A Team of specialists, generally following the guidelines and standards established by TNC, prepa... more A Team of specialists, generally following the guidelines and standards established by TNC, prepared the Bahama Ecoregion Plan, which summarizes and synthesizes the best information available. It provides comprehensive maps and database tools that will be useful to wide audiences interested in the implementation of conservation, education, outreach, and management programs. In the process, team members participated in conferences, workshops, and meetings designed to compile hard-toaccess information from ongoing efforts carried out by 133 foreign research permit holders and many nongovernmental organizations in the Bahama archipelago. A total of four community targets, and eleven target species were selected to effectively represent (and protect) all important species and communities. For each of these targets we generally provide a description and information on distribution, population status, ecology and natural history, habitat and associated species. In addition, we identified existing threats, information gaps, research needs, and conservation goals. Last but not least, we provide contact information and a selected bibliography. Furthermore, we reviewed specific habitat types that are relevant to the archipelago. From a long list of very distinct and elaborate potential habitat descriptions, both marine and terrestrial, a Bahama specific list was eventually developed to include those environments that were mappable and discernable from the LandSat images. This list was representational of all important communities and species in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The geology, topography and climate of the Bank and Island Systems, as well as four natural communities (uplands, wetlands, coastal zone and marine) are described in detail. These habitats were mapped using ground truth data, collected by team members and other experts in the field, and remote sensing techniques from a series of LandSat7 images. The entire archipelago was classified to measure percentage of each habitat along with human altered terrain, mapping the habitats each target requires to survive. The here presented Ecoregion Plan is a tool that not only includes a current assessment of terrestrial and marine resources in the Bahama Archipelago, but also initiates a process of consensus building for clearly articulated goals and strategies for fifteen well-defined conservation targets
The sea urchin embryo development toxicity test was used to investigate toxicity of the benthic s... more The sea urchin embryo development toxicity test was used to investigate toxicity of the benthic substrate in Biscayne National Park (BISC). Twenty-five sites were selected based upon a high potential for anthropogenic stressor input (e. g., hydrocarbons, personal care products, nutrients, etc.) or proximity to coral reef habitats. We found that sediment interstitial water (porewater) was toxic to urchin embryos at 22 of 25 sites. Healthy sites included two coral reefs (Anniversary Reef and Marker 14 Reef) and Turkey Point Channel. Discrete areas of BISC have highly toxic sediments and the presence of sediment contaminants could negatively impact reproduction, growth and population density of benthic invertebrates, such as corals. Results of the sea urchin embryo development toxicity test can be used as a baseline assessment for monitoring improvements or degradation in ecosystem health and could be a valuable tool to investigate the suitability of degraded habitats for future reef r...
Ocean warming is increasing the incidence, scale, and severity of global-scale coral bleaching an... more Ocean warming is increasing the incidence, scale, and severity of global-scale coral bleaching and mortality, culminating in the third global coral bleaching event that occurred during record marine heatwaves of 2014-2017. While local effects of these events have been widely reported, the global implications remain unknown. Analysis of 15,066 reef surveys during 2014-2017 revealed that 80% of surveyed reefs experienced significant coral bleaching and 35% experienced significant coral mortality. The global extent of significant coral bleaching and mortality was assessed by extrapolating results from reef surveys using comprehensive remote-sensing data of regional heat stress. This model predicted that 51% of the world’s coral reefs suffered significant bleaching and 15% significant mortality, surpassing damage from any prior global bleaching event. These observations demonstrate that global warming’s widespread damage to coral reefs is accelerating and underscores the threat anthropo...
The influence of habitat selection and density on the population dynamics of stony coral species ... more The influence of habitat selection and density on the population dynamics of stony coral species of the
ABSTRACT Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 2006–2007 (“recent” period) in Biscayne N... more ABSTRACT Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 2006–2007 (“recent” period) in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA, and compared with data collected from 1977 to 1981 (“historical” period) from the same location. Substantial differences were observed in reef fish assemblage structure between periods. Sixty-four percent of species were observed less frequently in the recent period. Mean species richness per survey declined at all sites, with declines ranging from 9% to 27%. Declines of fishery-targeted species were also observed and were consistent with but not greater than those observed for the reef fish assemblage as a whole. The observed declines appeared to be assemblage-wide, as a majority of species within all trophic guilds examined (spongivores, planktivores, herbivores, omnivores, invertivores, generalist carnivores, and piscivores) declined in frequency of occurrence between periods, with declines ranging from 55% of species for piscivores to 75% for omnivores. Mean number of species per survey declined for all guilds but herbivores, and ranged from a 14% decline for piscivores to 67% for planktivores. The declines observed in the present study are conceptually consistent with, but more extensive than, those recently documented for the Caribbean region as a whole and with those expected in coral reef systems that are heavily utilized by humans.
This project characterized and assessed the condition of coastal water resources in the Dry Tortu... more This project characterized and assessed the condition of coastal water resources in the Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) located in the Florida Keys. The goal of the assessment was to: (1) identify the state of knowledge of natural resources that exist within the DRTO, (2) summarize the state of knowledge about natural and anthropogenic stressors and threats that affected these resources, and (3) describe strategies being implemented by DRTO managers to meet their resource management goals. The park, located in the Straits of Florida 113 km (70 miles) west of Key West, is relatively small (269 square kilometers) with seven small islands and extensive shallow water coral reefs. Significant natural resources within DRTO include coastal and oceanic waters, coral reefs, reef fisheries, seagrass beds, and sea turtle and bird nesting habitats. This report focuses on marine natural resources identified by DRTO resource managers and researchers as being vitally important to the Tortugas re...
Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biod... more Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biodiversity and the conservation of natural resources must go beyond the protection of species or unique environmental features. Consequently, ‘landscape conservation initiatives’ have been developed to emphasize the conservation at multiple levels of biological organization and recognizes that conservation should not be constrained by geo-political boundaries.
This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic com... more This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic components of Bahamian nearshore marine communities. This project suggests that composition of nearshore marine communities of The Bahamas is determined by a highly complex system of interactions between various abiotic and biotic components. Accurate predictions about a site's nearshore marine community composition can likely be made if details of general spatio-temporal habitat characteristics are known.Floral assemblages were determined to be unique at each island, and showed island-specific responses to wave energy and substrate. Analyses completed at broader functional group and phyla levels of analysis resulted in decreased detection of floral responses to environmental features. Coastal benthic flora assemblages displayed negligible seasonal changes. An influence of terrestrial land-use and vegetation patterns on benthic flora composition was detected, especially on North Andros. Comparable terrestrial effects were observed using species and functional group approaches, although floral occurrences were stronger than abundances.Micro-crustacean families demonstrated quantitative responses to site, wave energy, substrate, and season factors, and qualitative responses to site and substrate types. Density and diversity showed an inverse relationship at different factor levels. Micro-crustacean assemblage composition was strongly linked to the covers of floral species and floral functional groups and the extent of anthropogenic destructive land-use patterns.Characterization of fish assemblages by beach seining is time-intensive and requires that sampling effort be distributed among different tides, times of day, and seasons to address the natural temporal variability in fish assemblages. Fish assemblages were influenced most by benthic flora characteristics, and, to a lesser extent, by micro-crustacean patterns. Covers of different floral species and functional groups helped explain observed patterns of species and trophic groups. Less abundant floral features were more important in determining multivariate fish parameters, such as species abundances. Common floral features were found to be important influences on univariate parameters.Coastal developments have been shown to directly or indirectly influence the distribution and abundances of various taxa, suggesting that careful monitoring and mitigation programs should accompany future coastal anthropogenic activities. This work provides a plan for assessing and monitoring natural and anthropogenic disturbance events in coastal ecosystems.
This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic com... more This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic components of Bahamian nearshore marine communities. This project suggests that composition of nearshore marine communities of The Bahamas is determined by a highly complex system of interactions between various abiotic and biotic components. Accurate predictions about a site's nearshore marine community composition can likely be made if details of general spatio-temporal habitat characteristics are known.Floral assemblages were determined to be unique at each island, and showed island-specific responses to wave energy and substrate. Analyses completed at broader functional group and phyla levels of analysis resulted in decreased detection of floral responses to environmental features. Coastal benthic flora assemblages displayed negligible seasonal changes. An influence of terrestrial land-use and vegetation patterns on benthic flora composition was detected, especially on North Andros...
We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major isla... more We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major islands of The Bahamas to determine the effects of various environmental features on benthic flora assemblages. Assemblages were analyzed at species and functional group levels of resolution. Multivariate analyses indicated that each island hosted a very distinct assemblage. Island-specific differences were ob- served along north-south and east-west gradients, suggesting that climate, geomorphology, and oceanogra- phy may play a fundamental role in shaping coastal benthic flora assemblages. Wave energy and substrate significantly affected the occurrences and/or abundances of benthic flora at Eleuthera and North Andros sites, with responses most often detected at the species level. The abundances of functional groups varied among different islands and, within North Andros, among different substrate and wave energy levels. Coastal terrestrial features related to nutrient and sediment regulatio...
A Team of specialists, generally following the guidelines and standards established by TNC, prepa... more A Team of specialists, generally following the guidelines and standards established by TNC, prepared the Bahama Ecoregion Plan, which summarizes and synthesizes the best information available. It provides comprehensive maps and database tools that will be useful to wide audiences interested in the implementation of conservation, education, outreach, and management programs. In the process, team members participated in conferences, workshops, and meetings designed to compile hard-toaccess information from ongoing efforts carried out by 133 foreign research permit holders and many nongovernmental organizations in the Bahama archipelago. A total of four community targets, and eleven target species were selected to effectively represent (and protect) all important species and communities. For each of these targets we generally provide a description and information on distribution, population status, ecology and natural history, habitat and associated species. In addition, we identified existing threats, information gaps, research needs, and conservation goals. Last but not least, we provide contact information and a selected bibliography. Furthermore, we reviewed specific habitat types that are relevant to the archipelago. From a long list of very distinct and elaborate potential habitat descriptions, both marine and terrestrial, a Bahama specific list was eventually developed to include those environments that were mappable and discernable from the LandSat images. This list was representational of all important communities and species in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The geology, topography and climate of the Bank and Island Systems, as well as four natural communities (uplands, wetlands, coastal zone and marine) are described in detail. These habitats were mapped using ground truth data, collected by team members and other experts in the field, and remote sensing techniques from a series of LandSat7 images. The entire archipelago was classified to measure percentage of each habitat along with human altered terrain, mapping the habitats each target requires to survive. The here presented Ecoregion Plan is a tool that not only includes a current assessment of terrestrial and marine resources in the Bahama Archipelago, but also initiates a process of consensus building for clearly articulated goals and strategies for fifteen well-defined conservation targets
The sea urchin embryo development toxicity test was used to investigate toxicity of the benthic s... more The sea urchin embryo development toxicity test was used to investigate toxicity of the benthic substrate in Biscayne National Park (BISC). Twenty-five sites were selected based upon a high potential for anthropogenic stressor input (e. g., hydrocarbons, personal care products, nutrients, etc.) or proximity to coral reef habitats. We found that sediment interstitial water (porewater) was toxic to urchin embryos at 22 of 25 sites. Healthy sites included two coral reefs (Anniversary Reef and Marker 14 Reef) and Turkey Point Channel. Discrete areas of BISC have highly toxic sediments and the presence of sediment contaminants could negatively impact reproduction, growth and population density of benthic invertebrates, such as corals. Results of the sea urchin embryo development toxicity test can be used as a baseline assessment for monitoring improvements or degradation in ecosystem health and could be a valuable tool to investigate the suitability of degraded habitats for future reef r...
Ocean warming is increasing the incidence, scale, and severity of global-scale coral bleaching an... more Ocean warming is increasing the incidence, scale, and severity of global-scale coral bleaching and mortality, culminating in the third global coral bleaching event that occurred during record marine heatwaves of 2014-2017. While local effects of these events have been widely reported, the global implications remain unknown. Analysis of 15,066 reef surveys during 2014-2017 revealed that 80% of surveyed reefs experienced significant coral bleaching and 35% experienced significant coral mortality. The global extent of significant coral bleaching and mortality was assessed by extrapolating results from reef surveys using comprehensive remote-sensing data of regional heat stress. This model predicted that 51% of the world’s coral reefs suffered significant bleaching and 15% significant mortality, surpassing damage from any prior global bleaching event. These observations demonstrate that global warming’s widespread damage to coral reefs is accelerating and underscores the threat anthropo...
The influence of habitat selection and density on the population dynamics of stony coral species ... more The influence of habitat selection and density on the population dynamics of stony coral species of the
ABSTRACT Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 2006–2007 (“recent” period) in Biscayne N... more ABSTRACT Reef fish assemblage structure was assessed in 2006–2007 (“recent” period) in Biscayne National Park, Florida, USA, and compared with data collected from 1977 to 1981 (“historical” period) from the same location. Substantial differences were observed in reef fish assemblage structure between periods. Sixty-four percent of species were observed less frequently in the recent period. Mean species richness per survey declined at all sites, with declines ranging from 9% to 27%. Declines of fishery-targeted species were also observed and were consistent with but not greater than those observed for the reef fish assemblage as a whole. The observed declines appeared to be assemblage-wide, as a majority of species within all trophic guilds examined (spongivores, planktivores, herbivores, omnivores, invertivores, generalist carnivores, and piscivores) declined in frequency of occurrence between periods, with declines ranging from 55% of species for piscivores to 75% for omnivores. Mean number of species per survey declined for all guilds but herbivores, and ranged from a 14% decline for piscivores to 67% for planktivores. The declines observed in the present study are conceptually consistent with, but more extensive than, those recently documented for the Caribbean region as a whole and with those expected in coral reef systems that are heavily utilized by humans.
This project characterized and assessed the condition of coastal water resources in the Dry Tortu... more This project characterized and assessed the condition of coastal water resources in the Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) located in the Florida Keys. The goal of the assessment was to: (1) identify the state of knowledge of natural resources that exist within the DRTO, (2) summarize the state of knowledge about natural and anthropogenic stressors and threats that affected these resources, and (3) describe strategies being implemented by DRTO managers to meet their resource management goals. The park, located in the Straits of Florida 113 km (70 miles) west of Key West, is relatively small (269 square kilometers) with seven small islands and extensive shallow water coral reefs. Significant natural resources within DRTO include coastal and oceanic waters, coral reefs, reef fisheries, seagrass beds, and sea turtle and bird nesting habitats. This report focuses on marine natural resources identified by DRTO resource managers and researchers as being vitally important to the Tortugas re...
Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biod... more Over the past decade, scientists and resource managers have realized that the maintenance of biodiversity and the conservation of natural resources must go beyond the protection of species or unique environmental features. Consequently, ‘landscape conservation initiatives’ have been developed to emphasize the conservation at multiple levels of biological organization and recognizes that conservation should not be constrained by geo-political boundaries.
This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic com... more This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic components of Bahamian nearshore marine communities. This project suggests that composition of nearshore marine communities of The Bahamas is determined by a highly complex system of interactions between various abiotic and biotic components. Accurate predictions about a site's nearshore marine community composition can likely be made if details of general spatio-temporal habitat characteristics are known.Floral assemblages were determined to be unique at each island, and showed island-specific responses to wave energy and substrate. Analyses completed at broader functional group and phyla levels of analysis resulted in decreased detection of floral responses to environmental features. Coastal benthic flora assemblages displayed negligible seasonal changes. An influence of terrestrial land-use and vegetation patterns on benthic flora composition was detected, especially on North Andros. Comparable terrestrial effects were observed using species and functional group approaches, although floral occurrences were stronger than abundances.Micro-crustacean families demonstrated quantitative responses to site, wave energy, substrate, and season factors, and qualitative responses to site and substrate types. Density and diversity showed an inverse relationship at different factor levels. Micro-crustacean assemblage composition was strongly linked to the covers of floral species and floral functional groups and the extent of anthropogenic destructive land-use patterns.Characterization of fish assemblages by beach seining is time-intensive and requires that sampling effort be distributed among different tides, times of day, and seasons to address the natural temporal variability in fish assemblages. Fish assemblages were influenced most by benthic flora characteristics, and, to a lesser extent, by micro-crustacean patterns. Covers of different floral species and functional groups helped explain observed patterns of species and trophic groups. Less abundant floral features were more important in determining multivariate fish parameters, such as species abundances. Common floral features were found to be important influences on univariate parameters.Coastal developments have been shown to directly or indirectly influence the distribution and abundances of various taxa, suggesting that careful monitoring and mitigation programs should accompany future coastal anthropogenic activities. This work provides a plan for assessing and monitoring natural and anthropogenic disturbance events in coastal ecosystems.
This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic com... more This multi-year study examined the nature of relationships between various abiotic and biotic components of Bahamian nearshore marine communities. This project suggests that composition of nearshore marine communities of The Bahamas is determined by a highly complex system of interactions between various abiotic and biotic components. Accurate predictions about a site's nearshore marine community composition can likely be made if details of general spatio-temporal habitat characteristics are known.Floral assemblages were determined to be unique at each island, and showed island-specific responses to wave energy and substrate. Analyses completed at broader functional group and phyla levels of analysis resulted in decreased detection of floral responses to environmental features. Coastal benthic flora assemblages displayed negligible seasonal changes. An influence of terrestrial land-use and vegetation patterns on benthic flora composition was detected, especially on North Andros...
We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major isla... more We completed presence-absence and point-intercept surveys of benthic flora around four major islands of The Bahamas to determine the effects of various environmental features on benthic flora assemblages. Assemblages were analyzed at species and functional group levels of resolution. Multivariate analyses indicated that each island hosted a very distinct assemblage. Island-specific differences were ob- served along north-south and east-west gradients, suggesting that climate, geomorphology, and oceanogra- phy may play a fundamental role in shaping coastal benthic flora assemblages. Wave energy and substrate significantly affected the occurrences and/or abundances of benthic flora at Eleuthera and North Andros sites, with responses most often detected at the species level. The abundances of functional groups varied among different islands and, within North Andros, among different substrate and wave energy levels. Coastal terrestrial features related to nutrient and sediment regulatio...
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