WEBVTT

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Pulley Ridge is a reef off the coast of southwestern Florida, about  100 miles west of

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the Tortugas Ecological Reserve and stretching north about 60 miles.

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The ridge has a depth range from 60-80 meters (200-260 feet).

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Pulley Ridge is an interesting place and ecologically and economically important.

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It is home to groupers and snappers,

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important species in commercial and recreational fisheries.

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With the well-documented decline of Florida’s reefs, places like Pulley Ridge may serve

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as sources of larvae that can help sustain the Florida Keys’ reef ecosystem

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and the tourism economy that is dependent on it.

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Our Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2013 cruise is part of a large collaborative research

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project involving 30 Principal Investigators from 10 different institutions.

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This project brings together several disciplines to conduct studies on the physical

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characteristics of the region, the biology and ecology of the resident species, and the

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valuation of ecosystem services that Pulley Ridge provides.

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Ultimately we are addressing the question on what role the reefs

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of Pulley Ridge may play in replenishment of key fish species, corals,

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and other organisms in the downstream reefs of the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas.

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Our 2013 continues work began on a cruise in 2012.

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We will use an array of tools, including ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), technical

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diving, fish traps, and larval light traps to survey and sample the reefs

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of Pulley Ridge and the Tortugas Ecological Reserve.

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These data and others that we have or will collect will be used in advanced

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modeling and visualization tools to investigate the role such reefs may play

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in the replenishment of downstream and adjacent shallow coral ecosystems.

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Our intent is to create a comprehensive understanding that can support a variety of

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decision support tools, including scenario-building options,

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to facilitate comprehensive resource planning in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

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With this type of information, resource managers will be able

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to develop more effective strategies to protect these and other reefs.

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