Funding & Acknowledgements

The data used in this analysis is from the Export Standardized Tables in the SEACAR Data Discovery Interface (DDI). Documents and information available through the SEACAR DDI are owned by the data provider(s) and users are expected to provide appropriate credit following accepted citation formats. Users are encouraged to access data to maximize utilization of gained knowledge, reducing redundant research and facilitating partnerships and scientific innovation.

With respect to documents and information available from SEACAR DDI, neither the State of Florida nor the Florida Department of Environmental Protection makes any warranty, expressed or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use or inability to use the data, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.

This report was funded in part, through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program, by a grant provided by the Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The views, statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, NOAA or any of their sub agencies.

Published: 2026-06-10

Threshold Filtering

Threshold filters, following the guidance of Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration (DEAR) are used to exclude specific results values from the SEACAR Analysis. Based on the threshold filters, Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QAQC) Flags are inserted into the SEACAR_QAQCFlagCode and SEACAR_QAQC_Description columns of the export data. The Include column indicates whether the QAQC Flag will also indicate that data are excluded from analysis. No data are excluded from the data export, but the analysis scripts can use the Include column to exclude data (1 to include, 0 to exclude).

Continuous Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin ug/L - -
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L -0.000001 50
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % -0.000001 500
Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter QSE - -
Salinity ppt -0.000001 70
Specific Conductivity mS/cm -0.000001 200
Turbidity NTU -0.000001 4000
Water Temperature Degrees C -5.000000 45
pH None 2.000000 14
Discrete Water Quality threshold values
Parameter Name Units Low Threshold High Threshold
Ammonia, Un-ionized (NH3) mg/L - -
Ammonium (NH4) mg/L - -
Chlorophyll a, Corrected for Pheophytin ug/L - -
Chlorophyll a, Uncorrected for Pheophytin ug/L - -
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter PCU - -
Dissolved Oxygen mg/L -0.000001 25
Dissolved Oxygen Saturation % -0.000001 310
Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter QSE - -
Light Extinction Coefficient m^-1 - -
NO2+3, Filtered mg/L - -
Nitrate (NO3) mg/L - -
Nitrite (NO2) mg/L - -
Nitrogen, inorganic mg/L - -
Nitrogen, organic mg/L - -
Phosphate, Filtered (PO4) mg/L - -
Salinity ppt -0.000001 70
Secchi Depth m 0.000001 50
Specific Conductivity mS/cm 0.005000 100
Total Ammonia (N) mg/L - -
Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Nitrogen mg/L - -
Total Phosphorus mg/L - -
Total Suspended Solids mg/L - -
Turbidity NTU - -
Water Temperature Degrees C 3.000000 40
pH None 2.000000 13
Quality Assurance Flags inserted based on threshold checks listed in Table 1 and 2
SEACAR QAQC Description Include SEACAR QAQCFlagCode
Exceeds maximum threshold 0 2Q
Below minimum threshold 0 4Q
Within threshold tolerance 1 6Q
No defined thresholds for this parameter 1 7Q

Value Qualifiers

Value qualifier codes included within the data are used to exclude certain results from the analysis. The data are retained in the data export files, but the analysis uses the Include column to filter the results.

STORET and WIN value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from STORET and WIN data are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports.

Value Qualifier codes excluded from analysis
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include MDL Description
STORET-WIN H 0 0 Value based on field kit determination; results may not be accurate
STORET-WIN J 0 0 Estimated value
STORET-WIN V 0 0 Analyte was detected at or above method detection limit
STORET-WIN Y 0 0 Lab analysis from an improperly preserved sample; data may be inaccurate

Discrete Water Quality Value Qualifiers

The following value qualifiers are highlighted in the Discrete Water Quality section of this report. An exception is made for Program 476 - Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network and data flagged with Value Qualifier H are included for this program only.

H - Value based on field kit determiniation; results may not be accurate. This code shall be used if a field screening test (e.g., field gas chromatograph data, immunoassay, or vendor-supplied field kit) was used to generate the value and the field kit or method has not been recognized by the Department as equivalent to laboratory methods.

I - The reported value is greater than or equal to the laboratory method detection limit but less than the laboratory practical quantitation limit.

Q - Sample held beyond the accepted holding time. This code shall be used if the value is derived from a sample that was prepared or analyzed after the approved holding time restrictions for sample preparation or analysis.

S - Secchi disk visible to bottom of waterbody. The value reported is the depth of the waterbody at the location of the Secchi disk measurement.

U - Indicates that the compound was analyzed for but not detected. This symbol shall be used to indicate that the specified component was not detected. The value associated with the qualifier shall be the laboratory method detection limit. Unless requested by the client, less than the method detection limit values shall not be reported

Systemwide Monitoring Program (SWMP) value qualifier codes

Value qualifier codes from the SWMP continuous program are examined with the database and used to populate the Include column in data exports. SWMP Qualifier Codes are indicated by QualifierSource=SWMP.

SWMP Value Qualifier codes
Qualifier Source Value Qualifier Include Description
SWMP -1 1 Optional parameter not collected
SWMP -2 0 Missing data
SWMP -3 0 Data rejected due to QA/QC
SWMP -4 0 Outside low sensor range
SWMP -5 0 Outside high sensor range
SWMP 0 1 Passed initial QA/QC checks
SWMP 1 0 Suspect data
SWMP 2 1 Reserved for future use
SWMP 3 1 Calculated data: non-vented depth/level sensorcorrection for changes in barometric pressure
SWMP 4 1 Historical: Pre-auto QA/QC
SWMP 5 1 Corrected data

Water Quality - Continuous

The following files were used in the continuous analysis:

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Chlorophyll_a_Uncorrected_for_Pheophytin-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Dissolved_Oxygen_Saturation-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Fluorescent_Dissolved_Organic_Matter-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_pH-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Salinity-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Specific_Conductivity-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Turbidity-2026-Mar-06.txt

  • Combined_WQ_WC_NUT_cont_Water_Temperature-2026-Mar-06.txt

Continuous monitoring locations in Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve

Station overview for Continuous parameters by Program
ProgramID ProgramLocationID Years of Data Use in Analysis Parameters
986 6 11 TRUE Water Temperature

Program names:

986 - Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys1

Map showing continuous water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. Sites marked as Use In Analysis (green) are featured in this report.
Map showing continuous water quality sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. Sites marked as Use In Analysis (green) are featured in this report.

Water Temperature - Continuous

Scatter plot of monthly average water temperature over time at continuously monitored program locations. Each location is analyzed separately, with significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend lines shown for time series that included five or more years of observations.
Scatter plot of monthly average water temperature over time at continuously monitored program locations. Each location is analyzed separately, with significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend lines shown for time series that included five or more years of observations.
Seasonal Kendall-Tau Results for Water Temperature - All Stations
Program Location Statistical Trend No. of Samples No. Years with Data Period of Record Median Result Value Tau Sen Intercept Sen Slope P
6 Significantly increasing trend 69753 11 2013 - 2023 26.84 0.19 26.41 0.05 0.01

At one program location, monthly average water temperature increased by 0.05°C per year.

Coral Reef

The data file used is: All_CORAL_Parameters-2026-Jun-04.txt

Percent Cover

Scatter plot of live coral coverage over time as a percent of reef surface. Species groups include octocorals, milleporans, and scleractinians. If the time series included five or more years of observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Data points are jittered horizontally to reduce overlap.
Scatter plot of live coral coverage over time as a percent of reef surface. Species groups include octocorals, milleporans, and scleractinians. If the time series included five or more years of observations, a significant (blue) or non-significant (magenta) trend line is also shown. Data points are jittered horizontally to reduce overlap.
Coral Percent Cover
Statistical Trend Period of Record LME Intercept LME Slope p
No detectable trend 2013 - 2021 6.16822 -0.00304 0.16442

Percent cover showed no detectable trend between 2013 and 2021.

Map showing location of coral percent cover sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of coral percent cover sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.

Species Richness

Line graph of annual average species richness of grazers and reef-dependent species over time. If the time series included more than one year of observations, a line connects the data points for visualization.
Line graph of annual average species richness of grazers and reef-dependent species over time. If the time series included more than one year of observations, a line connects the data points for visualization.
Coral Species Richness
No. of Samples No. Years with Data Period of Record Median No. of Taxa Mean No. of Taxa
2 1 2014 - 2014 200 200

In the year 2014, 200 taxa were observed based on 2 observations.

Map showing location of coral species richness sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.
Map showing location of coral species richness sampling locations within the boundaries of Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. The bubble size on the maps above reflect the amount of data available at each sampling site.

Species list

Abudefduf saxatilis1 Epinephelus morio1 Oculina diffusa2
Acanthemblemaria aspera1 Epinephelus striatus1 Oculina sp.
Acanthemblemaria maria1 Eques lanceolatus1 Ocyurus chrysurus1
Acanthostracion polygonium1 Equetus punctatus1 Odontoscion dentex1
Acanthostracion quadricornis1 Eucinostomus argenteus Ophioblennius macclurei1
Acanthurus bahianus1 Eusmilia fastigiata2 Opistognathus aurifrons
Acanthurus chirurgus1 Euthynnus alletteratus Opistognathus macrognathus
Acanthurus coeruleus1 Favia fragum2 Opistognathus whitehursti
Acanthurus sp.1 Fistularia tabacaria1 Orbicella annularis2
Acropora cervicornis2 Gerres cinereus Oxyurichthys stigmalophius1
Aetobatus narinari Ginglymostoma cirratum Parablennius marmoreus1
Agaricia agaricites2 Gnatholepis thompsoni1 Pareques acuminatus1
Agaricia fragilis2 Gobiosoma sp.1 Pareques umbrosus1
Agaricia lamarcki2 Gymnothorax funebris1 Pempheris schomburgkii1
Aluterus schoepfii1 Gymnothorax miliaris1 Pomacanthus arcuatus1
Aluterus scriptus1 Gymnothorax moringa1 Pomacanthus paru1
Aluterus sp.1 Gymnothorax vicinus1 Porifera
Amblycirrhitus pinos1 Haemulon album1 Porites astreoides2
Anisotremus surinamensis1 Haemulon aurolineatum1 Porites divaricata
Anisotremus virginicus1 Haemulon carbonarium1 Porites spp.2
Apogon binotatus1 Haemulon flavolineatum1 Priacanthus arenatus1
Apogon maculatus1 Haemulon macrostomum1 Prionotus ophryas1
Apogon pseudomaculatus1 Haemulon melanurum1 Prognathodes aculeatus1
Apogon townsendi1 Haemulon parra1 Pseudodiploria clivosa2
Archosargus probatocephalus1 Haemulon plumierii1 Pseudodiploria strigosa2
Archosargus rhomboidalis1 Haemulon sciurus1 Pseudupeneus maculatus1
Astrapogon sp.1 Haemulon sp.1 Ptereleotris calliura
Atherinomorus stipes Haemulon striatum1 Ptereleotris helenae
Aulostomus maculatus1 Haemulon vittatum1 Pterois miles1
Azurina cyanea1 Halichoeres bivittatus1 Pterois volitans1
Balistes capriscus1 Halichoeres cyanocephalus1 Razorfish sp.1
Balistes vetula1 Halichoeres garnoti1 Remora remora
Blenniidae sp.1 Halichoeres maculipinna1 Rypticus maculatus1
Bodianus pulchellus1 Halichoeres pictus1 Rypticus saponaceus1
Bodianus rufus1 Halichoeres poeyi1 Sargocentron coruscum1
Bothus ocellatus1 Halichoeres radiatus1 Sargocentron vexillarium1
Brachygenys chrysargyreum1 Harengula humeralis Scartella cristata1
Calamus bajonado1 Harengula jaguana Scarus coelestinus1
Calamus calamus1 Hemiemblemaria simula1 Scarus coeruleus1
Calamus nodosus1 Hemiramphus brasiliensis Scarus guacamaia1
Calamus penna1 Heteropriacanthus cruentatus1 Scarus iseri1
Calamus proridens1 Holacanthus bermudensis1 Scarus sp.1
Callionymus bairdi1 Holacanthus ciliaris1 Scarus taeniopterus1
Cantherhines macrocerus1 Holacanthus tricolor1 Scarus vetula1
Cantherhines pullus1 Holocentrus adscensionis1 Scleractinia2
Canthidermis sufflamen1 Holocentrus rufus1 Scolymia sp.2
Canthigaster rostrata1 Hypanus americanus Scomberomorus maculatus
Caranx bartholomaei1 Hypoplectrus gemma1 Scomberomorus regalis
Caranx crysos1 Hypoplectrus hybrid1 Scorpaena plumieri1
Caranx hippos1 Hypoplectrus nigricans1 Scorpaenodes caribbaeus1
Caranx latus1 Hypoplectrus puella1 Selachii
Caranx ruber1 Hypoplectrus sp.1 Seriola dumerili1
Caranx sp.1 Hypoplectrus tann1 Serranid sp.1
Carcharhinus leucas Hypoplectrus unicolor1 Serranus baldwini1
Carcharhinus perezii Isophyllia sinuosa2 Serranus tabacarius1
Centropomus undecimalis Jenkinsia sp. Serranus tigrinus1
Cephalopholis cruentata1 Kyphosus sectatrix1 Serranus tortugarum1
Cephalopholis fulva1 Lachnolaimus maximus1 Siderastrea radians2
Chaetodipterus faber Lactophrys bicaudalis1 Siderastrea siderea2
Chaetodon capistratus1 Lactophrys trigonus1 Snapper sp.1
Chaetodon ocellatus1 Lactophrys triqueter1 Solenastrea bournoni2
Chaetodon sedentarius1 Liopropoma rubre1 Sparidae sp.1
Chaetodon striatus1 Lutjanus analis1 Sparisoma atomarium1
Chilomycterus antennatus1 Lutjanus apodus1 Sparisoma aurofrenatum1
Chilomycterus reticulatus1 Lutjanus buccanella1 Sparisoma chrysopterum1
Chromis enchrysurus1 Lutjanus griseus1 Sparisoma radians1
Chromis insolata1 Lutjanus jocu1 Sparisoma rubripinne1
Chromis multilineata1 Lutjanus mahogoni1 Sparisoma sp.1
Chromis scotti1 Lutjanus synagris1 Sparisoma viride1
Clepticus parrae1 Macroalgae Sphoeroides1
Colpophyllia natans2 Madracis auretenra2 Sphoeroides spengleri1
Coryphopterus dicrus1 Madracis decactis2 Sphyraena barracuda1
Coryphopterus eidolon1 Malacanthus plumieri Squirrelfish sp.1
Coryphopterus glaucofraenum1 Malacoctenus aurolineatus1 Stegastes adustus1
Coryphopterus personatus1 Malacoctenus macropus1 Stegastes diencaeus1
Coryphopterus punctipectophorus1 Malacoctenus triangulatus1 Stegastes leucostictus1
Coryphopterus sp.1 Meandrina meandrites2 Stegastes partitus1
Cryptotomus roseus1 Megalops atlanticus Stegastes planifrons1
Ctenogobius saepepallens1 Melichthys niger1 Stegastes sp.1
Cyanobacteria Menidia sp. Stegastes variabilis1
Decapterus macarellus1 Microgobius carri1 Stephanocoenia intersepta2
Decapterus punctatus1 Microspathodon chrysurus1 Strongylura notata1
Dichocoenia stokesii2 Millepora alcicornis2 Substrate
Diodon holocanthus1 Millepora complanata2 Synodus foetens1
Diodon hystrix1 Monacanthus ciliatus1 Synodus intermedius1
Diplectrum formosum1 Monacanthus tuckeri1 Synodus synodus1
Diplodus argenteus1 Montastraea cavernosa2 Thalassoma bifasciatum1
Diplodus holbrookii1 Mulloidichthys martinicus1 Tigrigobius macrodon1
Diploria labyrinthiformis2 Mycetophyllia aliciae2 Trachinotus falcatus1
Echeneis naucrates Mycteroperca bonaci1 Tylosurus crocodilus
Echeneis neucratoides Mycteroperca microlepis1 Urobatis jamaicensis
Elacatinus oceanops1 Mycteroperca phenax1 Xyrichtys martinicensis1
Elagatis bipinnulata1 Mycteroperca venenosa1 Xyrichtys novacula1
Epinephelus adscensionis1 Myripristis jacobus1 Xyrichtys splendens1
Epinephelus guttatus1 Nicholsina usta1 Zoanthidae
Epinephelus itajara1 Octocorallia2 Abudefduf saxatilis1

1 - Coral Reef - Species Richness, 2 - Coral Reef - Percent Cover

References

1.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision (FWC); Florida Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI). Water Temperature on Coral Reefs in the Florida Keys. (2022).