (lower) Photos By: Dave Gilliam (upper) and Ken Banks (lower) Nearshore Ridge Complex
High boulder coral cover sites
Great star coral Montastrea cavernosa 12 - 17% cover
Photos By: DERM (upper) and Ken Banks (lower) Photos By: Dave Gilliam (upper) and Ken Banks (lower) Questions?
Photo By: Joe Marino