Coral Reefer Madness In The Florida Keys

FROM UPI

Preliminary findings indicated less than 22% of approximately 1,500 staghorn coral surveyed remain alive. Only the two northernmost reefs surveyed, Carysfort Reef and Horseshoe Reef, had any living staghorn coral.

Of the five reefs surveyed, only Carysfort Reef, Sombrero Reef in the middle Keys and Eastern Dry Rocks off Key West had any living elkhorn coral.

Researchers found no live staghorn or elkhorn coral in Looe Key Reef in the lower Florida Keys.

Rough weather conditions prevented the research team from surveying more than the branching staghorn and elkhorn coral transplants, but Mission: Iconic Reefs said anecdotal evidence suggests boulder, massive and brain coral transplants fared better during the marine heat wave.