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Presentation
Patterns in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Community Composition
Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures
  • M. P. Sathe, Nova Southeastern University
  • David S. Gilliam, Nova Southeastern University
  • Richard E. Dodge, Nova Southeastern University
  • L. E. Fisher, Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department
Event Name/Location
Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Keywords
  • SE Florida,
  • Community Composition,
  • Reef Habitats,
  • ICRS11,
  • Reef Status and Trends
Abstract

The Southeast (SE) Florida coral reef system is the northern extension of the Florida reef tract. This high latitude system lies offshore a heavily populated and urbanized coast and therefore is affected by numerous environmental and anthropogenic stressors. Using annual monitoring data collected in 2004, the southeast lorida reef community was analyzed to investigate patterns in community composition in various habitat types. Data was collected by SCUBA divers who conducted a 30m2 belt transect survey at 24 sample sites offshore Broward County (SE), Florida. Sites ranged in depth range from six to 18 meters. The 24 sites occurred on five different reef habitat categories: ridge-shallow, colonized pavement-shallow, linear inner reef, linear middle reef, and linear outer reef. These sites were established for the Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department, Biological Resources Division, in order to monitor Broward County coral communities and sedimentation rates in relation to possible effects from a beach renourishment project. The assessment took place prior to the renourishment project.

Comments

Full conference proceedings can be found at http://www.reefbase.org

Additional Comments

Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7-11 July 2008. Vol. 2: 811-815 (Session number 18)

Citation Information
M. P. Sathe, David S. Gilliam, Richard E. Dodge and L. E. Fisher. "Patterns in Southeast Florida Coral Reef Community Composition" (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard-dodge/90/