Florida Keys

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


Australian Pine

Brazilian Pepper

Burma Reed


Gambian Pouched Rat


Green Iguana


Burmese Python


Gypsy Chicken


Technology

Florida Keys