Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Nearshore hardbottom reefs of Florida's east coast are used by over 1100 species of fishes, invertebrates, algae, and sea turtles. These rocky reefs support reproduction, settlement, and habitat use, and are energy sources and sinks. They are also buried by beach renourishment projects in which artificial reefs are used for mitigation. This comprehensive book is for research scientists and agency personnel, yet accessible to interested laypersons including beachfront residents and water-users.
An unprecedented collection of research information and often stunning color photographs are assembled including over 1250 technical citations and 127 figures. These shallow reefs are part of a mosaic of coastal shelf habitats including estuarine seagrasses and mangroves, and offshore coral reefs.
These hardbottom habitats are federally designated as Essential Fish Habitats - Habitats of Particular Concern and are important feeding areas for federally-protected sea turtles. Organismal and assemblage responses to natural and man-made disturbances, including climate change, are examined in the context of new research and management opportunities for east Florida's islands in the sand.
Synopsis
Section 1. Nearshore Hardbottom within the East Florida and Caribbean Seascape
Chapter 1. Introduction: the Habitat and the Ecosystem 1.1. Introduction 1.2. Ecological Concepts and terms 1.3. Nearshore, Intermediate and Offshore Hardbottom 1.4. Species: Windows into Assemblages 1.5. Equilibrium and Scale 1.6. Ecological Functions Chapter 2. Shallow Hardbottom of East Florida and the Caribbean and the Regional Shelf Setting 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Geological and Biological Attributes of Nearshore Hardbottom 2.3 Distribution of Shallow Hardbottom along East Florida and the Caribbean 2.4 Offshore Hardbottom Areas 2.5 Regional Setting: Currents and Shelf Margins 2.5.1 Currents and Upwelling 2.5.2 Tides, Wind Events, Wave Activity, and Hurricanes
Section 2. Organisms and Assemblages of East Florida Nearshore Hardbottom
Chapter 3. Macroalgae and Cyanobacteria 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1. Functional Form Groups 3.1.2. Latitudinal Gradients 3.1.3. Depth Gradients 3.1.4. Algal Reproduction 3.2 Summary Chapter 4. Invertebrates 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Sessile Species 4.2.1. Polychaetes 4.2.2. Anthozoans 4.2.3. Sponges 4.2.4. Hydrozoans 4.2.5. Tunicates and Bryozoans 4.2.6. Molluscs (sessile) 4.2.7. Barnacles 4.3. Motile Species 4.3.1. Crustaceans 4.3.2. Gastropods and Other Molluscs 4.3.3. Echinoderms 4.4. Summary 4.4.1. Diversity 4.4.2. Trophic patterns and Functional Groups 4.4.3. Latitudinal and Cross-shelf Distribution 4.4.4. Reproduction and Life-history 4.4.5. Dispersal and Connectivity 4.4.6. Recruitment and Cross-shelf Habitat Use 4.4.7. Economic and Recreational Value 4.4.8. Importance of Hardbottom to Invertebrates Chapter 5. Fish Assemblages 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Taxonomic Composition 5.3 Reproduction and Early Life History 5.4 Feeding 5.5 Movement 5.6 Summary 5.6.1 Species Richness 5.6.2 Spawning 5.6.3 Settlement and Early Associations with Habitat 5.6.4 Developmental Patterns and Cross-shelf Habitat Use 5.6.5 Latitudinal variations in Shallow hardbottom Fish Assemblages Chapter 6. Marine Turtles 6.1. Introduction 6.1.1. Adult Marine Turtles 6.1.2. Hatchling Marine Turtles 6.1.3. Predators 6.1.4. Water Depth 6.1.5. Seasonality 6.2 Species Overviews 6.2.1. Green Turtles 6.2.2. Loggerhead Turtles 6.2.3. Hawksbill Turtles 6.3. Disturbance Events and Turtles 6.3.1. Shoreline Project Disturbances 6.3.2. Red Tide Disturbances 6.4. Summary
Section 3. Functions of Nearshore Hardbottom and Mitigation Alternatives
Chapter 7. Functional Ecological Attributes of Shallow Hardbottom 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Ecological Functioning Group 7.2.1. Structure-Shelter Associated Functional Groupings 7.2.2. Trophic Functional Groupings 7.3. Latitudinal Comparisons 7.4. Disturbance Ecology 7.5. Obligate and Facultative Habitat Use 7.6. Population Connectivity and Maintenance Chapter 8. Mitigating Shallow Hardbottom Impacts 8.1. Stressors and E