Florida Keys
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Transcript of Florida Keys
![Page 1: Florida Keys](https://reader034.fdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022042700/55839b0dd8b42a5b318b4960/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract
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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
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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
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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
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GeologGeologyy
Key Largo Limestone
Miami Oolite
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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
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Marine HabitatsMarine Habitats
• Coral ReefsCoral Reefs
• Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds
• Mangroves Mangroves (Mangal)(Mangal)
• Submerged Submerged ResourcesResources
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Coral Reef ZonationCoral Reef Zonation
• Light intensity and wavelengthLight intensity and wavelength
• Wave energyWave energy
• Water TemperatureWater Temperature
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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
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Patch Patch ReefsReefs
• Shallow waterShallow water
• NearshoreNearshore
• Grow upward Grow upward then expand then expand outwardoutward
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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
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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
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Seagrass BedsSeagrass Beds
• Stabilize SedimentsStabilize Sediments
• Water ClarityWater Clarity
• Food and ShelterFood and Shelter
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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
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MangrovesMangroves• Shoreline ProtectionShoreline Protection
• NurseryNursery
• Threatened and Threatened and Endangered SpeciesEndangered Species
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Human Impact on Human Impact on MangrovesMangroves
• DredgingDredging
• Water PollutionWater Pollution
• Urban DevelopmentUrban Development
Oil surrounding mangroves
Urban encroachment
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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
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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
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Looe Looe KeyKey
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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
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Looe Key Restoration Looe Key Restoration ProjectProject
• Limestone boulders Limestone boulders emplacedemplaced
• 68 Coral colonies 68 Coral colonies transplantedtransplanted
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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
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Upland ForestsUpland Forests
• Hardwood hammockHardwood hammock
• West Indian OriginWest Indian Origin
• High ProductivityHigh Productivity
• Shallow SoilShallow Soil
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Inland WetlandsInland Wetlands
• Stormwater Stormwater StorageStorage
• Freshwater LensFreshwater Lens
• Rare Plants and Rare Plants and Unique Unique CommunitiesCommunities
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Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies
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Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species
Australian Pine
Brazilian Pepper
Burma Reed
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Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species
Gambian Pouched Rat
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Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species
Green Iguana
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Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies
Burmese Python
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Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies
Gypsy Chicken
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Invasive Invasive SpeciesSpecies