Florida Keys

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The Florida Reef Tract The Florida Reef Tract

Transcript of Florida Keys

Page 1: Florida Keys

The Florida Reef TractThe Florida Reef Tract

Page 2: Florida Keys

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