WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.980 2 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:11.740 Pulley Ridge is a reef off the coast of southwestern Florida, about 100 miles west of 3 00:00:11.760 --> 00:00:17.210 the Tortugas Ecological Reserve and stretching north about 60 miles. 4 00:00:17.230 --> 00:00:23.550 The ridge has a depth range from 60-80 meters (200-260 feet). 5 00:00:23.570 --> 00:00:28.930 Pulley Ridge is an interesting place and ecologically and economically important. 6 00:00:28.950 --> 00:00:30.990 It is home to groupers and snappers, 7 00:00:31.010 --> 00:00:34.910 important species in commercial and recreational fisheries. 8 00:00:34.930 --> 00:00:39.750 With the well-documented decline of Florida’s reefs, places like Pulley Ridge may serve 9 00:00:39.770 --> 00:00:44.300 as sources of larvae that can help sustain the Florida Keys’ reef ecosystem 10 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:47.410 and the tourism economy that is dependent on it. 11 00:00:47.430 --> 00:00:53.420 Our Coral Ecosystem Connectivity 2013 cruise is part of a large collaborative research 12 00:00:53.440 --> 00:00:58.990 project involving 30 Principal Investigators from 10 different institutions. 13 00:00:59.010 --> 00:01:02.690 This project brings together several disciplines to conduct studies on the physical 14 00:01:02.710 --> 00:01:07.830 characteristics of the region, the biology and ecology of the resident species, and the 15 00:01:07.850 --> 00:01:12.200 valuation of ecosystem services that Pulley Ridge provides. 16 00:01:12.220 --> 00:01:15.720 Ultimately we are addressing the question on what role the reefs 17 00:01:15.740 --> 00:01:20.480 of Pulley Ridge may play in replenishment of key fish species, corals, 18 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:25.520 and other organisms in the downstream reefs of the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. 19 00:01:25.540 --> 00:01:30.590 Our 2013 continues work began on a cruise in 2012. 20 00:01:30.610 --> 00:01:36.340 We will use an array of tools, including ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), technical 21 00:01:36.360 --> 00:01:40.730 diving, fish traps, and larval light traps to survey and sample the reefs 22 00:01:40.750 --> 00:01:45.000 of Pulley Ridge and the Tortugas Ecological Reserve. 23 00:01:45.020 --> 00:01:50.140 These data and others that we have or will collect will be used in advanced 24 00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:55.070 modeling and visualization tools to investigate the role such reefs may play 25 00:01:55.090 --> 00:02:00.290 in the replenishment of downstream and adjacent shallow coral ecosystems. 26 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:04.580 Our intent is to create a comprehensive understanding that can support a variety of 27 00:02:04.600 --> 00:02:08.960 decision support tools, including scenario-building options, 28 00:02:08.980 --> 00:02:13.470 to facilitate comprehensive resource planning in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 29 00:02:13.490 --> 00:02:16.900 With this type of information, resource managers will be able 30 00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:22.100 to develop more effective strategies to protect these and other reefs. 31 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:25.980