Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Science Report (2002-03): An Ecosystem Report Card After Five Years of Marine Zoning

摘要

The coastal ecosystem of South Florida is comprised of distinct marine environments. Circulation of surface waters and exchange processes, which respond to both local and regional forcings, interconnect different coastal environments. In addition, re-circulating current systems within the South Florida coastal ecosystem such as the Tortugas Gyre contribute to retention of locally spawned larvae. Variability in salinity, chlorophyll, and light transmittance occurs on a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, in response to both natural forcing, such as seasonal precipitation and evaporation and interannual El Nino climate signals, and anthropogenic forcing, such as water management practices in south Florida.