Conservation of the Florida Reef Tract

Lexi Dolbee, Michael Ho, and Jack Tesar

Florida Reef- 45 species of reef

identified- 358 miles of Florida

Reef Tract- Specific conditions to

grow … warm waters, hard surface to attach, low nitrogen & phosphate levels, shallow, clear waters

- Grow between ½ to 7 inches in a year

3 Reef Formations Atoll – roughly circular,

surround large lagoon

Fringing – close to shore, shallow or no lagoon separation from shore

Barrier – parallel to shore, deep lagoon separation

Coral Polyps- Individual animal

called coral polyp, between 1-3 mm

- Attach itself to hard surface, secrete calcium carbonate for protection

- Undergo asexual reproduction, grow on top of polyp below

Algae- Called zooxanthellae- Symbiotic relationship

with polyp’s- Through

Photosynthesis, provide oxygen and sugars

- Benefit from waste and protection

Structures

Rougher water, Common Brain

Calmer Waters, Ivory Bush

Blue Tang

- Acanthurus coeruleus- Order Perciformes- Feed on plankton,

smaller fish

Stoplight Parrotfish

- Sparisoma viride- Perciformes- Beak-like jaw,

consume polyps and zooxanthellae

- Bite off coral, digestive tract separates coral and excretes it as white coral sand

Lionfish

- Pterois- Order Scorpaeniformes- Invasive species, likely

introduced from aquarium release

- Fearless predator, consume native reef fish

- No natural predators- Human spearfishing

Nutrient Loading in the Florida Reef

Wastewater from Everglades Agricultural Area Sugarcane farming Inundates the near-

shore reef Rich in nitrogen and

phosphorous

Harmful Algal Blooms

High nitrogen and phosphorous levels promote Caulerpa algae growth

Algae suffocates coral Takes O2 and other

nutrients

Harmful Algal Blooms

Vicious Cycle Coral destruction

decreases herbivore habitat

Decreased herbivory promotes algal blooms

Dredging and Trawling

Dredging: Excavation of the sea

floorBottom Trawling:

Method of fishing involving dragging a net or cage across the sea floor

Dredging and Trawling

Rock Shrimp fisherman a leading cause of reef damage Bottom Trawling Boat anchors

Destroying the habitat of the shrimp they are trying to catch

Dredging and Trawling

Coral grows extremely slowly M. annularis: 6-7

mm/year Significant structural

damage is essentially permanent

High tourist traffic in Florida jeopardizes coral

Effects of Bottom Trawling

Before After

Effects of Climate Change Twofold increase in

hurricane activity since 1930 Nat. Geo. News, 2007

Linked to increases in greenhouse gas emissions Global Warming

Webster, et al. 2005

Effects of Climate Change

Severe weather events damaging to coral structure Motion of water and

debris Sediment coverage

Case Study: The Goliath Grouper

Koenig and Coleman:Patterns of Recovery of the Goliath GrouperMangroves as Essential Nursery for Goliath

Grouper

Native to the Florida Barrier Reef

Historically commercially important

Highly susceptible to overexploitation and habitat destruction

Placed on critically endangered species by National Marine

Fisheries

About the Grouper

Native to the Florida Reef

Largest population of grouper on the planet Other populations found of

the coast of Brazil and in the Caribbean, but they are so small they are considered extinct

The goliath grouper dominates the reef biomass But also a hypothesized to be a keystone

species because they are a top-level predator Positive relationship between species

diversity on the reef and the presence of the Goliath Grouper This positive relationship extends to greater

diversity of other commercially important fish EX. The snapper

Ecological Impact

Grow and mature very slowly Group to spawn (makes them easier to catch) Their nursery grounds are being exploited making

reproduction difficult

Susceptibility of the Goliath Grouper

Rapid overexploitation in the 80’s Fishery closed own in 1990 and

grouper was placed on critically endangered species list

Mangrove nursery degraded by agricultural, industrial, and residential development: major barrier to recovery

Many in the fishing industry want the fishery reopened for economic gain- Highly debated

Commercial Importance

Many fishing industry stakeholders argue that the increase in the Florida population is reason to remove the goliath grouper from the endangered species list However, due to the dramatic decline in other populations of

Goliath grouper, the Florida population may be key to the prevention of extinction

The only protective measure currently implemented is the ban on fishing the grouper This has led to an increase in the Florida Barrier Reef

population, but it will not be enough to save the species Mangroves are essential to the life cycle of the grouper, saving

this resource saves the grouper and allows further recovery- Unfortunately development is harder to stop than overfishing

Conservation Debates and Attempts

“Its not rocket science. Its harder.”

~Steve Theberge, Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent

Conservation

Finkl, C.W. and R.H. Charlier. 2003. Sustainability of Subtropical Coastal Zones in Southeastern Florida: Challenges for Urbanized Coastal Environments Threatened by Development, Pollution, Water Supply, and Storm Hazards. Journal of Coastal Research 19: 934-943

Gerhardinger, L.C., M. Hostim-Silva, R.P. Madeiros, J. Materazi, et al. 2009. Fisher's resource mapping and goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) conservation in Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology. 7:93-102.

Hoffmeister, J.E. and H.G. Multer. 1964. Growth-Rate Estimates of a Pleistocene Coral Reef of Florida. Geological Society of America Bulletin 75: 353-358.

Koenig, CC, FC Coleman, AM Eklund, J. Schull, J. Ueland. 2007. Mangroves as essential nursery habitat for goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). Bulletin of Marine Science 80(3):567-586.

Koenig, C.C., F.C. Coleman, C.B. Grimes, G.R. Fitzhugh, K.M. Scanlon, C.T. Gledhill, and M. Grace. Protection of Fish Spawning Habitat for the Conservation of Warm-Temperature Reef-Fish Fisheries of Shelf-Edge Reefs of Florida. Bulletin of Marine Science 66(3): 593-616.

Koenig, CC, FC Coleman, K Kingon. 2011. Pattern of recovery of the goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) population in the southeastern U.S. Bulletin of Marine Science Fast Track Publication 87(0)0000 - doi:10.5343/bms. 2010.1056

Lapointe, B.E. 1997. Nutrient Thresholds for Bottom-Up Control of Macroalgal Blooms on Coral Reefs in Jamaica and Southeast Florida. Limnology and Oceanography 42: 1119-1131.

Porter, J.W. and O.W. Meier. 1992. Quantification of Loss and Change in Floridian Reef Coral Populations. Integrative and Comparative Biology 32(6): 625-640.

Ruiz-Carus, Ramon. March 2006. The Western Pacific Red Lionfish, Pterois Volidae, (Scorpaeniformes), in Florida. Evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Biological Conservation. 128(3): 384-390.  

Swart, Peter K. July 1996. The stable oxygen and carbon isotopic record from a coralgrowing in Florida Bay: a 160 year record of climatic and anthropogenic influence. University of Miami. Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology. 123(1-4): 219-237.

Browning, M.,  1998.  'Green linguine'  causing  fragile  reefs to choke. The Herald, May 25,  p.7A.

Coral Species Profiles. Florida Museum of Natural History. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/southflorida/coral/Profiles.html#great

Florida's Coral Reefs. Department of Environmental Protection, Florida. July 19, 2011. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/habitats/coral/

How do Stony Corals grow? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. March 25, 2008. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals/coral03_growth.html

Stevely, John. Invasive lionfish harming caribbean reefs. Florida Sea Grant. http://www.flseagrant.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=92:lionfish-decimating-caribbeans-tropical-fish-population&catid=51:research-summary&Itemid=101

Works Cited