SFCN Water Temperature Monitoring (1998 - Ongoing)

Feeley M and Richter L . SFCN Water Temperature Monitoring (1998 - Ongoing). 1998. National Park Service

The South Florida/Caribbean Network (SFCN) conducts long-term water temperature monitoring as part of the nationwide Inventory and Monitoring Division of the National Park Service. Water temperature has been historically collected as a basic parameter of water quality monitoring efforts at coral reef sites throughout the world. There are numerous references in scientific literature suggesting a link between water temperature anomalies and coral colony survivorship. Coral bleaching occurs when the coral host loses zooxanthellae from its tissue due to physiological stress, most often associated with high water temperatures and/or high incidence of solar radiation. Additionally, unusually cold-water temperatures have been found to affect the survivorship of corals and other reef dwelling organisms. Data collected under this protocol will be useful to NPS efforts outside the network such as the Climate Change Response Program’s work to develop climate change strategies. The three primary objectives for this monitoring protocol include: 1) Determine occurrence and duration of warm- and cold-water events that exceed thresholds known to cause stress (e.g., coral bleaching) to coral species for the purpose of interpreting trends in coral community metrics; 2) Determine the status and trends in water temperatures at reef depth; and 3) Assess any correlations of warm-water events and/or cold-water events with coral bleaching and/or disease outbreaks. Temperature loggers are located at reef depth at a position generally representative of the site. Most monitoring locations are between 3 and 20 meters (9.9–65.6 feet [ft]) depth but can reach 30-plus meters (98.4-plus ft) deep. Duplicate loggers are attached at the same point. This project is a repository for all datasets, protocols, reports, and other types of publications pertaining to coral reef monitoring at Biscayne National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Salt River Bay Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands National Park.

Type
Project
Authors
Feeley, Mike; Richter, Lee
Publisher
National Park Service
Units
BISC , BUIS , DRTO , SARI , VIIS
Keywords
Aquatic, Biscayne National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, National Park Service, Nearshore Coastal Ecosystems, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, South Florida/Caribbean Network, Virgin Islands National Park, Water, Water Temperature

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