Eco-System

Key West National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds and other wildlife. This refuge was the first established in the Florida Keys and one of the earliest refuges in the United States. The refuge encompasses more than 200,000 acres with only 2,000 acres of land. The area is home to more than 250 species of birds and is important for sea turtle nesting. The islands are predominately mangrove with a few beaches and salt ponds.

All of the islands in the refuge are designated as a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Designated wilderness areas are managed to minimize human impacts and influences and to let natural processes occur without intervention. Refuge beaches are important nesting areas for Green, Hawksbill, and Loggerhead sea turtles. . We commonly see sting rays, small sharks, star fish, snappers, schools of various bait fish and tropical fish such as wrasses, butterfly fish, parrot fish, hog snappers, and sergeant majors. Other animals include Florida spiny lobsters, soft corals, hard star corals, a variety of conch shells, and a variety of sponges.

Herons, Ibises and Egrets forage the flats, Pelicans dive in formation, and Cormorants disappear under the water while Magnificent Frigates soar above. Roseate Spoonbills, Ospreys, and even Bald Eagles occasionally visit. Birders take note, this is world class birding!

Seagrasses are underwater flowering plants that live in Florida's protected bays, lagoons, and other shallow coastal waters. Because seagrass requires sunlight , most seagrass beds are found in clear shallow waters. These grass-like plants form small patchy beds that develope into large continuous beds known as seagrass meadows. Hundreds of marine plants and animals live among seagrass and form a complex and fragile community. Sea turtles and manatees graze upon seagrass. Many types of shrimp, crabs, worms, snails, and small fish spend their entire lives within seagrass meadows. Larger fish and seabirds visit seagrass meadows to eat these smaller animals.

Sponge Gardens are another important shallow water habitat, especially in the lower keys, is the hard bottom community, where fish and a variety of soft corals, sponges and other invertebrate species live.

Useful resources

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Reef Relief