Dry Tortugas region (DRTO and FKNMS)

Southwestern Florida shelf about 70 miles west of Key West, Fla.

24°37’43”N 82°52’24”W

The park covers 101 mi² (262 km²; 64,700 acres), mostly water

0–150 feet (0–46 meters)

Dry Tortugas National Park was formally established by the National Park Service (NPS) in 1992; however, the Park has been providing much of its current ecological function since 1935 as Fort Jefferson National Monument.

Every even year, approximately 40 scientists led by Dr. Jerald S. Ault, conduct a synoptic visual census survey using SCUBA/Nitrox to assess the resource status (occurrence, abundance, and spatial distribution),and MPA performance for the reef fish community in Dry Tortugas National Park. In addition, as part of an ongoing research project, acoustic telemetry is being used to track real-time movements of groupers in key habitats of DTNP to precisely estimate population flux rates in fully-protected areas free from exploitation.

Jerald S Ault, Ph.D.