Benthic survey of Looe Key and Wonderland Reef conducted in 10-15 December 2023

The benthic survey of Looe Key and Wonderland Reef was conducted by using a 100 m transect underwater above the reef. Species were identified and recorded every 10 cm on the transect. This created a transect with 100 points, which was then converted into percent cover of benthic species. The data recorded from the transects was compiled and analyzed to determine which reef has a higher density of sponges, and which reef has a higher density of coral. Four of the five surveys were conducted in Looe Key, and one survey was conducted in Wonderland Reef. Each survey included three separate transects. Wonderland Reef has about twice the percent cover of sponges (~31%), while Looe Key Reef has ~15.6% sponge cover. The percent cover of stony corals, octocorals, and hard substrate were similar at the two sites whilst Looe Key maintained a higher cover of palythoa (an invasive zoanthid) than Wonderland Reef.