Site discription of the Elbow (Sarah and Harold)

The Elbow which is located in the middle keys with a max depth of ~6m has a species diversity and habitat structure similar to that of Coffins Patch which is dominated by hard body and soft body corals like that of Colpopyhllia natans and  Orbicella  annularis. This coral dominated habitat creates a number of safe havens or refuges for a vast number fish species ranging in size, shape and grouping - by this I mean there were fish that preferred  to school together like that of the  Sargeant Major and the Blue Tang and then there were those that preferred the solitary life like that of the Nassau Grouper and the Great Barracuda. While also providing refuge to a small number of invertebrate species such as tube worms, barnacles, and sea urchin.  And then there are those spots within the patch reef that give way to the growth of sea grass such as Thalassia testudinum (a key primary producer) and then there is the slow current that propels the travel of the forever migrating macroalgae Sagrassum. This species diversity is due to the biotic and abiotic factors such as the presence of the zoozanthellae  -a mutualistic dinoflagellate that live within the corals acting as the primary producer for the habitat- also due to the clarity and pH levels of the water. Even among this abundant and active habitat there were remnants of corals that succumbed to disease and human damage scattered along the bottom the of the reef.

Figure1. A single Sargeant Major

Figure2. A Great Barracuda motionless stoking an unsuspecting prey.