HR: 14:25h
AN: OS23B-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Environmental Variability in the Florida Keys: Impacts on Coral Reef Resilience and Health
AU: * Soto, I M
EM: isoto@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AU: Muller-Karger, F E
EM: carib@marine.usf.edu
AF: University of South Florida, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 United States
AB: Environmental variability contributes to both mass mortality and resilience in tropical coral reef communities. We assess variations in sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean color in the Florida Keys using satellite imagery, and provide insight into how this variability is associated with locations of resilient coral communities (those unaffected by or able to recover from major events). The project tests the hypothesis that areas with historically low environmental variability promote lower levels of coral reef resilience. Time series of SST from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors and ocean color derived quantities (e.g., turbidity and chlorophyll) from the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWiFS) are being constructed over the entire Florida Keys region for a period of twelve and nine years, respectively. These data will be compared with historical coral cover data derived from Landsat imagery (1984-2002). Improved understanding of the causes of coral reef decline or resilience will help protect and manage these natural treasures.
DE: 4220 Coral reef systems (4916)
DE: 4275 Remote sensing and electromagnetic processes (0689, 2487, 3285, 4455, 6934)
DE: 4916 Corals (4220)
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005