Staghorn Comeback ... off Ft. Lauderdale???

[ricki]

I thought some of the staghorn beds around the north end of the public beach between the first and second reefs were looking healthier than in years past. More about that below:

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2009

CONTACT: Cristina Llorens (561) 681-6605 or (561) 561 248 0830

Amy Graham (850) 245-2112 or (850) 778-7258 (cell)

THREATENED CORAL THRIVING OFF THE COAST OF FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH

~DEP partners with local and federal agencies and scientists to demonstrate how staghorn coral is thriving in southeast Florida~

Fort Lauderdale Beach –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), the Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department (EPGMD), the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) announced today that staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis), a federally designated threatened coral species, is thriving off the coast of Broward County.

“There has been a steady decline of staghorn coral throughout the Florida Keys and the Caribbean,” said Lee Edmiston, Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Director. “So we are very fortunate to have one of the largest and healthiest remaining staghorn coral stands in Florida, right off of the beaches of Fort Lauderdale.”

Since the late 1970s, staghorn and elkhorn (A. palmata) coral populations have declined up to 97 percent in the Florida Keys, Dry Tortugas, Belize, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Researchers identified poor water quality and white-band disease as the primary causes for this large-scale decline. This unprecedented loss led to the listing of both species as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2006. The increased awareness generated by the ESA listing has resulted in more divers taking note of colonies they see and reporting them to scientists and resource protection agencies.

Today’s tour follows the recent enactment of the Coral Reef Protection Act, which went into effect on July 1, 2009. Passed during the 2009 Florida legislative session, the law increases protection of Florida’s vulnerable coral reefs by raising awareness of damages associated with vessel groundings and anchoring on coral reefs off the coasts of Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties. The law also authorizes civil penalties for the destruction of coral reefs and provides for efficient repair and mitigation of reef injuries.

“The persistence of such a large and healthy stand of staghorn coral off Broward County and the incredible assortment of marine life it supports is a testament to the biological value of southeast Florida’s reefs,” said Christopher Boykin with DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program. “However, as the only known example of its kind in our region, this staghorn coral reef is also vulnerable to impacts from land-based sources of pollution, coastal development and climate change; underscoring the importance of doing everything we can to protect it.”



While local, state and federal agencies are working together to protect Florida’s coral reefs, residents and visitors alike can also help by implementing four simple tips:

1. Minimize the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides which can contaminate groundwater and enter coastal waterways.

2. Dispose of household chemicals at designated hazardous waste facilities, which can be harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly.

3. Anchor boats in the sand or tie them up to mooring buoys to minimize damage to coral reefs.

4. Practice proper weighting and buoyancy when scuba diving, as having neutral buoyancy when diving prevents divers from being too close to fragile coral and prevents reef damage.


DEP protects the Florida Reef Tract through the work of the Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and several state parks. DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, housed within CAMA, was established in 2004. CAMA also manages Florida’s three National Estuarine Research Reserves and 41 Aquatic Preserves. CAMA’s programs and activities are designed to protect Florida’s most sensitive aquatic resources and help Floridians better understand and conserve these resources through research, education and preservation.

For more information on DEP’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/programs/coral/.


For more information on DEP’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal.

The Department of Environmental Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of service you received. Simply click on this link to the DEP Customer Survey. Thank you in advance for completing the survey."

[ricki]

Went scooter free diving off the beach just north of Ft. Lauderdale today. Came into a surprise just inside the inner second reef ledge or in the relict lagoon area over rock. The water is fairly shallow here about 7 to 10 ft. over fairly smooth rock, perhaps formed by calcareous algae. There was staghorn coral, (Acropora cervicornis), A LOT of it. Likely acres of intermittant coverage. For the most part, healthy looking coral too. Growth estimates have been identified of 10 to 20 cm per year. In the Keys this was a very fast growing coral and along with A. palamata a major component of the fore reef. That is before the die off of the mid 1980's.

Here is a video over flying some of the colonies. I was last over the section of reef a few years back. Will have to see if I have any photos of the smaller, more isolated staghorn colonies present at that time. There used to be far smaller, isolated colonies historically, nothing remotely resembling the extensive, healthy growth shown here. Looking at the video you can see areas of dead staghorn some of which has been overgrown by new live coral. Looking at the lengths of the colonies, perhaps the coral was killed during the hurricane years of 2004 and/or 2005? What live regenerated coral you see developed subsequent to that time perhaps?

6900600

I've seen dead fragments of staghorn on and around the reefs in this area for almost forty years. Could be conditions just weren't quite right for contemporary population explosion as was routinely underway in historically clearer warmer waters in the Keys, Bahamas, Antilles, etc. in those years. Not sure if the current growth I saw today will continue at the same pace.

Here's an interesting thought if it does, the reef could be much more developed AND SHALLOW in this area. How shallow, you've got me. Not even sure if it will happen, but if it does ... Could an intertidal reef develop here or one that merely attenuates storm waves in a major way reducing beach erosion and through lagoon siltation and infilling, perhaps cause beach expansion? It could even become too shallow to safely navigate across in time. As the coral rises, it should also expand laterally widening the terrace. Broken coral pieces and other facies, entrained sediment will be accreted into the reef mass aiding expansion. Could this result in a new barrier reef or new distinct fringing reef terrace off Broward County? Perhaps, time will tell.

How long? No real idea but with the reported growth rates, perhaps in 20 years or less? More dramatic, potential, changes and in our time yet again. Keep an eye on this.

[ricki]

Just put up another clip close to the area shown in the video posted above this.

6908086

I understand substantial staghorn growth has been noted developing from Hollywood northward to Pompano. It may well extend beyond these areas as well.