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Home My WebLink AboutPresentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_8/14/2024 (3)l Aug. 14, 2024 Taylor Tucker Reef Resilience Coordinator Tequesta Meeting Florida Department of Environmental Protection FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Source: FDEP LET’S DIVE IN!FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF YES! ARE CORALS ANIMALS?FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Polyps . identical, interconnected polyps over the skeleton. WHAT IS A CORAL?FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF connected by tissues Corals are invertebrates made up of are tiny animals made of coral polyps, which are living structure WHAT IS A CORAL REEF?FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF A coral reef is a that live together. . . thelly - . zan - are algae zooxanthellae from protect nutrients and color Pronounced zoo o Zooxanthellae that get their energy (food) from the sun.Algae are plants that photosynthesize Corals predators.Zooxanthellae give the corals •••• : Ocean Source Smithsonian CORALS LIVE IN SYMBIOSIS FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Source: FWC/FWRI and branching when sea levels rose after 2 centimeters per year - 0.3 10,000 years ago Institute (FWRI) Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)/Fish and Wildlife Research 10 centimeters per year. CORALS (AND REEFS) TAKE TIME TO GROW FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Florida’s Coral Reef began forming the last Ice Age. Boulder corals grow corals up to , with long.six home to five from shore. more than 5 few hundred feet 350 miles Next to counties more than million people38 million visitors each year.A or miles ••• WHERE DO CORALS LIVE NEAR US?FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Florida Stony Corals of Guide to Common Source: FWC/FWRI whose polyps leave behind ” Source: FWC/FWRI REEF COMPOSITION: STONY CORALS FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Reef building corals “ =a dense network of hard skeletons.Create habitats and massive structures over thousands CORAL REEFS ARE CENTRAL TO OUR LIVES FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF CORAL REEFS PROTECT US FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF CORAL REEFS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL HABITAT FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF sponges 70+ stony corals, 43+ invertebrates, 600+ fishes, 517 ESSENTIAL HABITATS FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF - (68B Florida Coral from supports protected US Restoring Resilient US Endangered Species protects species at risk of All stony corals, octocorals, black corals and fire corals within Florida waters are take/attempted take, destruction, sale and possession. • All of Florida's Coral Reef is protected by the Reef Protection Act 42.009, F.A.C.):The Reefs Act conservation and research.The Act extinction. ••• PROTECTIONS FOR THE REEF FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF or from recovering or withstanding an impact must be able to survive and thrive! maintain key functions when it is stressed one when it happens. corals Resilient REEF RESILIENCE FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF The ability of a coral reef to under pressure, occurs by either + and + extreme + . heatwaves warming fication severity of Coral stress and Increased frequency andweather eventsMarineOceanacidi=bleaching GLOBAL STRESSORS FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Ocean Source: Smithsonian Source: FWC/FWRI Coral Healthy CORAL BLEACHING FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Disease, Temperature Stress Sedimentation, Source: Smithsonian Ocean Pollution, Low Oxygen, Salinity, Source: FWC/FWRI Coral Partially Bleached CORAL BLEACHING FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Mote Marine Laboratory : Bleached Source Fully Partially Bleached Pale/ Healthy CORAL BLEACHING FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF . No still alive. A bleached coral is Bleached Coral CORAL BLEACHING IS A BLEACHED CORAL DEAD? Dead Coral Prolonged Temperature Stress Bleached Coral Water Temperature Returns to Normal Healthy Coral CORAL BLEACHING FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Water Temperature Increases Death Disease Predation Susceptible to Susceptible to Susceptible to TERM EFFECTS - CORAL BLEACHING LONG Coral growth Reproduction Loss of habitat Source: XL CAITLIN DESIGNATED BLEACHING EVENTS - CORAL BLEACHING NOAA CORAL BLEACHING ACROSS SPATIAL SCALES High density population Biological disturbances Source: Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment Vessel use Pollution and runoff Source: Christopher Boykin LOCAL STRESSORS FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Podis Recreational diving Coastal construction Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Source: Jennifer Reef resilience and appreciation Lack of awareness construction other uses Fishing, diving and coastal Maritime industry and based sources - CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF of pollution Land Focusing on five key threats to our reefs: KRISTIN JACOBS ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION AREA FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF based sources of - Maritime industry and coastal construction impacts.Lack of awareness and appreciation.Landpollution.Fishing, diving and other uses.Reef resilience. Focusing on five key threats to our reefs:••••• CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Source: Don Shetterly based sources of - Maritime industry and coastal construction impacts.Lack of awareness and appreciation.Landpollution.Fishing, diving and other uses.Reef resilience. Focusing on five key threats to our reefs:••••• CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF based sources of - Maritime industry and coastal construction impacts.Lack of awareness and appreciation.Landpollution.Fishing, diving and other uses.Reef resilience. Focusing on five key threats to our reefs:••••• CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF based sources of - Maritime industry and coastal construction impacts.Lack of awareness and appreciation.Landpollution.Fishing, diving and other uses.Reef resilience. Focusing on five key threats to our reefs:••••• Source: FWC/FWRI CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF based sources of - Maritime industry and coastal construction impacts.Lack of awareness and appreciation.Landpollution.Fishing, diving and other uses.Reef resilience. Focusing on five key threats to our reefs:••••• Source: FWC/FWRI CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF : Katy Cummings Source SEAFAN Walters - : Kimani Kitson Source SEFL - 770 - 866 - 1 REPORT IT! CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF See a marine incident? SEAFAN.net / is an early warning system for coral scientific understanding. bleaching in Southeast Florida. The program helps to detect and monitor coral BleachWatch bleaching events in Southeast Florida and improve CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PROGRAM FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF HOW CAN YOU PROTECT FLORIDA’S CORAL REEFS? Source: FDEP Use mooring buoys Anchor in sand Coral code CoralReefLocator ON THE WATER FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Reef Locator Scan the Arc GIS FloridaDEP.gov/ SEAFAN.net/report BleachWatch observer IN THE WATER FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF Become a - Yurasits Source: Brian Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium at seafoodwatch.org Look for sustainable seafood Join cleanups and support reusable alternatives to singleuse plastics. Source: Karl Callwood Remember that 99% of significantly damage plants! insects and spiders are either beneficial, harmless or do not Source: Center for Disease Control Time any fertilizing around rainfall and watering enter our waterways. When we swim or may wash off and shower, sunscreen ingredients: EVERYWHERE FLORIDA’S CORAL REEF safe -nano mineral UV - Reef Nonblockers (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) The sunscreen you apply may not stay on your skin. Source: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program VISIT FLORIDASCORALREEF.ORG 6609 - 681 - 561 Taylor Tucker FloridasCoralReef.org Contact Information: Taylor.Tucker@FloridaDEP.gov THANK YOU Coral Reef Conservation Program Florida Department of Environmental Protection