Download Vocabulary line transect A tape or string laid along the ground in a

Vocabulary
line transect A tape or string laid along the ground in a straight line between two poles as a guide to a sampling
method used to measure the distribution of organisms. Sampling is rigorously confined to organisms that are
actually touching the line.
Point-centered quarter: Using the point center quarter (PCQ) method students will measure the density of
coral and sponges in our near shore area. Students will be assigned a random GPS coordinates starting point.
At each sampling point a rod is driven vertically into the ground and then two straight rods are placed on the
ground at 90-degree angles to form a cross oriented in north-south and east-west directions. A compass is
used to ensure the rods are at 90-degree angles. This creates the four sampling quarters. Then students will
identify the closest target species in each quarter recording the distance between the centers of the sampling
point to the center of the target species.
A quadrat is a plot used in ecology and geography to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution
of an item over a large area. While originally rectangular, modern quadrats can be rectangular, circular,
irregular, etc.,.
Geomorphology: The study of the physical features of the surface of the earth and their relation to its geological
structures.
Azimuth: the direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north
or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the
horizon.
Stratified random sampling: is a method of sampling that involves the division of a population into smaller
groups known as strata. In stratified random sampling, the strata are formed based on members' shared
attributes or characteristics.
Benthic: The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean or a
lake, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. Organisms living in this zone are collectively
called the benthos, e.g. the benthic invertebrate community, including crustaceans and polychaetes
Dredge: clean out the bed of (a harbor, river, or other area of water) by scooping out mud, weeds, and rubbish
with a dredge.
Red algae: a large group of algae that includes many seaweeds that are mainly red in color. Some kinds yield
useful products (agar, alginates) or are used as food (laver, dulse, carrageen).
Species Identify Guide
Florida's Seagrasses
Although approximately 52 species of seagrasses exist worldwide, only seven species are found in Florida's
marine waters. Six of these are widespread in Florida and extend beyond its borders.

Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) the largest of the Florida
seagrasses, has deeper root structures than any of the other seagrasses.
It has large ribbon-like leaves that are 4-12 mm wide and 10-35 mm
cm long. This seagrass is temperature limited and does not occur along
the northeast Florida coast, but it forms extensive beds in Florida Bay.

Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) is an
early colonizer of vegetated areas and
usually grows in water too shallow for
other species except widgeon grass. It is
most common in inlets along the east
coast.

Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) is easily recognizable because
its leaves are cylindrical instead of ribbon-like and flat like many other
seagrass species. The thin leaves are up to half a meter long. The
northern limit of manatee-grass is the Indian River, near Cape
Canaveral. Manatee grass is usually found in mixed seagrass beds or
small, dense monospecific patches.
Turtle grass
Drawing: FWC
Shoal grass
Drawing: FWC

Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) grows in both fresh and salt water
and is widely distributed throughout Florida's estuaries in less saline
areas, particularly in inlets along the Florida east coast.
Widgeon grass
Drawing: FWC
Three species of Halophila are found in Florida - Stargrass (Halophila engelmannii), Paddle-grass (Halophila
decipiens) and Johnson's seagrass (Halophila johnsonii). These are smaller, more fragile seagrasses. Only
limited information about them exists, although surveys are underway to define their ecological roles. Johnson's
seagrass grows only in the Indian River Lagoon south to Biscayne Bay and is listed as a threatened species.
Johnson's seagrass
Drawing: FWC
Digenea simplex:
Mermaids cup:
Live Rock:
Paddle grass
Drawing: FWC
Star grass
Drawing: FWC
Sponges:
Coral: