Artificial reefs under marina docks in southern Florida
Iversen ES and Bannerot SP. 1984. Artificial reefs under marina docks in southern Florida. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 4:294-299
This study examined the effectiveness of artificial reefs to recruit fish and invertebrates in a newly constructed marina in Biscayne Bay. Censuses were conducted before and after the placement of rocks that provided added relief to a mud bottom. The report includes tables that record the numbers and species of fish and invertebrates present under the docks and the diversity indices before and after the placement of artificial habitat. Author Abstract: Placement of large rocks under three recently constructed docks at a new marina in Biscayne Bay, Florida provided additional habitat to a stressed area. The bottom consisted of an accumulation of black, flocculent mud supporting few or no fish or macroinvertebrates prior to placing the habitat under the docks. After placement, numerous fish and macroinvertebrates became associated with the habitat. This technique can mitigate some of the ecologically adverse effects of dock construction and increase the standing crops of fish and macroinvertebrates beneath the dock.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Iversen, E; Bannerot, S
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, artificial reefs, Biodiversity, Fish, Invertebrates (Invertebrata), Management, Recruitment