2006 Executive Summary 

EPA Steering Committee Meeting 

July 2007

Michael Callahan, Jennifer Wheaton, Carl Beaver, Sandra Brooke, 

Dustin Johnson, Jim Kidney, Selena Kupfner, James W. Porter, 

Meredith Meyers, Shannon Wade, Michael Colella, and Matt Bertin 

A Report of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Georgia 

pursuant to the USEPA grant award X7-97468002-3 

and NOAA/COP grant award NA04NOS4780025
INTRODUCTION

The Florida Keys Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) was 

initiated in 1994 to provide data on the status of coral reef resources of the 

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and document changes in 

status over time. In 1995, forty sites were identified throughout the FKNMS and 

permanent sampling stations were installed. Data collection began in 1996 and 

has been conducted annually. Stations were installed at three additional sites in 

the Dry Tortugas in 1999 and incorporated into the annual sampling protocol 

(Figure 1). 

CREMP inventories the number of different stony coral species at each station 

(species richness). Stony coral percent cover is obtained from video transects 

and presented for all stony coral combined and for the five most common 

species. CREMP also monitors other selected major benthic functional groups at 

the taxa level (macroalgae, sponges and octocorals). The incidence of disease 

and bleaching in stony corals and the abundance of the long-spined sea urchin, 

Diadema antillarum, has been recorded at all stations since the inception of the 

project. 

In 2001, surveys of abundance and benthic cover of bioeroding clionid sponges, 

which aggressively encrust and invade stony coral colonies, were initiated in the 

FKNMS and the Dry Tortugas. This annual monitoring was initiated at all CREMP 

stations in response to concerns that clionids were implicated in coral decline. 

Between 2002 and 2005, added surveys of stony coral abundance and an 

expanded stony coral disease survey were conducted at a subset of stations at 

selected sites. However, these data are not summarized herein and will be 

summarized in a separate report. In 2006, these surveys of stony coral 

abundance were replaced with a pilot study targeting Montastraea annularis

(boulder star coral) due to the continued decline in percent cover of this important 

reef framework builder. 

This report presents results for the FKNMS CREMP stations summarized 

Sanctuary-wide and by region. The regions are defined as Upper Keys, Middle 

Keys, and Lower Keys (Figure 1). The data for the Dry Tortugas sites are 

presented separately from those for the FKNMS. 

1
Figure 1. Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project site locations and region 

boundaries. 

METHODS 

The same methods are employed for all CREMP sites. Each sampling station 

within a site is permanently marked with two stainless steel reference stakes. 

Two steel poles, three plastic chains, and three measuring tapes are used to 

define a station’s area and sample transects (Figure 2). 

2
Figure 2. CREMP video transects, station species inventory, and clionid sponge 

survey station layout. 

Station Species Inventory

A pair of observers records the presence of every stony coral species in each 

station (2x22m) (Figure 2) during a 15-minute search period (Figure 3). The 

divers initially conduct independent surveys, then check and verify each other’s 

data as a quality control assurance. Incidence of condition (disease and 

bleaching) and presence of long-spined sea urchins (Diadema antillarum) are 

also recorded. Stony coral species richness is calculated for each station and 

averaged Sanctuary-wide. 

Figure 3. Divers conducting Station Species Inventory. 

3
Video Transects

Video is filmed along each of the three 22m transects (Figures 2 and 4) at each 

station. Consecutive frames are extracted from the video transects and custom 

software is used to estimate percent benthic cover of stony corals and other 

selected taxa. 

Figure 4. Diver filming video transects. 

Clionid Sponge Survey

The sponge survey area is defined by three 1m wide belt transects within existing 

CREMP stations (Figure 2). The location, species, and size of bioeroding sponge 

species (Cliona delitrix, C. lampa and C.caribbaea) as well as the coral species 

affected are recorded (Figure 5). The total area of clionid sponges measured as 

square centimeters per square meter of substrate is calculated for each station. 

4
Figure 5. Diver conducting a clionid sponge survey. 

Montastraea annularis tracking pilot study

In 2006, a pilot study to track specific colonies of Montastraea annularis (boulder 

star coral) was initiated. A continued decline in percent cover of this important 

reef framework builder has been documented by CREMP. Designing a method 

to track changes in the condition of this species is a challenge due to its pattern 

of growth. Although very old colonies can be massive (several meters in height 

and circumference), these colonies regularly have portions that have no living 

tissue. Without adequate photographic documentation it is difficult to determine if 

changes in percent cover of M. annularis are due to mortality and re-growth or 

recruitment. Multiple colonies at multiple stations were photographed in all three 

Sanctuary regions during 2006. Compass bearings and distance from 

permanent station markers was recorded for each photographed colony to assist 

in relocation (Figure 6). 

5
Figure 6. Montastraea annularis tracking pilot study and varied growth forms of 

the species. 

6
FKNMS RESULTS

Stony Coral Species Richness

The maximum number of species recorded in a single year for all CREMP 

FKNMS stations was 43 species in 1996. This number has not changed 

significantly through the study period. By region, the Middle Keys species 

richness has only declined slightly whereas species richness in both the Upper 

and Lower Keys has undergone greater decline. However, between 2005 and 

2006, the mean number of stony coral species per station declined in all three 

regions (Figure 7). Statistical analyses of these data are incomplete and the 

statistical significance has not been determined. 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Number of Species

Lower Keys Middle Keys Upper Keys

Figure 7. Temporal change in mean number of stony coral species per station by 

region. 

Stony Coral Condition

Diseases were recorded as present or absent for each species during the Station 

Species Inventory and the type of disease/condition was noted. Data were 

recorded for three categories; black band, white diseases (i.e. white plague, 

white band and white pox), and “other” diseases (including dark spot, yellow 

band and idiopathic diseases) (Figure 8). 

Although the incidence of black band disease peaked in 1998, it has never been 

recorded at more than 10 stations since then. Besides peaks in 1998-1999 and 

2001-2002, white disease and the “other” disease conditions have been 

generally declining. Although the incidence of “other disease” continued to 

decline between 2005 and 2006, the incidence of white disease increased to 

more than 50 of the stations sampled in 2006. 

7
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Number of Stations

Black Band Other disease White disease

Figure 8. Number of stations with stony coral disease recorded. 

Long-Spined Sea Urchin (Diadema antillarum) Distribution

D. antillarum has been reported at a maximum of 13 stations for two (2002 and 

2005) of the ten years sampled. However, all CREMP data shows an increase in 

D. antillarum distribution mid-way in the project. For the first five years of 

monitoring, D. antillarum were reported at an average of only 5.8 stations. From 

2001 to 2005, the average number of stations (11.2) where D. antillarum were 

observed had nearly doubled. Unfortunately, between 2005 and 2006 the 

observed occurrence of D. antillarum decreased to nearly 2003 levels (Figure 9). 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Number of Stations

Figure 9. Stations with D. antillarum recorded. 

8
Stony Coral Cover

Sanctuary-wide 

Although the same broad geographic coverage has been maintained for the 

duration of the project, minor adjustments have been made in the number of 

sites/stations sampled. Statistical analyses of the project data in 2001 indicated 

that sampling a reduced number of stations at sites with low stony coral cover 

would still produce statistically valid data. During 2006, sampling was omitted for 

El Radabob (an Upper Keys hardbottom site) which has had less than 0.2% 

stony coral cover for the duration of the project. Therefore, the total number of 

stations from which the data for the summaries was compiled, was reduced. 

These sampling reductions require adjustment and recalculation of the mean 

percent cover for all years for valid comparisons. Consequently, the values for 

the mean stony coral percent cover Sanctuary-wide changes slightly from 

previous reports.

Figure 10 depicts the mean percent cover of stony corals from 1996 through 

2006 for the 103 remaining stations. Although the values are slightly different 

from previous reports, the obvious decline in percent stony coral cover occurred 

between 1996 and 1999. Percent stony coral cover remained relatively stable 

between 1999 and 2003. Stony coral cover declined slightly between 2003 and 

2005. Although there is a subsequent decline in coral cover from 2005 to 2006, 

this data has yet to be statistically evaluated. 

6.1

6.7 6.8

7.5 7.3 7.6 7.7 7.5

9.8

11.6

12.1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Figure 10. Sanctuary-wide mean percent stony coral cover at CREMP stations. 

By Region 

9
The Upper and Lower Keys stations continue to show the greatest loss in mean 

percent stony coral cover since the beginning of the project (Figure 11). Mean 

percent coral cover in the Middle Keys stations has not changed significantly 

since 1999. Between 2005 and 2006, a notable decline in mean percent stony 

coral cover at CREMP stations Sanctuary-wide occurs in all three regions. 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Lower Keys Middle Keys Upper Keys

Figure 11. Mean percent stony coral cover for Upper, Middle and Lower Keys 

stations. 

By Species 

Underlying trends in stony coral cover can be obtained by analyzing the changes 

in the most common species. The five most common species in the FKNMS have 

been Montastraea annularis (species complex), Montastraea cavernosa, 

Siderastrea siderea, Porites astreoides and Colpophyllia natans since 1999. All 

except P. astreoides commonly attain large size and contribute significantly to 

the reef framework. Percent cover of M. cavernosa, S. siderea, P. astreoides and 

C. natans has been remarkably stable between 1997 and 2006 (Figure 12). 

However, between 1996 and 1999, drastic declines of Acropora palmata and 

Millepora complanata, contributed significantly to the overall decline of mean 

percent coral cover in the Sanctuary. The continued decline of mean percent 

cover of M. annularis (boulder star coral) has been a major contributor to the 

general decline of stony coral cover since 1999 documented within CREMP 

sampling stations in FKNMS. 

10
0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Cnat Mann Mcav Past Ssid

Figure 12. Sanctuary-wide mean percent stony coral cover per station for the five 

most common species; Colpophyllia natans (Cnat), Montastraea annularis 

(Mann), Montastraea cavernosa (Mcav), Porites astreoides (Past) and 

Siderastrea siderea (Ssid). 

Montastraea annularis tracking 

Multiple photographs of a total of 105 Montastraea annularis colonies were taken 

during 2006. Tracking was initiated at one to three stations at twelve sites 

representing patch reefs as well as shallow and deep offshore reef habitats. 

Site Name Site Code Region Station Number Number of Colonies

Admiral Patch 9P4 Upper Keys 1,4 12

Alligator Shallow 7S1 Upper Keys 2 2

Grecian Rocks 9S2 Upper Keys 4 9

Porter Patch 9P3 Upper Keys 3 11

Sombero Shallow 5S1 Middle Keys 1 10

Dustan Rocks 7P2 Middle Keys 2 7

W. Turtle Shoal 7P1 Middle Keys 4 9

E. Sambo Deep 5D3 Lower Keys 2,3 11

W. Sambo Shallow 5S4 Lower Keys 1,2 9

W. Sambo Deep 5D4 Lower Keys 1,2 11

Sand Key Deep 2D1 Lower Keys 1,2,4 9

Cliff Green 5P3 Lower Keys 3,4 5

Table 1. Montastraea annularis tracking data for 2006. 

11
Functional Group Cover

Major biotic functional groups defined in this study are stony corals, octocorals, 

sponges, and macroalgae. As in the Sanctuary-wide figure (10), mean percent 

stony coral cover declined at the stations sampled from roughly 12 to 6 percent 

since the inception of the project (incorporating the station/site reductions that 

occurred). Although mean percent octocoral cover calculated from the video 

increased steadily between 2000 and 2004, a decrease was documented 

between 2005 and 2006. Whereas the mean percent cover for sponges has 

steadily remained at about two percent, the mean percent cover for macroalgae 

has varied widely (Figure 13). 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Macroalgae Octocoral Sponge Stony coral

Figure 13. Sanctuary-wide mean percent cover of major biotic functional groups 

at CREMP stations. 

Clionid Area

Three species of clionid sponges (Cliona delitrix, C. lampa, and C. caribbaea) are 

monitored by CREMP. Mean area of the three clionid species combined is 

presented in figure 14 for all CREMP stations Sanctuary-wide. In 2001, clionid 

area was 7cm2/m2. Sanctuary-wide clionid area decreased sharply in 2002, 

increased steadily through 2005, and was virtually unchanged between 2005 and 

2006. However, when data are grouped by habitat a different picture emerges. 

Clionid area increased between 2002 and 2006 at hardbottom habitat stations. 

At both shallow and deep offshore reef sites, the clionid populations have had 

minor fluctuations in mean clionid area through time. Although patch reef sites 

had consistently higher clionid area than shallow and deep reef sites, the same 

minor fluctuations in area occurred (Figure 15).

12
5.7 5.7

5.2

4.4 4.4

7.1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Clionid Area (cm2/m2

)

Figure 14. Sanctuary-wide temporal changes in area of clionid sponges at 

CREMP stations. 

0

5

10

15

20

25

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Clionid Area (cm2/m2

)

Hardbottom Deep Shallow Patch

Figure 15. Temporal changes in area of clionid sponges by habitat at CREMP 

stations. 

13
DRY TORTUGAS RESULTS

Stony Coral Species Richness

A maximum of 33 species has been recorded for the Dry Tortugas in a single 

year in 1999, compared to a maximum of 43 species in the FKNMS in 1996. This 

is partly due to the limited number of stations sampled in the Dry Tortugas and 

the range of habitat types sampled in the Florida Keys. However, mean stony 

coral species richness by station is often higher in the Dry Tortugas than in the 

Florida Keys. 

Although the mean number of species recorded between 1999 and 2003 was 

relatively similar, the mean number of species for 2004 through 2006 has 

declined (Figure 16). Statistical analyses of these data are incomplete. 

17.7 17.5 17.0

20.0 19.8

21.8

20.0

21.5

0

5

10

15

20

25

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Number of Species

Figure 16. Temporal changes in the mean number of stony coral species by 

station at the Dry Tortugas. 

Stony Coral Condition

Between 1999 and 2004, at least one disease condition recorded during CREMP 

sampling was present in 80-100% of the 12 stations sampled (Figure 17). 

Although black band disease was recorded in 2000, it has not been present in 

any station since then. “Other” disease conditions were recorded consistently in 

9-10 stations through 2003, but presence in stations declined consistently from 

2003 to 2005 and leveled off between 2005 and 2006. Although white disease 

was recorded in all 12 stations in 2000 and 2003, the presence of this condition 

has varied significantly throughout the duration of sampling in the Dry Tortugas. 

Although no white disease conditions were observed at any stations in 2005, 

incidence was recorded in 7 stations in 2006. 

14
0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Number of Stations

Black band White disease Other disease

Figure 17. Number of stations with incidence of three disease conditions at the 

Dry Tortugas. 

Long-Spined Sea Urchin (D. antillarum) Occurrence

Among the Dry Tortugas CREMP stations, observations of D. antillarum declined 

between 1999 and 2000, rebounded slightly for the next three years and again 

declined between 2003 and 2005 (Figure 18). Although, it was reported from only 

1/3 of the stations in 1999 and none of the stations in 2000, in 2006 the number 

of stations with D. antillarum increased to the same number of stations as in 

1999. 

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Number of Stations

Figure 18. Number of stations with long-spined urchins (Diadema antillarum) at 

the Dry Tortugas. 

15
Stony Coral Cover

Mean percent stony coral cover for the twelve Dry Tortugas stations was nearly 

19% in 1999 with a slight decrease to about 17% through 2001. Since 2001, the 

mean percent stony coral cover decreased fairly steadily to 11% in 2005 then 

dropped to less than 9% in 2006 (Figure 19). Statistical analyses of these data 

is incomplete. 

8.8

11.4 11.7

13.4

14.1

17.4 17.4

18.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Figure 19. Temporal changes in mean percent stony coral cover by station at the 

Dry Tortugas.

By Habitat 

The highest mean percent coral cover at the Dry Tortugas has been recorded at 

the two deep reef habitat sites (Figure 20). The patch reef site has consistently 

had less than half the mean percent coral cover as the deep reef sites since the 

inception of sampling. Except for a slight increase at the deep reef sites from 

2000 to 2001 mean percent coral cover at the Dry Tortugas has declined steadily 

at all sites over the past eight years. 

. 

16
0

5

10

15

20

25

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Deep Patch

Figure 20. Temporal changes in mean stony coral cover by habitat at Dry 

Tortugas stations. 

By Species 

The five most common species in the Dry Tortugas have been Montastraea 

annularis (species complex), Montastraea cavernosa, Colpophyllia natans, 

Acropora cervicornis and Siderastrea siderea throughout the duration of the 

project. Among the five most common in the Florida Keys, Porites astreoides, is 

replaced by A. cervicornis in the Dry Tortugas. 

Losses in overall mean stony coral cover at the Dry Tortugas stations between 

2001 and 2002 were likely driven by the abrupt decline of the boulder star coral 

M. annularis. A decline in mean percent cover of this important framework 

building coral has been documented from 2001 to 2006 (Figure 21). The boulder 

type corals, C. natans (a brain coral) and S. siderea, (a star coral), together 

represent about 3 percent of the mean percent cover at CREMP stations in 1999 

through 2001, but only represented about 1 percent each in 2006. Mean percent 

cover of the other boulder forming coral, Montastraea cavernosa, has also 

steadily, albeit slowly, declined through 2006. The staghorn coral (A. cervicornis) 

represented about 2 percent of the mean percent cover at sampling stations in 

1999, but was virtually absent from these stations in 2006 (Figure 21). 

17
0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Acer Cnat Mann Mcav Ssid

Figure 21. Mean percent stony coral cover of the five most common species;

Acropora cervicornis (Acer), Colpophyllia natans (Cnat), Montastraea annularis 

(Mann), Montastraea cavernosa (Mcav) and Siderastrea siderea (Ssid) by station 

at the Dry Tortugas. 

Functional Group Cover

Mean percent cover for octocorals fluctuated at slightly more than 12% between 

1999 and 2003, but has declined steadily over the past three years. The decline 

in mean percent sponge cover has been very slow. Since 1999 the mean 

percent cover has declined from nearly 4% to roughly 1%. Mean percent cover 

of macroalgae peaked in 2003, declined to its lowest point in 2005, but increased 

between 2005 and 2006. 

18
0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Percent Cover

Macroalgae Octocoral Sponge Stony coral

Figure 22. Mean percent cover of major biotic functional groups by station at the 

Dry Tortugas. 

Clionid Area

Mean clionid area decreased between 2001 and 2003, but has steadily increased 

to the highest cover recorded in 2006 (Figure 23). 

13.6 9.9 9.4

5.9

7.3

12.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Mean Clionid Area (cm2/m2

)

Figure 23. Temporal change in area of clionid sponges by station at the Dry 

Tortugas. 

19
DISCUSSION 

FKNMS 

The Station Species Inventory data indicate that the stony coral species richness 

for all CREMP stations combined Sanctuary-wide has declined from a maximum 

of 43 species recorded in 1996. The mean number of stony coral species 

recorded per station has continued to decrease over time. Data on stony coral 

condition, also collected during the Station Species Inventory shows that 

incidence of white disease per station has declined between 2002 and 2005; 

however, it rebounded to more than 50% of the CREMP stations in 2006. This 

increase in occurrence of white disease was accompanied by a decrease in the 

number of stations with “other” disease in 2006. 

Long spined urchins are herbivores that help keep corals free of algal 

overgrowth. The ecological importance of the long-spined sea urchins is well 

documented. Urchin populations suffered a Caribbean-wide mortality event in 

1983-84 and their recovery has been slow. CREMP inventory of the long-spined 

sea urchin, D. antillarum, has shown a fluctuation in distribution of this important 

herbivore. Between 1996 and 2000, these urchins were never observed in more 

than 7 CREMP stations. Since 2001, urchin observations have been recorded at 

a range of 8 to 13 stations. 

Analysis of the percent cover data from the video transects shows that the mean 

stony coral cover at CREMP sites within the FKNMS declined sharply between 

1996 and 1999. From 1999 through 2003, mean percent stony coral cover was 

maintained at over 7% for all CREMP sites combined. By 2006, the combined 

sites had a mean percent stony coral cover barely over 6%. The hurricanes and 

tropical storms that affected Florida recently have undoubtedly had some impact 

on the coral habitats. In 2005 hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma each 

passed over some part of the Florida reef tract (Figure 24). 

20
Figure 24. Image of south Florida showing the tracks of four major hurricanes 

that impacted Florida between 2005 and 2006. 

By species, the greatest loss has been observed in mean percent cover of the 

boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis species complex), which forms very 

large colonies (>2m diameter) throughout the Florida Keys. The complete or 

partial mortality of a single boulder star coral colony represents a large decrease 

in coral cover and ultimately habitat structure. The pilot study initiated in 2006 will 

provide baseline tracking for colonies at selected sites from which to develop a 

standard monitoring protocol. 

Functional group cover shows the prevalence of other important habitat 

components such as octocorals, sponges, and macroalgae. Changes in the 

percent cover of major functional groups provides valuable community 

information, but can also raise a “red flag” for further investigation into the factors 

driving the changes in coral habitat. 

Clionid sponges are common bioeroders of stony corals world-wide, but despite 

their global distribution very little is known about their biology or ecology. Clionid 

populations may be influenced by differences in water quality or sponge 

recruitment dynamics. Inference from CREMP clionid sponge data indicates 

these sponges have not significantly contributed to the decline in coral cover 

within CREMP stations in the Sanctuary since the beginning of the clionid survey 

in 2001. 

21
DRY TORTUGAS 

Since the inception of monitoring in the Dry Tortugas in 1999, a combination of 

disease, hurricanes and potentially some unknown stressors have caused a 

decline in both coral cover and species richness at CREMP stations. The mean 

stony coral cover loss appears to have been primarily driven by cover losses in 

M. annularis species complex. However, high levels of mortality from white 

diseases of the boulder brain coral (C. natans) (Figure 25) and the staghorn coral 

(A. cervicornis) have also contributed to the overall decline. A mortality event, 

documented in 2003, contributed to the further overall decline of acroporids at 

the Dry Tortugas (Figure 26). Surveys of acroporids, recently listed under ESA, 

conducted by FWRI for the Department of Interior/National Park Service are 

documenting distribution of these species at sites within Dry Tortugas National 

Park. The 2003 acroporid mortality coincides with the peak in white disease 

recorded at CREMP monitoring sites in 2003. 

Figure 25. Brain coral colony (Colpophyilla natans) at Bird Key Reef, Dry 

Tortugas. 

22
Figure 26. Acroporid mortality at Dry Tortugas in 2003. 

PROPOSED RESEARCH TO BE INCORPORATED IN 2007 

In addition to the photographic tracking of multiple M. annularis colonies among 

different habitat types, baseline health sampling (Figure 27) will be conducted on 

colonies adjacent to the CREMP sampling stations. Site selection for this 

baseline health sampling is based on the decline in percent cover documented 

for M. annularis since monitoring was initiated in 1996. Sampling will not be 

conducted in any of the CREMP sites within Sanctuary protection zones. 

23
Figure 27. Illustration of proposed Montastraea annularis health sampling. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

1 2 3 

1 = Samples for histopathology (1 x 1 x 1cm plug) – A,B, C, D along 

transect** 

2 = Samples for bacteriology – (syringe, 1ml) A, B along transect 

3 = Samples for microalgae – (scrape with spatula) A, B, C, D along transect 

4 = Sample for TEM 3 x 3 x 3mm plug (maximum size) 

Health

Black 

Necrotic

Necroticmicroalgal 

overgrowth

Montastraea annularis health sampling protocol (representative samples from different diseases : 

Beginning in 2007, data will be collected on three additional sponge species 

(Chondrilla nucula, Xestospongia muta, and Spheciospongia vesparium). These 

three sponges are well studied and can be identified with little difficulty in the 

field. Chondrilla nucula is a common overgrowing sponge found in many of the 

Florida Key’s reef habitat types. Xestospongia muta is commonly found on coral 

reefs typically at depths greater than 10 m. This sponge contributes greatly to 

overall sponge biomass and is important in determining reef health, exhibiting 

bleaching similar to coral. Spheciospongia vesparium is also a common reef 

sponge that is a major contributor to overall sponge biomass on the reef. 

Throughout the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, there are numerous 

unmapped and uncharacterized patch reefs located in and around Hawk 

Channel. It has been suggested that these patch reefs contribute significantly to 

the overall stony coral cover of the FKNMS. In an effort to better represent this 

habitat type, permanent stations will be installed at selected patch reefs in the 

Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys. Satellite imagery in addition to local knowledge 

will be used to select potential monitoring sites (Figure 28). 

24
Figure 28. IKONOS imagery (courtesy of NOAA) used to help select potential 

patch reefs for CREMP monitoring. Highlighted circles represent areas of high 

interest. 

25