Smith, S. R., Aronson R. B., Ogden, J. C.

Coral reef benthic community response to ten years of management in fully protected marine zones of the Florida Keys

2009

Georgia State University and Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, Florida Institute of Technology, and Florida Institute of Oceanography

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Final Report, 1 June 2007 - 30 September 2009

The project continued with a successful field expedition in July 2008. The study was conducted at two depths, 7 m and 18 m, in Fully Protected Zones (Eastern Sambo Research Only; Western Sambo Ecological Reserve; South Carysfort and Molasses Reef) and reference sites (Middle Sambo, Pelican Shoal, Maitland and Pickles) in the Upper and Lower Keys. Thirty two permanent quadrats (95 x 65 cm) have been established at each depth. We were successful in relocating the study sites in July 2008. We did not attempt to work at the Molasses and Pickles reef sites, previously sampled in 2005, due to the limited funding available for the project. The Smith team re-surveyed 93 percent of the permanent quadrats at Western Sambo Ecological Reserve, Middle Sambo Reference site, Eastern Sambo Research only, Pelican Shoal Reference site, Maitland Reference site, and South Carysfort. We could not locate several quadrats because of the destructive effects of the 2005 hurricanes that removed the permanent marking pins. The surveyors were using photographs of the quadrats from 2005 and 2007 to re-survey the quadrats. We were able to photograph all the relocated permanent quadrats at all the sites which was an important achievement considering the problems and time limitations encountered in 2007.

FY2008 CRCP Project ID 10347; Project Title: Coral Reef Benthic Community Response to Management in Fully Protected Marine Zones of the Florida Keys; Principal Investigator: Brian Keller