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TORTUGAS CRUISE 2005

Scientists on the Cruise
  • Mark Fonseca (Chief Scientist)
  • Craig Bonn (Chief Diver, Biological Technician)
  • John Burke (Fisheries Biologist)
  • Brian Degan (Biological Technician)
  • John Hackney (Biological Technician)
  • Shay Viehman (Fisheries Biologist)
  • Amy Uhrin (Ecologist)
  • Greg Piniak (Ecologist)
  • Michael Burton (Fisheries Biologist)
  • Abigail Poray (Biological Technician)
  • Vanessa Nero (Ecologist)
  • Heather Howard (Intern)
  • Brad Teer (Biological Technician)
  • Eric Treml (Duke University)
  • Stopher Slade (FWRI)
RV Nancy Foster, a NOAA Research VesselResearch Vessel
RV Nancy Foster

Measuring the refugia effect of establishing a reserve RV Nancy Foster, a NOAA Research Vessel August 1st 2005 to August 13th 2005 Cruise Number NF-05-15-CCFHR Area of Operation: Tortugas Ecological Reserve; Sailing from Key West, FL.


Primary Scientific Objectives

1 . Return to the 30 permanent stations (Figure 1) to conduct extensive diver-based surveys, including visual and photo fish censuses, habitat transect Photos, faunal and flora collections for stable isotope analysis, and sediment extractions (qualified crew participation welcome).


2. Conduct light profiles and miscellaneous water column samples at selected stations.

3. Continue coordinated drop camera work and nighttime beam trawling at the northern boundary of Tortugas north in search of evidence for trawling impacts.

4. Deploy and recover herbivory plates at selected permanent stations.

Secondary Objectives

1. Conduct ground truthing for aerial photography using drop cameras around Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP). May necessitate the use of limited SCUBA diving (qualified crew participation welcome).

2. Fish surveys on Riley's Hump / Tortugas South.