You are here: GulfBase > Projects & Programs > Nearshore Hardbottom Characterizations from North Collier County	•

	Home Upcoming Events Institutions & Organizations People Bays & Estuaries Reefs, Banks & Islands Environmental Issues General Facts about the Gulf Exploration History Other Online Resources Electronic Books Mexican Coral Reef Species Checklist InfoHub Site Search:		Nearshore Hardbottom Characterizations from North Collier County Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. Collier County, in southwest Florida, selected Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. (CPE) to conduct its largest nearshore hardbottom characterization. All work was conducted within 300 m of shore. FDEP modified AGRRA methods were employed at 638 quadrats covering a total of 319 square m, evenly distributed among 58 transects. Transects were sorted unevenly into six segments. The overall averages for major parameters were: relief 16 cm, sediment depth 6 cm, sand cover 32%, macroalgae cover 25%, scleractinia density 1.3 square m. The data sorted segments into three relatively distinct groups. The two northernmost segments had relief, sediment depth, sand cover and macroalgae cover close to the overall averages, and the highest scleractinia density 2.1 sq. m. The two central segments had the greatest relief 24 cm, least sediment depth 5 cm, low sand cover 20%, high macroalgae cover 32%, and high scleractinia density 1.54 sq. m. The two southernmost segments had the lowest relief 10 cm, greatest sand cover 46%, lowest macroalgae cover 12.5% and lowest scleractinia density 0.47 sq. m. The two dominant macroalgae genera were Gracilaria, and Hypnea, both are known to be consumed by juvenile green sea turtles. Caulerpa, Sargassum, Dasya, and Botryocladia were occasional. Scleractinia density was surprisingly high for this turbid nearshore habitat. The vast majority of coral records were Siderastrea spp., and Oculina sp., Phyllangia sp., and Solenastrea sp. were occasional. This survey found anomalously few <2 cm colonies relative to 2-5 cm colonies. This suggests the habitat was chronically disturbed with respect to Scleractinia recruitment in the last decade. Principal Investigator(s) or Program Chair: Lybolt, Matthew Chris Makowski, Craig Kruempel, and Rick Spadoni Sponsor(s): Coastal Planning & Engineering, Inc. Field of Focus: Ecology; Environmental Science; Coastal Development; Ecological Indicators; Habitat Loss; Restoration; Biological Oceanography; Decision, Risk and Management Science Award Period:   Since 2003, Ongoing Home Page:   http://www.coastalplanning.net/projects/colier_env/collier_env.html E-mail:   mlybolt@coastalplanning.net Keywords:   West Florida, Hard Bottom, Nearshore, Coral, Algae, Collier
			Protected Area: Change your Password Edit your GulfBase Record Forgot your Username or Password?

GulfBase is a project of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. To give proper credit to the original authors, please cite information taken from GulfBase by the original source as displayed. To cite GulfBase, use: M. Nipper, J.A. Sánchez Chávez, and J.W. Tunnell, Jr., Editors. 2010. GulfBase: Resource Database for Gulf of Mexico Research. World Wide Web electronic publication. http://www.gulfbase.org, 09 February 2010.

You are visitor since October 15, 2002.	GulfBase Team   Contact Info