 | Dr. Voss will present a lecture tomorrow, February 10, at 6:30 at the Blake Library in Stuart as part of Florida Oceanographic Society's Coastal Lecture Series. The lecture, titled Corals on the Edge: St. Lucie Reef and Impacts of Estuarine Discharge, will focus on the St. Lucie Reef projects and the current status of corals at the St. Lucie Reef. A full description of the talk can be found below by clicking "Read More". |
St. Lucie Reef, also known as Peck’s Lake Reef, is a beautiful and diverse coral reef habitat lying just south of St. Lucie Inlet. The area represents the known northern limit of many tropical coral reef species and serves as habitat for numerous commercially and recreationally importance fish and lobster. During the rainy season, episodic freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie Estuary exit the inlet and persist for days or weeks over the reef. Harbor Branch at Florida Atlantic University and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have partnered to study the effects of these freshwater discharges on coral health and resilience. Using a combination of SCUBA-based visual surveys, new genetic techniques, and water quality monitoring, our team is working to assess the impacts of various stressors on overall coral health. This integrative research provides critical data and information to improve management strategies for restoration and conservation efforts in our region, including the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
