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Current Research |
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Dolphin checking me out while I helped with a ship grounding mosaic survey in Puerto Rico. |
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My research addresses how the bioerosion of coral reefs varies in different reef habitats and how these variations contribute to changes in reef geomorphology and carbonate budgets. The study focuses on two reef systems: (1) the shallow patch reefs in Biscayne National Park, adjacent to Miami, FL; and (2) the mesophotic reefs (30 - 100 m) of the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District, in the United States Virgin Islands.
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System 2 (USVI): My other research focuses on bioerosion of mesophotic reefs(30-150m), critical ecosystems that serve as potential refugia for shallower reef species threatened by environmental stressors. Recent technological advances in SCUBA have made it possible to study Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs), but there exists a critical gap in knowledge regarding the importance of bioerosion, and the control it exerts, in varying mesophotic habitats. The ability of mesophotic reefs to provide essential environmental services, and the proper management of MCEs, rely on a fundamental understanding of all primary reef processes, such as bioerosion. My goal is identify the significance of bioerosion in developing, maintaining, and destroying mesophotic reefs, while contributing to the exploration of MCEs. The objective of this research is to determine how bioerosion rates, intensity, and carbonate budgets vary between different MCE habitats and their shallow water counterparts. To achieve these goals, I will work in the Hind Bank Marine Conservation District, in the USVI. The research is conducted with the help of University of Virgin Islands Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, in conjunction with Dr. Tyler Smith. |
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System 1 (Florida): The Florida Keys contain more than 6000 patch reefs between Miami and Marquesas Keys. Florida patch reefs are a significant economic and environmental resource threatened by changing environmental conditions. While previous studies have obtained rates of patch reef bioerosion, no study has extensively analyzed bioerosion differences throughout a vase patch reef system. The objective is to determine quantitative bioerosional abundance and rate variations within individual patch reefs, and between different patch reefs in Biscayne National Park (BNP). Results of my work will hopefully provide critical data necessary to predict and plan for changes to Florida patch reef structure over the next few decades. |
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David Weinstein`s Home Page |
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Division of Marine Geology and Geophysics E-mail: dweinstein@rsmas.miami.edu |
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Last updated: 1/3/2012 |