Who We Are
The Habitat Ecology Branch is a unit of the Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division within the Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Our scientists have expertise in researching diverse coastal and marine habitats including wetlands, mangroves, seagrass, and shallow tropical and deep-sea coral reefs. We use tools such as scuba diving, airboats, model development, and statistical analysis to accomplish our mission.
Our Mission
We study and monitor marine organisms and their environments to determine how habitats impact NOAA’s trust resources. Our scientists study how marine species use different habitats throughout their life. We provide technical advice for conservation, restoration, and management of marine habitats throughout the Southeast region. We also examine environmental changes that affect various marine species. These include:
- Changes in Essential Fish Habitat for protected and managed species
- Impacts of habitat loss
- Habitat mapping and classification
- Techniques to improve habitat restoration
- Role of climate change
Our Research
Our research spans a wide range of topics, environments, and methods. We investigate marine habitats and the diverse organisms within them. This research includes analyses of:
- Density and biomass
- Growth and mortality
- Production and reproduction
- Abundance and distribution
- Genetic traits and variation
- Immigration and emigration
Our research and data facilitate the adaptive management of marine and coastal ecosystems covering a broad range of habitats including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, and marshes.
Featured Research
Elkhorn Coral Monitoring and Restoration
We have been monitoring the wild elkhorn coral population in the upper Florida Keys since 2004. We also conduct field-based experiments to facilitate the success of coral restoration efforts to recover populations of Endangered Species Act-listed corals.
Coral Spawning Observations, Collection, and Larval Rearing
We observe coral and collect the gametes, or reproductive cells, corals release while spawning at field sites in South Florida. We mix gametes to produce larvae that are then settled and reared in our Coral Research and Assessment Lab to support research and restoration. This research includes numerous coral species, including multiple Endangered Species Act-listed corals. This project is conducted in collaboration with NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
Impacts of Sedimentation on Florida's Coral Reefs
We conduct both field- and lab-based studies to understand the impact of sediment deposition on multiple life history stages of corals. We also study the distribution and composition of sediments across reefs in southeast Florida. We use these data to understand how sediments impact the settlement and early life history stages of corals.
Assessing Shifts in Estuary Habitats and Essential Fish Habitats
Estuaries are ecosystems where freshwater meets the sea. These areas provide important habitat for many marine species, especially for early life stages. We study the living and non-living components of estuarine systems, and how they change over time. Data from these studies are used to inform and assess the effectiveness of habitat restoration efforts and other human activities.
For example, we survey seagrass habitats in South Florida to assess how changes in salinity affect sportfish and their community. We monitor the condition of certain indicator species to detect shifts in ecosystem health. These include spotted seatrout, snappers, shrimp, and key prey species within estuarine food webs. We also assess how young shrimp habitat use is shifting from salt marsh to mangroves, as mangrove habitat ranges expand with climate change.
Collaborators for this work include the National Park Service, the University of Miami, and NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
Reef and Reef Fish Relationships
Our work includes studying reefs and reef fish life cycles, changing reef conditions, and larval transport mechanisms in support of federally managed species. In the Gulf of Mexico, 31 species of reef fish are managed under the Fishery Management Plan for Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. It includes snappers, jacks, and groupers.
Queen Conch Population Assessment
We evaluate population changes (growth and declines) and movement of the queen conch population in the Caribbean by tagging and measuring individuals and studying their habitat. This large, slow-growing snail species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Our team has been assessing population connectivity of queen conch and their species listing criteria for Endangered Species Act status reviews.
Climate Change Research and Conservation of Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Habitat
Our staff identify the key relationships between salt marsh, black mangrove habitats, and fishery species. We investigate the link between juvenile gray snapper in inshore habitats and offshore adult populations. Other studies evaluate trophic relationships between species and their changing habitats as a result of climate change. Our applied research supports ecosystem-based fisheries management and protected species conservation.
Aquaculture Evaluation of Impacts to Essential Fish Habitat in the Gulf of Mexico
One of our newest efforts is focused on warm-water aquaculture. Nearly all U.S. marine aquaculture is conducted in cold waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Warm water climates lack data on the impacts of aquaculture areas becoming artificial habitats benefiting wild populations. We also lack data about the impacts of aquaculture on surrounding Essential Fish Habitats and the species that inhabit them in warm waters. Aquaculture has the potential to enhance federally managed fisheries.
Our Scientific and Advisory Role
We advise, plan, and monitor various restoration activities in the region to assess their impact and effectiveness. Some programs we support include:
- Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Miami-Dade County Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board
- Offshore wind energy planning
- Deepwater Horizon recovery assessment of nekton and lower trophic levels
- Port Everglades and Port Miami Expansions
Core Activities
We use many tools, techniques, and methods to accomplish our research mission. These include:
- Scuba for field observations, surveys, and experiments
- Coral outplanting techniques
- Coral propagation at nursery facilities
- Aquaria-based experiments
- Pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometry to measure photosynthetic efficiency
- Respirometry, or measuring animals’ oxygen consumption rate
- Structure-from-motion imagery (creation of photomosaics, orthomosaics, and 3D models)
- Throw-trap collections of shrimp, crabs, echinoderms, and small fishes
- Shallow-water trawls for juvenile sportfish and other seagrass-associated fauna like shrimp, crabs, small fishes
- Water characterization and quality
- Hydro-drone surveys to map shallow marine habitats
- Essential Fish Habitat Inland Boundary Mapper development
