2. Coral Reef Ecology

3. Types of Coral Reefs Found in the Florida Keys Outer Bank Spur and Groove Reef Outer Bank Spur and Groove Reef –Found on the outer bank of the continental shelf –Coral Spurs and sandy grooves

5. Types of Coral Reefs Found in the Florida Keys Outer Bank Spur and Groove Reef Outer Bank Spur and Groove Reef Patch Reef Patch Reef –Found closer to shore –Grow in patches

6. Coral Reefs have a very high biodiversity Over 70 species of stony coral Over 70 species of stony coral Over 600 species of fish Over 600 species of fish Over 50 species of sponges Over 50 species of sponges Thousands of other invertebrates Thousands of other invertebrates

9. Coral – A colony of animals

10. Coral Polyp

11. Covered with mucus

12. Connected to it’s neighbors

13. Stony Corals Reef Building Corals Called “Stony Corals” because they have a skeleton made of CaCO 3 (limestone)

14. Star Coral

17. Brain Coral

19. Elkhorn Coral

20. Gorgonian Corals Have a skeleton made of protein (gorgonin)

21. Sea Fan

22. Sea Candelabra

23. Sea Plumes

24. Sea Rods

25. Types of Corals Found in the Keys Stony Coral – skeleton made of limestone (CaCO 3 ) Stony Coral – skeleton made of limestone (CaCO 3 ) –Brain coral, star coral, elkhorn coral staghorn coral Gorgonian coral – skeleton made of protein (gorgonin) Gorgonian coral – skeleton made of protein (gorgonin) –Sea fan, sea plume, sea whips

26. Soft Coral Not found in the Keys

28. Zooxanthellae

29. Zoo xanthellae animalgolden plant Zoo xanthellae animalgolden plant

31. Mutualistic Symbiotic Zooxanthellae Corals get food and oxygen Corals get food and oxygen Zooxanthellae (algae) get CO 2 shelter and nutrients Zooxanthellae (algae) get CO 2 shelter and nutrients

32. Coral Bleaching

33. Environmental Conditions Necessary for a Healthy Coral Reef Stable Salinity – 35 o / oo Stable Salinity – 35 o / oo Abundant Sunlight – clear, shallow water Abundant Sunlight – clear, shallow water Moderate Water Temperature – 65 to 85 o F Moderate Water Temperature – 65 to 85 o F Moderate wave action/currents Moderate wave action/currents Good Water Quality Good Water Quality

34. Stable Conditions = High Biodiversity

35. Stable Habitats: High biodiversity High biodiversity Narrow niche Narrow niche Low abundance of each species Low abundance of each species

36. Long Spined Sea Urchin

43. Simultaneous Mass Spawning - Overwhelms predators - Increases chances of fertilization

50. Hurricanes Physically damage (break) the corals Physically damage (break) the corals Broken pieces damage other healthy corals Broken pieces damage other healthy corals

51. Dredging Blocks sunlight Blocks sunlight Smothers corals Smothers corals

52. Boat Groundings Physically damage (break) the corals Physically damage (break) the corals

53. Wellwood – Grounded on Molasses Reef in 1984

54. Wellwood

56. Alec Owen Maitland - 1989

57. Arion - 1996

60. Anchor Damage Physically damage (break) the corals Physically damage (break) the corals

61. Mooring Buoy System

65. Human Contact Removes protective (antibacterial) mucus coating Removes protective (antibacterial) mucus coating Makes coral susceptible to disease Makes coral susceptible to disease

67. No gloves allowed on the field trip!

69. Black Band Disease

72. White Pox

73. Fishing Gear Removes protective (antibacterial) mucus coating Removes protective (antibacterial) mucus coating Makes coral susceptible to disease Makes coral susceptible to disease Blocks sunlight Blocks sunlight Physically damages the coral Physically damages the coral

75. Physical Threats to the Coral Reef Hurricanes Hurricanes Dredging Dredging Boat Groundings Boat Groundings Anchor Damage Anchor Damage Human Contact Human Contact Fishing Gear Fishing Gear

76. Pristine Mangrove Islands

78. With Humans came Pollution

82. Nutrient Pollution Sewage Sewage Fertilizer Fertilizer Detergent Detergent

83. Sediments

85. Sediment Pollution Coastal Runoff Coastal Runoff Prop Dredging Prop Dredging

86. Toxic Chemicals: - pesticides - industrial chemicals - household chemicals

87. Petroleum Pollutants

88. Types of Pollution That Impact the Coral Reef Nutrients – can cause algae blooms Nutrients – can cause algae blooms –Sewage, fertilizer, detergent Sediments – block sunlight and smother coral Sediments – block sunlight and smother coral –Coastal runoff, prop dredging Toxic Chemicals – kill corals and other animals Toxic Chemicals – kill corals and other animals –Pesticides, household & industrial chemicals Petroleum Products (Oil and gas) – kill corals & other animals Petroleum Products (Oil and gas) – kill corals & other animals –Spills, Runoff from roads, garages, marinas

91. It is illegal to harvest live coral in the US. It is illegal to import corals that were harvested alive.

92. Take Only Pictures and Leave only Bubbles