Acropora Priority Sites

For full FGDC metadata record, please click here. Acropora palmata (Elkhorn coral) and Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn coral) are two federally threatened species under the endangered species act, as such the known locations of these species are considered either priority protection level "A" or level "B" depending on depth. Priority "A" sites are < 3 m water depth and Priority "B" sites are > 3 m. In order to better display the extensive point location data for Acropora spp., inclusive polygon sites were created by clumping single points together based on proximity depth. Point locations for Acropora palmate and Acropora cervicornis were download from <http://ocean.floridamarine.org/NOAA_Acropora/> and buffered. For the northern part of the reef tract (Fowey Rocks and north) a 20 meter buffer was applied around each of the points. For the southern part (Keys and Dry Tortugas – Fowey Rocks and south/west) a 55 meter buffer was applied. Once the buffers were applied polygons were drawn around clusters and singular buffered points. The sites were also given an ID number and were named if in proximity to any known geographic features (e.g. common reef name). New sites were not created for Acropora spp. locations if they were within an existing Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA) or other priority protection level "A" or "B" area.