Gulf Stream Reef - Boynton Beach, FL

[DivesWithTurtles]

Read the following reports re: OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION of CYANOBACTERIA on the GULF STREAM REEF SYSTEM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA:

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/archives/GSR-Report.pdf

http://www.splashdowndivers.com/archives/GSR IIdoc&Figs-2.pdf

This is/was without doubt one of the most beautiful reefs in North America.

-=[Gabe]=-

 

[archman]

These are superb, well-written reports! The maps and nutrient graphs are some of the best I've ever seen; I particularly noted the algal peaks with the phosphorous increases. Very cool. They also separated out the nitrogen types, instead of just using total dissolved nitrogen.

Dissolved nutrients in the south Florida area have been steadily rising the last few years, and they're at the point where widespread eutrophication impacts are becoming common and persistent. Even Looe Key has lost a lot of it's luster (although the hurricane in '98 and the big grounding didn't help).

The one thing these reports is critically lacking is any sort of identification of this "cyanobacteria." In fact I find it hard to believe that the reports could have gotten this far without at least putting a NAME to the thing. For all they know it could be a rhodophyte. Is it the same species, a species complex, heck what FAMILY is it in? There should be plenty of phycologists in the area to I.D. it rather quickly... heck even I could probably do it.

Without a species tag one cannot reference the ecology, distribution, and life history of the thing. It could very well be naturally occurring. Culturing in the lab under different nutrient regimes would settle the "hash" quite nicely too.

Enough complaints. It's still a fine article that everyone should look at.

 

[DivesWithTurtles]

The one thing these reports is critically lacking is any sort of identification of this "cyanobacteria." In fact I find it hard to believe that the reports could have gotten this far without at least putting a NAME to the thing. For all they know it could be a rhodophyte. Is it the same species, a species complex, heck what FAMILY is it in? There should be plenty of phycologists in the area to I.D. it rather quickly... heck even I could probably do it.

Without a species tag one cannot reference the ecology, distribution, and life history of the thing. It could very well be naturally occurring. Culturing in the lab under different nutrient regimes would settle the "hash" quite nicely too.

An effort was made to id the cyanobacteria. From the second report:

"2.4 Identification of Cyanobacteria
During October 2003 Cyanobacteria samples were collected from GSR by Brian Catanzaro of Aquatic Eco-Systems. The samples were sent on ice to the Smithsonian Oceanographic Institute Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, Florida for identification. The samples, analyzed by Dr. Valerie Paul, were found to be a Lynbya cyanobacteria organism of unknown species. Analysis further indicated this species did not display nitrogen fixation, a trait common to many Cyanobacteria."

-=[Gabe]=-

 

[archman]

section 2.4... oh yeah. It's such a teeny section, no wonder I missed it. "Lynbya cyanobacteria organism of unknown species..." They misspelled Lyngbya, but so do a lot of people. I also thought Dr. Paul was a biochemist and not a taxonomic phycologist; then again Lyngbya is no picnic to differentiate even for those people.

Oh well... I ran some quick searches and picked out three good ones if anyone's interested.

http://www.floridamarine.org/dg.lts/id.2462/features.view_article.htm

http://www.marine.unc.edu/Paerllab/personnel/jennifer.html

http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cach...r/p00540af.pdf+lyngbya+species&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

 

[Scubakevdm]

Hey!!! Who's that diving Gulfstream Ledges and talking about Ed T's report??? I work for Splashdown, were you diving our boat?