Fl or id a The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of Florida

INTRODUCTION AND SETTING Florida is located at the convergence of the subtropical and temperate climate zones (Chen and Gerber, 1990). The Gulfstream (a warm-water boundary current) has a major influence on water temperature and the transport of flora and fauna to the region (Jaap and Hallock, 1990). The Gulfstream intrudes into the Gulf of Mexico as the Loop Current and reverses flow to return to the Straits of Florida, joining the main body of the Florida Current before flowing in a northeasterly direction towards Europe. The influence of the Gulfstream together with the presence of a broad-shallow continental shelf around Florida and the absence of any major rivers have provided conditions for the development of extensive coral reefs (Figure 7.1). Most coral reefs are found in water less than 18 m deep. Rohmann et al. (in press) have estimated that 30,801 km2 of shallowwater inshore areas around Florida could potentially support coral reef ecosystems. In comparison, the area estimated was 16.4 km2 in Guam, 1,231.4 km2 in the Main Hawaiian Islands and 2,207.6 km2 in Puerto Rico.