The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract

The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract

• 33rdrd largest reef system in the world largest reef system in the world

• Parallels exposed ancient reef (The Parallels exposed ancient reef (The Florida Keys)Florida Keys)

• Extends 356km from Miami to Dry Extends 356km from Miami to Dry TortugasTortugas

• 6,000 species of plants and 6,000 species of plants and animals in waters of FL Keysanimals in waters of FL Keys

• Approx. 1700 islandsApprox. 1700 islands

• Between 24 & 24 degrees N. Between 24 & 24 degrees N. LatitudeLatitude

Geological HistoryGeological History

• 1.8 million years ago to 10,000 years ago1.8 million years ago to 10,000 years ago

• Pleistocene Ice AgesPleistocene Ice Ages

• Large sea level fluctuationLarge sea level fluctuation

• Reef establishment along FL Platform – subtropical, Reef establishment along FL Platform – subtropical, warm, nutrient-rich waterswarm, nutrient-rich waters

• Dead corals provided good foundation for new coral Dead corals provided good foundation for new coral growthgrowth

• Key Largo Limestone 75-200 ft thickKey Largo Limestone 75-200 ft thick

• Last major sea level drop exposed FL KeysLast major sea level drop exposed FL Keys

GeologyGeology

• Upper and Middle Keys - Upper and Middle Keys - Key Largo Limestone – Key Largo Limestone – skeletal remains of corals, skeletal remains of corals, invertebrate shells, marine invertebrate shells, marine plant and algal debris, and plant and algal debris, and lime-sandlime-sand

• Lower Keys – Miami Oolite Lower Keys – Miami Oolite – well sorted ooids, with – well sorted ooids, with other skeletal material other skeletal material and some quartz sandand some quartz sand

•Paleo tidal bars – sandy and oolite shoal traversed by many channelsPaleo tidal bars – sandy and oolite shoal traversed by many channels

GeologyGeology

Key Largo Limestone

Miami Oolite

GeologyGeology

• Windley Key Geological Windley Key Geological ParkPark

• Limestone quarry Limestone quarry provided railroad bridge provided railroad bridge supports for Henry supports for Henry Flagler’s Overseas Flagler’s Overseas RailroadRailroad

• Decorative Keystone Decorative Keystone quarried until 1960’squarried until 1960’s

Limestone cutter

Marine HabitatsMarine Habitats

• Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

• Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds

• Mangroves (Mangal)Mangroves (Mangal)

• Submerged ResourcesSubmerged Resources

Coral Reef ZonationCoral Reef Zonation

• Light intensity and wavelengthLight intensity and wavelength

• Wave energyWave energy

• Water TemperatureWater Temperature

HardbottomHardbottom

• Close to shoreClose to shore

• Low species diversityLow species diversity

• Dominated by Dominated by gorgonians, algae, gorgonians, algae, spongessponges

Gorgonian

courtesy Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Patch ReefsPatch Reefs• Shallow waterShallow water

• NearshoreNearshore

• Grow upward Grow upward then expand then expand outwardoutward

Bank ReefsBank Reefs• Spur & Groove FormationSpur & Groove Formation

• High Species DiversityHigh Species Diversity

• Coral zonation by depthCoral zonation by depth

• Presence of Elkhorn CoralPresence of Elkhorn Coral

Human Impacts on ReefsHuman Impacts on Reefs• PollutionPollution

• OverfishingOverfishing

• TourismTourism

• Aquarium/Souvenir TradeAquarium/Souvenir Trade

• Global Climate Change – Coral BleachingGlobal Climate Change – Coral Bleaching

• Introduced SpeciesIntroduced Species

Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds

• Stabilize SedimentsStabilize Sediments

• Water ClarityWater Clarity

• Food and ShelterFood and Shelter

Human Impact on Seagrass BedsHuman Impact on Seagrass Beds

• Dredging and FillingDredging and Filling

• Propeller ScaringPropeller Scaring

• Eutrophication – high nutrients, low oxygenEutrophication – high nutrients, low oxygen

MangrovesMangroves• Shoreline ProtectionShoreline Protection

• NurseryNursery

• Threatened and Threatened and Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species

Human Impact on MangrovesHuman Impact on Mangroves

• DredgingDredging

• Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Urban DevelopmentUrban Development

Oil surrounding mangroves

Urban encroachment

Submerged ResourcesSubmerged Resources

• Adolphus Busch Wreck – 210 ft freighter intentionally sunk in 1998 Adolphus Busch Wreck – 210 ft freighter intentionally sunk in 1998 to create an artificialto create an artificial

Looe Key Marine Looe Key Marine SanctuarySanctuary

• 7,000 years of coral growth7,000 years of coral growth

• Protected area of high Protected area of high ecological importanceecological importance

• Pristine example of Patch and Pristine example of Patch and Bank Reef in Lower KeysBank Reef in Lower Keys

• Many endangered speciesMany endangered species

Looe KeyLooe Key

Looe KeyLooe Key

• R/V Columbus Iselin – ran R/V Columbus Iselin – ran aground August 1994aground August 1994

• Severe scar damage – 6 Severe scar damage – 6 scars on 4 coral spursscars on 4 coral spurs

• $4 mil. Natural resource $4 mil. Natural resource damage claimdamage claim

• Restoration project Restoration project implemented to physically implemented to physically rebuild reefrebuild reef

Looe Key Restoration ProjectLooe Key Restoration Project• Limestone boulders Limestone boulders

emplacedemplaced

• 68 Coral colonies 68 Coral colonies transplantedtransplanted

Terrestrial HabitatsTerrestrial Habitats

• Upland forestsUpland forests

• Inland WetlandsInland Wetlands

• Shoreline ZonesShoreline Zones

• Soils can range from sand to marl to rich, decomposed Soils can range from sand to marl to rich, decomposed leaf litterleaf litter

Upland ForestsUpland Forests

• Hardwood hammockHardwood hammock

• West Indian OriginWest Indian Origin

• High ProductivityHigh Productivity

• Shallow SoilShallow Soil

Inland WetlandsInland Wetlands

• Stormwater StorageStormwater Storage

• Freshwater LensFreshwater Lens

• Rare Plants and Rare Plants and Unique CommunitiesUnique Communities

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Australian Pine

Brazilian Pepper

Burma Reed

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Gambian Pouched Rat

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Green Iguana

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Burmese Python

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Gypsy Chicken

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species