TY - JOUR
T1 - Geomorphic characterization of reef fish aggregation sites in the upper Florida keys, USA, using single-beam acoustics
AU - Gleason, Arthur C.R.
AU - Kellison, G. Todd
AU - Reid, R. Pamela
N1 - Funding Information:
∗Discussions with Roberto Torres were critical for this work. Funding was provided by grants from the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program to Todd Kellison and Anne-Marie Eklund. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Biscayne National Park issued permits FKNMS-2007-008 and BISC-2007-SCI-0021. Heather Balchowsky, Neil Baertlein, Marilyn Brandt, Joe Contillo, Mike Feeley, Rick Gomez, Doug Harper, Jack Javech, Dave McClellan, Mark Miller, and Jen Schull assisted with data collection at Carysfort Reef. Comments from anonymous reviewers and Will Heyman improved the article and are greatly appreciated.
Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - The objective of this study was to determine if multiple reef fish aggregation sites in the upper Florida Keys share characteristic geomorphic features. A commercial single-beam acoustic seabed classification system was used to map the seabed in the vicinity of reported or observed black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), and yellowtail snapper (L. chrysurus) aggregation sites. Results showed that drowned, margin-parallel, rocky ridges, known locally as outlier reefs, were features found in proximity to all of the mapped aggregation sites. In particular, three geomorphic characteristics were observed at most sites: a steep slope of the landward boundary of the upper slope terrace, an exposed outlier reef forming the seaward boundary of the upper slope terrace, and at least one other exposed outlier reef on the upper slope terrace. The results suggest that the acoustic-mapping technologies used herein could be valuable when considering the placement of marine reserves.
AB - The objective of this study was to determine if multiple reef fish aggregation sites in the upper Florida Keys share characteristic geomorphic features. A commercial single-beam acoustic seabed classification system was used to map the seabed in the vicinity of reported or observed black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), and yellowtail snapper (L. chrysurus) aggregation sites. Results showed that drowned, margin-parallel, rocky ridges, known locally as outlier reefs, were features found in proximity to all of the mapped aggregation sites. In particular, three geomorphic characteristics were observed at most sites: a steep slope of the landward boundary of the upper slope terrace, an exposed outlier reef forming the seaward boundary of the upper slope terrace, and at least one other exposed outlier reef on the upper slope terrace. The results suggest that the acoustic-mapping technologies used herein could be valuable when considering the placement of marine reserves.
KW - Acoustic seabed classification
KW - Fish spawning aggregations
KW - Outlier reefs
KW - QTC
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U2 - 10.1080/00330124.2011.585075
DO - 10.1080/00330124.2011.585075
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80053271565
VL - 63
SP - 443
EP - 455
JO - Professional Geographer
JF - Professional Geographer
SN - 0033-0124
IS - 4
ER -
