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REEF HABITATS
NEARSHORE HARDBOTTOM REEF
In Brevard County, an isolated shallow nearshore reef resides from the shoreline out to approximately 150m along a 14.5-kilometer stretch of beach. Composed of coquina rock, these reefs are covered in nutrient-rich macroalgae, providing essential food for juvenile green turtles, while also offering shelter from predators such as sharks. Genetic data revealed most of these green turtles inhabiting the reefs in our study area hatched from the beaches as far away as Tortuguero, Cost Rica!​
Artificial Reef
To mitigate the impacts of beach sand nourishment to the nearshore reefs along Brevard County's coastline, a series of artificial reefs where installed to provide an secondary habitat for juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and other marine species in the event of sand burial of the nearshore reefs. Our Acoustic Telemetry Study data tracking the underwater movements of these juvenile green turtles indicated this species was utilizing the artificial reef for shelter and foraging, moving between the nearshore reef and artificial reef with some spending months on one artificial reef.
Species observed on Artificial Reef
