The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract

The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract

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

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

• Extends 356km from Miami to Extends 356km from Miami to Dry TortugasDry Tortugas

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

• Dead corals provided good foundation for new Dead corals provided good foundation for new coral growthcoral growth

• 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 skeletal remains of corals, invertebrate corals, invertebrate shells, marine plant and shells, marine plant and algal debris, and lime-algal debris, and lime-sandsand

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

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

GeologGeologyy

Key Largo Limestone

Miami Oolite

GeologyGeology

• Windley Key Windley Key Geological ParkGeological Park

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

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

Limestone cutter

Marine HabitatsMarine Habitats

• Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

• Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds

• Mangroves Mangroves (Mangal)(Mangal)

• Submerged Submerged ResourcesResources

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 Low species diversitydiversity

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

Gorgonian

courtesy Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Patch Patch ReefsReefs

• Shallow waterShallow water

• NearshoreNearshore

• Grow upward Grow upward then expand then expand outwardoutward

Bank Bank ReefsReefs

• 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 Human Impact on Seagrass BedsBeds

• 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 Human Impact on MangrovesMangroves

• DredgingDredging

• Water PollutionWater Pollution

• Urban DevelopmentUrban Development

Oil surrounding mangroves

Urban encroachment

Submerged ResourcesSubmerged Resources

• Adolphus Busch Wreck – 210 ft freighter intentionally sunk Adolphus Busch Wreck – 210 ft freighter intentionally sunk in 1998 to create an artificialin 1998 to 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 Pristine example of Patch and Bank Reef in Lower and Bank Reef in Lower KeysKeys

• Many endangered speciesMany endangered species

Looe Looe KeyKey

Looe KeyLooe Key

• R/V Columbus Iselin – R/V Columbus Iselin – ran aground August ran aground August 19941994

• Severe scar damage – Severe scar damage – 6 scars on 4 coral 6 scars on 4 coral spursspurs

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

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

Looe Key Restoration Looe Key Restoration ProjectProject

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

Upland ForestsUpland Forests

• Hardwood hammockHardwood hammock

• West Indian OriginWest Indian Origin

• High ProductivityHigh Productivity

• Shallow SoilShallow Soil

Inland WetlandsInland Wetlands

• Stormwater Stormwater StorageStorage

• Freshwater LensFreshwater Lens

• Rare Plants and Rare Plants and Unique Unique CommunitiesCommunities

Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Australian Pine

Brazilian Pepper

Burma Reed

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Gambian Pouched Rat

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

Green Iguana

Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies

Burmese Python

Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies

Gypsy Chicken

Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies