Resource Survey of Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, 1983

摘要

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (LKNMS) was designated in 1981 to protect and promote the study, teaching, and wise use of the resources of Looe Key Sanctuary. A quantitative resource inventory was funded in 1983 by NOAA in cooperation with the University of Miami, the United States Geological Survey, and the Florida Department of Natural Resources. The objective of the study was to quantitatively inventory selected resources of LKNMS in order to allow future monitoring of changes in the Sanctuary as a result of human or natural processes. This study, referred to as Phase I, gives a brief summary of past and present uses of the Sanctuary$ and describes general habitat types, geology and sediment distribution, coral abundance and distribution, the growth history of the coral Montastraea annularis, reef fish abundance and distribution, and status of selected resources. An interpretation of the results of the survey are provided for management consideration. The results are expected to provide fundamental information for applied management, natural history interpretation, and scientific research.