Download or read book Spatial Dynamics of Coral Populations in the Florida Keys written by Dione W Swanson and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reef degradation has been observed worldwide over the past few decades resulting in significant decreases in coral cover and abundance. However, there has not been a clear framework established to address the crucial need for more sophisticated understanding of the fundamental ecology of corals and their response to environmental stressors. Development of a quantitative approach to coral population ecology that utilizes formal, well established principles of fishery systems science offers a new framework to address these issues. The goal of this dissertation is to establish a quantitative foundation for assessment of coral reefs by developing some essential ecological and population-dynamic components of a size-structured demographic model for coral populations of the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem. The objective provides the potential to build a quantitative systems science framework for coral populations. A two-stage stratified random sampling design was implemented during two separate survey periods to assess coral populations. Results include precise estimates of adult (> 4 cm) population abundance for several coral species by spatially partitioning abundance and variance into species-relevant reef habitat types. Adult size structure and juvenile abundance were used to evaluate individual coral populations and infer spatial variation in recruitment, growth and survival across habitat types. Partial mortality was characterized in terms of surface area, prevalence, and size-relationships. The development of some ecological and population-dynamic components of a size-structured demographic model for coral populations demonstrates the statistical framework and metrics required for monitoring and assessment of coral reef ecosystems to meet the pressing needs of conservation of coral reef ecosystems specifically in Florida, and throughout the Caribbean and Pacific in general.

Download or read book Spatial Dynamics in the Growth and Spread of Halimeda and Dictyota in Florida Reefs a Simulation Modeling Approach written by Aletta Tiangco Yįguez and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Macroalgae are an important part of the coral reef ecosystem that has largely been overlooked. However, in the past few decades their abundances have increased and this has been attributed to combinations of coral mortality opening up space in the reef, decreased grazing and increased nutrient load in reefs. This dissertation illustrates a novel means of investigating the effect of various growth and disturbance factors on the dynamics of macroalgae at three different levels (individual, population and 3-species community). Macroalgae are modular and clonal organisms that have differing morphologies depending on the environment to which they are exposed. These traits were exploited in order to understand the factors that were acting on the dominant and common macroalgae in the Florida Reef Tract: Halimeda tuna, Halimeda opuntia and Dictyota sp. The agent-based model SPREAD (SPatially-explicit REef Algae Dynamics) was developed to incorporate the key morphogenetic characteristics of clonality and morphological plasticity. It revolves around the iteration of macroalgal module production in response to light, temperature, nutrients, and space availability, while fragmentation is the source for mortality or new individuals. These processes build the individual algae then the population. The model was parameterized through laboratory experiments, existing literature and databases and results were compared to independently collected field data from four study sites in the Florida Keys. SPREAD was run using a large range of light, temperature, nutrient and disturbance (fragmentation without survival) levels and yielded six morphological types for Halimeda tuna, and two each for Halimeda opuntia and Dictyota sp. The model morphological types that matched those measured in two inshore patch reefs (Cheeca Patch and Coral Gardens) and two offshore spur and groove reefs (Little Grecian and French Reef), were formed in conditions that were similar to the environmental (light, nutrient and disturbance) conditions in the field sites. There were also differences between species in the important factors that influenced their morphologies, wherein H. opuntia and Dictyota were more affected by disturbance than growth factors, while H. tuna morphology was affected by both. Allowing for fragmentation with survival in the model resulted in significantly higher population abundances (percent cover and density). The highest abundances were achieved under high fragment survival probabilities and a high disturbance level (but not large fragment sizes). Incorporating fragmentation with survival and simulating the variations in light, nutrients and disturbance between the inshore patch reefs and offshore spur and groove reefs in SPREAD led to comparable abundances of Halimeda in the virtual reef sites. Adding competition for space and light and epiphytism by Dictyota on the two Halimeda species suggests that it can regulate the populations of the three macroalgae. However, comparing model abundances to the field, competition may not be a strong regulating force for H. tuna in all the sites and H. opuntia in the patch reefs. H. opuntia in the offshore reefs is possibly competitively regulated. Although SPREAD was not able to capture the patterns in the population abundance of Dictyota, this points to the potential importance of other morphometrics not captured by the model, a variation in growth curves between reef habitats, or the differential contribution of sexual reproduction.

Download or read book The Everglades Florida Bay and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys written by James Porter and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2001-10-18 with total page 1025 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a synthesis of basic and applied research, The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An Ecosystem Sourcebook takes an encyclopedic look at how to study and manage ecosystems connected by surface and subsurface water movements. The book examines the South Florida hydroscape, a series of ecosystems linked by hydrolog

Download or read book Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-11-13 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Population Dynamics of the Reef Crisis, Volume 87 in the Advances in Marine Biology series, updates on many topics that will appeal to postgraduates and researchers in marine biology, fisheries science, ecology, zoology and biological oceanography. Chapters in this new release cover SCTL disease and coral population dynamics in S-Florida, Spatial dynamics of juvenile corals in the Persian/Arabian Gulf, Surprising stability in sea urchin populations following shifts to algal dominance on heavily bleached reefs, Biophysical model of population connectivity in the Persian Gulf, Population dynamics of 20-year decline in clownfish anemones on coral reefs at Eilat, northern Red Sea, and much more. Reviews articles on the latest advances in marine biology Authored by leading figures in their respective fields of study Presents materials that are widely used by managers, students and academic professionals in the marine sciences

Download or read book Dynamics of Coral Communities written by R.H. Karlson and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2002-10-31 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book focuses on the dynamical processes influencing the structure of coral communities, some of the most biologically diverse communities on earth. A variety of biological and physical processes operating across an enormous range of spatiotemporal scales are highlighted (e.g., niche partitioning, biological interactions, disturbance phenomena, large-scale tectonic, eustatic, climatic, and oceanographic processes). The focus on the community provides a framework for presenting some of the best examples from the literature using multiple taxonomic groups (e.g., corals, fishes, encrusting invertebrates).

Download or read book Establish Baseline Optical Conditions in the Florida Keys Coral Reefs and Quantify Spatial and Temporal Variability written by and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 4 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This document reports the results for the characterization of the underwater optical properties over the Florida Keys reef tract in space and time during the interdisciplinary bimonthly shipboard cruises of the South Florida Monitoring Program (SFP)"--Page 1.

Download or read book Spatial Ecology Patterns and Processes written by Vikas Rai and published by Bentham Science Publishers. This book was released on 2013-04-25 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spacial Ecology elucidates processes and mechanisms which structure dynamics of real world systems; these include lakes, ponds, forests and rivers. Readers are introduced to contemporary models in ecological literature based on the author’s research experience. The e-book starts by presenting an introduction to basic mechanisms of ecological processes. This is followed by chapters explaining these processes responsible for generating observed spatial patterns in detail. The e-book concludes with a chapter on water quality management and its relevance to the spatial setting in a wetland area. This text in spatial ecology is a welcome resource for readers interested in models, methods and methodologies best suited for the study of advanced ecology courses and topics related to ecosystem structure, function and habitat fragmentation.

Download or read book Ecology and Dynamics of Coral reef Populations Florida written by Gilbert L. Voss and published by . This book was released on 1968 with total page 6 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Nitrogen Cycling on Coral Reefs a Stable Isotopic Investigation of Nutrient Dynamics Within the Florida Keys Coral Reef Tract written by Kathryn Amanda Lamb-Wozniak and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation serves as a comprehensive, natural-abundance analysis of the present-day spatial and temporal dynamics and trophic linkages of nitrogen from within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). This work was accomplished by documenting the delta 15 N of particulate organic matter (POM), several genera of aquatic vegetation and herbivorous fish, as well as dissolved water column nitrogen. Seasonal and spatial variations in delta 15 N were assessed, trophic level variations among reef constituents were quantified, and relative contributions of both natural and anthropogenic nitrogen into the reef tract were determined. The measured mean delta 15 N of POM (3.64 per mil), aquatic vegetation (Dictyota = 2.39 per mil; Thalassia = 1.91 per mil; Rhizophora mangle = 1.46 per mil; Halimeda = 1.62 per mil; sponges = 4.13 per mil; turf algae = 2.67 per mil), herbivorous fish (4.92 to 8.47 per mil), as well as the delta 15 N and delta 18 O of nitrate (4.40 and 20.36 per mil, respectively) suggest that the primary nutrient sources directly impacting the reef are from natural sources, principally nitrogen fixation, and not anthropogenic wastes. Clear trophic linkages, without evidence of disturbances from anthropogenic wastes, are apparent in this study; herbivorous fishes show distinct 3 to 4 per mil enrichments over their food source. The presence of anthropogenic wastes was detected in the delta 15 N and delta 18 O of nitrate from Key Largo canal waters (10.09 per mil), however, sewage derived nutrients did not exist in any measurable or detectable amount outside the canals. Additionally, an assessment of the total yearly nitrogen contributions to the FKNMS was conducted, demonstrating that nitrogen fixation was the largest contributor of nitrogen to the ecosystem, delivering approximately 43 percent of all nitrogen. Anthropogenic wastes, however, contributed only about 8 percent to the total nitrogen budget, far less than biotic (non-human) wastes (13 percent), upwelling (10 percent), and gyre waters from the Gulf of Mexico (9 percent). For the first time, a long term, spatially diverse investigation has presented a more complete depiction of delta 15 N composition of various reef components found in the FKNMS, critical and imperative for accurately assessing nutrient pressures on coral reefs. As such, the data presented in this study do not support the theory that continuous anthropogenic nutrient loading from nearshore populations is the sole cause of reef decline in the FKNMS.

Download or read book The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 546 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Opportunities and Challenges in Development of a Mult agency Program to Monitor and Access Reef Fish Populations in Florida Keys Coral Reef Ecosystem written by Marilyn E. Brandt and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral disease is playing a significant role in structuring today's coral reef communities. While monitoring programs document declines associated with coral disease, there is a lack of tools that can test hypotheses of disease incidence and control. Here, we describe a modeling tool developed to test hypotheses about the spread and impact of white plague disease in diverse coral populations distributed across heterogeneous reef landscapes. The model Simulation of Infected Corals (SICO) was based on the dynamics of white plague over the course of 6 yr of monitoring on the forereefs of Little Cayman (Cayman Islands, British West Indies). A pattern-oriented modeling approach using a genetic algorithm was used to calibrate model parameters that describe disease introduction, transmissibility, and host susceptibility. Simulation patterns most accurately reflected patterns observed at study sites when disease was introduced at regular intervals and was transmissible within a limited area. Projecting forward in time, coral cover tended to drop precipitously until colonies were so sparse that disease transmission among colonies was rare. A sensitivity analysis of disease parameters indicated that the effect of changing disease parameters depended on the type of coral community, but that in communities dominated by susceptible species, local preventative measures were generally more effective than treatment measures in limiting disease impact..--(Abstract).

Download or read book Spatial Dynamics of Crustose Coralline Algae and Turf Algae as an Indicator of Reef Recovery written by Christina Jayne and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 53 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2015, prolonged warming caused severe bleaching across reefs in the Main Hawaiian Islands resulting in widespread coral mortality. In addition to understanding changes in coral populations, it is also important to study algal dynamics on these reefs, especially with a focus on crustose coralline algae (CCA) and turf algae. CCA can serve as indicator for coral growth and recovery, thus playing a significant role in determining the future of bleached coral reefs. Meanwhile, turf algae quickly occupies available space, competes with corals and prevents coral settlement. To assess the state of these Hawaiian reefs, a large-scale mosaic imaging technique has been in use since 2014 to document the conditions of select sites before and after the bleaching event. These 33 m2 photomosaics cover three reefs in leeward Maui across a gradient of herbivore biomass and sediment input. Analysis of the mosaics shows marked differences in turf and CCA spatial dynamics and percent cover between sites. Sites more protected from anthropogenic influences had the greatest CCA growth, while the site most impacted by local stressors lost CCA abundance and had the highest increase in turf algae. This suggests local management and stressors around a reef may affect CCA and turf growth, and therefore influence coral recovery. The large-area mosaic imaging method may serve as a useful model for analyses of reef resilience on coral reefs.

Download or read book Coral Reef Restoration Handbook written by William F. Precht and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2006-05-25 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: " this book is the first to describe, in detail, the art and science of coral reef restoration. It is to be hoped that the information that can be gleaned within the pages of this book will set a path towards continued preservation of this valuable underwater treasure to be used, appreciated, and experienced for future generations." -- Senator

Download or read book Results of a Workshop on Coral Reef Research and Management in the Florida Keys written by James W. Miller and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Biology of the Spotted Seatrout written by Stephen A. Bortone and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2002-07-30 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The spotted seatrout is an important species not only for recreational and commercial fisheries, but also as an integral part of many estuarine ecosystems. As one of the few fishes that live its entire life within an estuarine system, the species has tremendous potential as a monitor or sentinel for estuarine conditions. Prepared by the foremost au

Download or read book Assessing the Health of Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Florida Keys at Community Individual and Cellular Scales written by Elizabeth M. Fisher and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Coral reefs are threatened in Florida and worldwide. Successful resource management requires rapid identification of anthropogenic sources of stress before they affect the reef community. I tested a multi-scale approach for assessing reef condition at seven reefs within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Biscayne National Park between 2001 and 2003. I examined multiple environmental parameters to identify potential sources of stress. I utilized the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment Biotic Reef Index to assess benthic community structure and an indicator species of Foraminifera (Amphistegina gibbosa) to determine if environmental conditions were suitable for calcareous organisms that host algal endosymbionts. Small tissue samples were extracted from colonies of Montastraea annularis species complex to assay a suite of cellular biomarkers to elucidate possible mechanisms of the coral stress response. I monitored regeneration rates of the resultant lesions to determine if the coral colonies were capable of recovering from damage. Multivariate data analyses indicated that corals at all study sites were experiencing stress with different degrees of response and decline. On reefs with coarse grain sediments that are adjacent to an intact mangrove shoreline, the Cellular Diagnostic System indicated that corals were responding to a xenobiotic stress but appeared to be compensating as evidenced by consistently high lesion regeneration rates, a high percentage of healed lesions, low coral mortality and high abundances of A. gibbosa. On reefs with silt-sized sediments adjacent to developed coastlines, corals also were responding to xenobiotic stresses, but were negatively affected as evidenced by low regeneration rates, a low percentage of healed lesions, high coral mortality, and low abundances of A. gibbosa. Corals at an 18 m offshore site exhibited abnormally low biomarker levels and some died during the study, indicating that sampled colonies were incapable of upregulating necessary protective proteins. Further research will be required to determine stressor sources. This study demonstrates that a multiple-indicator approach, spanning scales from cellular to community, can provide marine resource managers with data linking decline of coral populations to specific environmental conditions and events, thereby providing potential for early detection of stressors allowing for preventive management.

Download or read book Coral Reefs of Florida written by Gilbert L. Voss and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offers an introduction to the biology and history of Florida's reefs, as well as an investigation of their chances for survival.