Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP)
Note: The data were entered in the language of the country of origin (English, French or Spanish) and there is no translation available yet.Chapter 3. SITE DESCRIPTION
Flora
Brief description of the main plant assemblages significant or particular in the area:
Plant assemblages are mapped in following vegetation classes as woodlands (3), shrublands (8), scrub (5), dune (20), and sparse (3). The vegetation communities on these islands differ in distribution and commonality. Dune associative communities are the main classes that provide significant cover on four of the seven islands. Complete plant species lists and land cover can be found at http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/inventories/DryTortugasVegMap/Project_Report/drtorpt.pdf
List of plant species within the site that are in SPAW Annex I
List of species in SPAW annex I | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
List of plant species within the site that are in SPAW Annex III
List of species in SPAW annex III | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Combretaceae: Conocarpus erectus | not given | Buttonwood |
Compositae : Laguncularia racemosa | not given | white mangrove |
Rhizophoraceae: Rhizophora mangle | not given | Red mangrove |
Verbenaceae: Avicennia germinans | not given | Black mangrove |
List of plant species within the site that are in the IUCN Red List. UICN red list : http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search You will specify the IUCN Status (CR:critically endangered; EN:endangered; VU:vulnerable).
List of species in IUCN red list that are present in your site | IUCN Status | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Conocarpus: erectus | Unknown | not given | Silver-leaved Buttonwood |
Avicennia : germinans | Unknown | not given | Black Mangrove |
Laguncularia : racemosa | Unknown | not given | White Mangrove |
Rhizophora : mangle | Unknown | not given | Red Mangrove |
List of plant species within the site that are in the national list of protected species
List of species in the national list of protected species that are present in your site | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Fauna
Brief descript° of the main fauna populations and/or those of particular importance present (resident or migratory) in the area:
Coral Reefs: The coral reef formations of DTNP include bank reefs, high relief and low relief spur and groove, patch reefs, pinnacles, and other morphologies, which taken together provide an ecological suite of highly complex and productive habitats for fish and invertebrates. Various reefs within DTNP contain high densities of live coral cover and massive star coral heads (Montastrea spp.) that are unique to the Dry Tortugas region. Other common coral species include starlet coral (Siderastrea spp.), brain coral (Copophylia natans, Diploria spp.) fire coral (Millepora alcicornis), finger coral (Porites spp.), and lettuce coral (Agaricia agaracites). Additional species occurring in DTNP are listed in the Appendix (Annex II species list to be added).
Seagrass and Algal Communities: Shallow seagrass and algal communities are important components of DTNP and the wider coral reef ecosystem of the Tortugas. Thallasia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme typically abound in shallower waters <10 m (33 ft). Algal communities in the Dry Tortugas tend to be ephemeral and occur on a variety of bottom types. Conspicuous genera include Laurencia, Dictyota, Sargassum, Cladophora, and Padina. Seagrass beds provide habitat and food for important coral reef fishery species, threatened and endangered species, and many other organisms.
Sea Turtles: The shores of the DTNP islands are important nesting habitat and the coral reefs and seagrass beds forage areas for sea turtles. Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are the most common species known to nest and forage in DTNP. Hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are less common. Sightings of Leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) are very rare, with three nests observed in 2004. (Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles are seldom observed in the Tortugas region.) All species are protected under Florida statutes and the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA), and have had their conservation status elevated by inclusion on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species (www.iucnredlist.org).
The DTNP islands provide critical nesting habitats for five rare seabird species: the Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata), Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus), Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra), Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), and Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii). DTNP contains the only known rookeries for Brown Noddies, Magnificent Frigate Birds, and Masked Boobies in the continental U.S. Sooty Tern sightings at DRTO have been recorded since 1903 and over 500,000 individuals have been banded there since the early 1950s. The Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) and Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) also nest in DTNP. The National Audubon Society lists DTNP as one of the Important Birding Areas in Florida.
List of animal species within the site that are in SPAW Annex II
List of species in SPAW annex II | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Reptiles: Caretta caretta | not given | Loggerhead |
Reptiles: Chelonia mydas | not given | Green Sea Turtles |
Reptiles: Eretmochelys imbricata | not given | Hawksbill Sea Turtles |
Reptiles: Lepidochelys kempii | not given | Kemp’s Ridley |
Reptiles: Dermochelys coriacea | not given | Leatherback Sea Turtle |
List of animal species within the site that are in SPAW Annex III
List of species in SPAW annex III | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
List of animal species within the site that are in the IUCN Red List. IUCN Red List : http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/search You will specify the IUCN Status (CR:critically endangered; EN:endangered; VU:vulnerable).
List of species in IUCN red list that are present in your site | IUCN Status | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Siderastrea : siderea | Unknown | not given | Lesser Starlet Coral |
Millepora : alcicornis | Unknown | not given | Fire Coral |
Acropora : humilis | Unknown | not given | Finger Coral |
Syringodium : filiforme | Unknown | not given | Manatee Grass, Species code Sf |
Caretta : caretta | EN - Endangered | not given | loggerhead |
Chelonia : mydas | EN - Endangered | not given | Green Turtle |
Eretmochelys : imbricata | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Hawksbill Turtle |
Dermochelys : coriacea | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Leatherback |
Lepidochelys : kempii | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Kemp's Ridle |
Sterna : fuscata | Unknown | not given | Sooty Tern |
Anous: stolidus | Unknown | not given | Brown Noddy |
Sula : dactylatra | Unknown | not given | Masked Booby |
Fregata : magnificens | Unknown | not given | Magnificent Frigatebird |
Sterna : dougallii | Unknown | not given | Roseate Tern |
Pelecanus : occidentalis | Unknown | not given | Brown Pelican |
Acropora : cervicornis | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Staghorn Coral |
Acropora : palmata | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Elkhorn Coral |
Charadrius : melodus | Unknown | not given | Piping Plover |
Pristis : pectinata | CR - Critically endangered | not given | Smalltooth Sawfish |
List of animal species within the site that are in the national list of protected species
List of species in the national list of protected species that are present in your site | Estimate of population size | Comments if any |
Sterna : dougallii | not given | Roseate Tern |
Caretta: caretta | not given | Loggerhead |
Chelonia: mydas | not given | Green Turtle |
Acropora : cervicornis | not given | Staghorn Coral |
Acropora : palmata | not given | Elkhorn Coral |
Charadrius: melodus | not given | Piping Plover |
Pristis: pectinata | not given | Smalltooth Sawfish |