Website

https://floridaaquaticpreserves.org/managed-areas/aquatic-preserves/lignumvitae-key-aquatic-preserve https://floridaaquaticpreserves.org/managed-areas/floridas-coral-reef/coupon-bight-aquatic-preserve

Region(s)

SE

Summary

This project aims to determine the baseline abundance, density, and frequency of seagrass species within the Florida Keys Aquatic Preserves. Benthic monitoring occurs semiannually and consists of 14 sites within Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve and 4 sites in Coupon Bight Aquatic Preserve. This including benthic habitat surveys and seagrass tissue sampling.

Parameters

All SAV: Braun-Blanquet score (cover-abundance scale), percent cover (%), Seagrasses: shoot count (#), canopy height (cm), epiphyte coverage (light, moderate, heavy) Site parameters: depth (ft) current (none, light, moderate, strong), visibility (ft), substrate type Thalassia testudinum Tissue Sampling: morphometrics (cm), biomass (g), seagrass isotope analyses (%N, %C, %P, d13C, d15N, d34S, C:N, C:P, N:P), epiphyte biomass (g), epiphyte isotope analyses (%N, %C, %P, d13C, d15N, d34S, C:N, C:P, N:P)

Notes

A 2021-2023 dataset in Lignumvitae Key Aquatic Preserve with Braun-Blanquet/Percent Cover data taken based on basil cover ("lawnmower" method) is available by request.

Application

Benthic monitoring data is consulted when implementing management decisions throughout the aquatic preserves.

Publications

Start

2024

End

Current

Frequency

Semiannual

Method

10 0.5m by 0.5m quads are placed along a fixed 50m transect and are monitored using Braun-Blanquet methodology. Meter marks are randomized per season. Seagrass shoot counts consist of counting every shoot within the quadrat.

Discontinuity

Data Location

By Request

Data Format

Habitats

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

SEACAR Citation

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection (RCP); Florida Keys Aquatic Preserves. (2024). Florida Keys Aquatic Preserves Seagrass Monitoring. Updated 08/20/2025. Distributed by: SEACAR Data Discovery Interface, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. https://data.florida-seacar.org/programs/details/10007

Alternative Citation

indicates priority attributes