Gary E. Davis E ditor's Note Dr. Davis, who has conducted long-term biological research at Fort Jefferson National Monument and Biscayne National Park, was asked to participate in the 1990 project to provide a marine biological perspective on potential impact of archeological research in a protected coral reef environment. His perspective is important to planning and executing future archeological investigations in national parks containing coral reef systems. Occasionally, management actions required to protect natural and cultural values conflict, and managers appear to be forced into choosing either natural or cultural resources at the expense of the other.
Historic shipwrecks set in coral reef or other shallow marine ecosystems can present such a dilemma.
S hipwreck structures provide stable, hard substratum upon which a variety of organisms settle and thrive. Frequently these organisms obscure and threaten the shipwreck integrity, and may accelerate wreck decomposition. Wreck excavation to elucidate its cultural values, after 50-300 years of ecological succession, threatens the structure and function of the wreck's biological community. The purpose of this chapter is to explore potential guidelines for balancing archeological investigative needs and ecological impacts, without compromising the values of either natural or cultural resources. M ethods and Site Description C ase studies of four shipwrecks were conducted to compare site-specific criteria for evaluating and mitigating ecological impact and to develop general guidelines for future archeological investigations.