Final Project [GIS6005]: Conservation in the State of Florida: Preserving Key Habitats of the Striped Burrfish

Striped burrfish are inshore fish known to exploit a wide range of depths. Although commonly found in grass beds around barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico (Franks et al., 1972), they are also found near coral reefs (Robins, Ray, & Douglas, 1986), as well as in deeper waters during the winter months (Audubon Society, 2002).

Changes to the geographic ranges of fish species due to factors such as ocean warming (Espino et al., 2019) are of concern to scientists. In addition, impacts to fish habitats in tourism-based states such as Florida are considered by economists given the socioeconomic benefits of commercial and recreational fishing to coastal communities (Lellis-Dibble, McGlynn, & Bigford, 2008). As one example of their impact, half of all federally managed fisheries in the U.S. depend on coral reefs (Burton, 2019). In addition, the total value of coral reefs for southeast Florida was estimated in 2007 to be $174 million/year (Brander & van Beukering, 2013), across the ecosystem services of scuba diving ($73M), recreational fishing ($68M), snorkeling ($30M), and glass-bottom boat rides ($3M).

The goal of this project was to create an infographic (1) highlighting preferred habitat regions of the striped burffish around the State of Florida and (2) promoting the conservation of these areas.

References

Audubon Society. (2002). In C. R. Gilbert & J. D. Williams (Eds.), National Audubon Society: Field guide to fishes. (pp. 576-577). New York, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Brander, L., & van Beukering, P. (2013). The total economic value of U.S. coral reefs: A review of the literature. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.

Burton, R. (2019). Coral reefs are in trouble: Here’s how you can help. Gainesville, FL: Florida Museum.

Espino, F., Tuya, F., del Rosario, A., Bosch, N. E., Coca, J., González-Ramos, A. J., ... & Haroun, R. (2019). Geographical range extension of the spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (L. 1758), in the Canary Islands: A response to ocean warming? Diversity, 11(12), 230.

Franks, J. S.,  Christmas, J. Y., Siler, W. L., Combs, R., Waller, R., & Burns, C. (1972). A study of nektonic and benthic faunas of the shallow Gulf of Mexico off the state of Mississippi as related to some physical, chemical and geological factors. Gulf Research Reports, 4(1), 127.

Lellis-Dibble, K. A., McGlynn, K. E., & Bigford, T. E. (2008). Estuarine fish and shellfish species in U.S. commercial and recreational fisheries: Economic value as an incentive to protect and restore estuarine habitat. Silver Spring, Maryland: NOAA/NMFS, Office of Habitat Protection.

Robins, C. R., Ray, G. C., & Douglass, J. (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. (pp. 309). Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin.