Atlantic ocean Biocube
The section of a reef that I used to conduct this study was at the coordinates 24° 29' 28" N and 81° 40' 17" W. This location was roughly eight miles offshore of Key West, Florida at a patch reef known as the Middle Sambo. The sampled section of the reef was on the edge of a ledge and in eight feet of water. The coral reefs on the Atlantic Ocean side of Key West are known for their beauty and life. These reefs are also the basis of the living of many locals to the island from the running of dive boats to the commercial gathering of fish or lobster.
The area...
Impacts...
Like the many reefs of the world, the coral reefs in the Florida Keys are plagued with many issues of their own. One of the most common ailments to coral reefs is bleaching. Due to a raise or drop in water temperature, the corals expel an algae, known as zooxanthellae, turning it completely white and making it very susceptible to diseases. Another environmentally based issue is ocean acidification, from the increased absorption of carbon dioxide in the oceans. Many of the other issues are directly attributed to humans such as overfishing and the depletion of organisms, boats running aground on coral heads, and divers touching corals and other organisms within the ecosystem.
Biodiversity...
The biodiversity of the Atlantic Ocean Biocube was the highest compared to the other three locations. The most common organisms found were mollusks, decapods, worms, and fishes. In this Biocube sixty-five species were found in the one cubic foot space.
Interesting finds...
The Elysia pusilla is a small marine gastropod that is also known as the solar-powered sea slug. This organism reaches approximately three centimeters in length and is the same color as the algae it feeds on, Halimeda. This color is a mottled green with white patches on the body. An interesting aspect of this sea slug is that it incorporates functioning chloroplasts in its body in order to produce sufficient energy.
Species list...
Phylum Porifera
Turbo sp.
Codium fragile
Turbo castanea
Diadema setosum
Class Holothuroidea
Ophiocoma dentata
Ophiothrix sp.
Family Terebellidae
Ophiothrix echinata
Ophiocoma sexradia
Amblyosyllis sp.
Family Porcellanidae
Order Decopoda
Subclass Copepoda
Mithraculus sp.
Ophiocoma sexradiata
Class Holothuroidea
Family Agarciidae
Subfamily Pontoniinae
Family Sabellidae
Family Sphaeromatidae
Tedainia igis
Family Arcidae
Hemmimysis anomala
Libinia sp.
Elysia pusilla
Family Xanthidae
Synalpheus fritzmuelleri
Family Nereidae
Family Amphinomidae
Hermodice carunculata
Family Nereidae
Isognomon radiatus
Synalpheus
Calcinus sp.
Order Isopoda
Phylum Sipuncula
Family Polynoidae
Alpheus euphrosyne
Class Polychaeta
Phylum Porifera
Amphimedon sp.
Montastraea cavernosa
Limatula sp.
Chapa sp.
Halimeda sp.
Halimeda sp.
Pomacanthus paru
Chaetodon capistratus
Acanthurus coeruleus
Acanthurus bahianus
Kyphosus sectatrix/ incisor
Haemuion plumierii
Haemulon sciurus
Anisotremus vivginicus
Ocyurus chrysurus
Microspathodon chrysurus
Abudefduf saxatilis
Sparisoma viride
Bodianus rufus
Thallassoma bifascatum
Panulirus argus
Entomacrodus nigricans
Lactophrys triqueter
