Quick Link to Products
Objectives
Figure 1: Study Area
The goal of this project is to conduct a biogeographic integrated
assessment of reef fishes to determine existing or potential biological,
human (societal), and socioeconomic benefits or impacts resulting from
implementation of the Tortugas Ecological Reserve (TER, Figure 1). The
specific objectives are as follows:
- Develop the best possible habitat map of the TER based
on available data;
- Synthesize and integrate existing ecological reef fish
datasets for the TER within a biogeographic framework;
- Describe biological responses of ecosystem components to
the closure of the TER and use biological models derived
from U.S. Caribbean reef studies to identify potential biological
benefits of the TER to surrounding areas; and,
- Develop an approach for including human dimensions research
and information within an Integrated Assessment of the TER,
review human dimensions research relevant to the TER, and
develop a summary document that would be a useful and supporting
component of an Integrated Assessment and management of the
TER.
Project Summary
This project is joint effort to develop an integrated biogeographic
assessment for the Tortugas region. This work will attempt to integrate
historical and current biological, physical, chemical and economic data
into a common assessment framework for the Tortugas. The study is currently
under design, was implemented in March 2005 and is planned for completion
in December 2006. Expected outcomes include a suite of synthesized digital
data layers to characterize the Tortugas region. This work and products
are modeled after CCMA's Biogeographic Assessment products that have
been produced for the National Marine Sanctuary Program. An important
aspect of this work is to explicitly integrate social economic data
into the biogeographic assessment framework.
Products
Current/Completed -
Reports and Documents
Partners
Relevant Links
- Jeffrey, C.F.G., S.D. Hile, C. Addison, J.S. Ault, C. Currin, D. Field, N. Fogarty, J. Luo, V. McDonough, D. Morrison, G. Piniak, V. Ransibrahmanakul, S. G. Smith, S. Viehman. 2012. Assessment of Natural Resource Condition in and Adjacent to Dry Tortugas National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/DRTO/NRR—2012/558. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado.
- Ziegler, T. A. and Hunt, J., editors. 2012. Implementing the Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area Science Plan: The 5-Year Report 2012. South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks, Homestead, FL, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL. 63 pp. National Park Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2012. (8.4MB)
- National Park Service Coastal Watershed Condition Assessment Program
- Tortugas National Park Resource Condition Assessment
Time Frame
Ongoing: March 2005 - August 2011
For More Information
Project Manager:
Dr.
Christopher Jeffrey
1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028 x160
Photo: CCFHR |
Photo: University of Miami, RSMAS |
Photo: University of Miami, RSMAS |
| Click images to enlarge. |
Related Biogeography Projects