Abstract

Designated in 1992, the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is one of 14 federally protected National Marine Sanctuaries. The East and West Flower Garden Banks are but two of dozens of reefs and banks scattered across the outer edge of the continental shelf in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. A biogeographic characterization of the fish community and benthic habitat was conducted during two cruises in 2006 and 2007, as part of a long term agreement between NCCOS’s Biogeography Branch and the National Marine Sanctuary Program. A stratified random sampling design was implemented to sample the benthic habitat and fish communities of both the East and West Flower Banks. This paper spatially characterizes the abundance and distribution of Madracis mirabilis and the associated reef fish fauna within the FGBNMS. Madracis mirabilis is a rugose branching coral which covers extensive “valleys” across portions of the flanks of the East Flower Bank. Additionally, its benefit as a benthic habitat and regional connectivity are explored. These factors will examine the potential role of Madracis as a settlement site for juvenile fish on the coral caps. The characterization provides necessary fish and habitat information within the coral cap region of the Sanctuary to facilitate conservation and management efforts.

PDF Preview