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National Coral Reef Task Force Members Visit the Florida Keys
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Listening to corals:
A hydrophone located in the center of a parabolic dish captures sounds made by the star coral
Montastrea annularis and other reef sounds made by biologic, geologic, hydrologic and
atmospheric processes. Color and infrared video cameras mounted on a tripod below the dish
record coral polyp activity and other events during day and night sampling periods.
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On September 26th and 27th, two members of the President's National
Coral Reef Task Force made a field trip to Biscayne National Park
(BNP), located in the northernmost part of the Florida Keys. They were
interested in a cooperative study between the National Park Service
(NPS) and the USGS, specifically a study led by Gary Hill of the St.
Petersburg Field Center. This is a new investigation focused on evaluating
the use of "reef sounds" (passive acoustic emissions monitoring) to map
reefs thematically, identify reef processes, and assess reef health
quantitatively. During the trip, Gary presented results of the acoustic
study and the group participated in taking samples, processing real-time
data, and snorkeling and diving on the reef to observe the current reef
condition first hand. The group also heard a presentation from the NPS
by Richard Curry (Science Coordinator, BNP) about the concept of a
"coral nursery" to help repair damaged reefs and visited a potential
site in the park where a nursery could be established. The coral nursery,
if established, would be a joint effort between USGS and NPS.
Task Force members included Michael Soukup (Associate Director of
Natural Resources, Stewardship & Science, NPS) and Denny Fenn (Associate
Director for Biology, USGS). Others on the field trip included Linda
Canzanelli (Superintendent, BNP), Brenda Lazendorf (Associate Science
Coordinator, BNP), Rick Clark (Chief of Resource Management, BNP) and
several members of BRD including Russ Hall (Center Director, Florida
Caribbean Science Center), Nick Funicelli (FCSC), Greg Smith (Reston),
and Marc Blouin (Great Lakes Science Center).
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October 2000
in this issue:
Florida Bay Red Grouper
Divers at Turners Falls
Long Island Sound
cover story:
Boston Harbor Clean-Up
Sea Floor Mapping DVD-ROM
Santa Cruz Shark Festival
Natural Systems Restoration
Mapping Tools for Fisheries
Alaska Geologic Mapping
Coral Reef Task Force
Gulf of Mexico Sediments
Viking Celebration
Iceland Lecture
Congratulations
Visitors
October Publications List
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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