Week Four Location: KML
Pillar Patch Description by Bailey Slater and Caitie Turnbull
Throughout
our week at the Keys Marine Lab, we visited several marine ecosystem sites and
documented the biodiversity and unique characteristics that were seen.
Specifically, on Wednesday we traveled to an offshore marine area noted as
Pillar Patch.
The sun was concealed behind a sky heavy with clouds and the
ocean winds created a slight current throughout the water column. Approximately
twenty feet below the surface, Thalassia
seagrass beds, sponges, and corals scattered throughout the sandy bottom.
Although coral coverage was much lower in this site compared to the previously
seen Coffin Patch, it provided habitat for nearly fifty-five pillar corals (Dendrogyra cylindrus) and allowed for
incredibly high biodiversity. As well, this site contained no artificial reefs
and much lower human impact than at the nearby site, Coffin Patch.
Pillar
Patch consisted of many three-dimensional structures including corals, sponges,
and algae. Thus, it provided habitat and protection for numerous organisms. Blue
Tang, Rock Beauties, and Queen Angelfish fluttered over coral heads and
Sergeant Majors curiously inspected the boat’s hull.
Parrotfish plucked algae
from corals while Squirrelfish hid carefully within rocky crevices. The entire
reef was embellished with life and every place we explored seemed to introduce
new species.
Corals such as Porites
astreoides, Siderastrea radians,
and Acropora cervicornis carpeted the
habitat. Vase sponges held tiny organisms such as juvenile Bicolor and
Beaugregory Damselfish. Spiny Lobster hid in tight fractures between the corals
and sediment. Overall, Pillar Patch contained high diversity and abundance of
species. It was wonderful to observe an ecosystem so alive and thriving.
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