National Parks Traveler Episode 107: Rebuilding Coral Reefs At Dry Tortugas National Park

By Kurt Repanshek - February 28th, 2021

Coral is a foundation species – one that creates the habitats that support biodiversity and provides essential shoreline protection. The waters of Dry Tortugas National Park, which lies about 60 miles to the west of Key West, Florida, are home to some 30 species of coral. One type –- Elkhorn Coral -- rises above the rest, literally and figuratively, for its importance in the region. It also happens to be the most threatened.

A U.S. Geological Survey team looked into whether Elkhorn Coral grown in nursery conditions could be transplanted in Dry Tortugas and other areas of the Florida Keys. The Traveler’s Lynn Riddick got the details about the study from lead investigator Dr. Ilsa Kuffner, who says the findings are encouraging, as is the shift in the way people have started to think about reef conservation

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:47 Beyond the Reef - Tim Heintz and Grant Geissman - Seascapes: A Musical Journey
2:12 Potrero Group
2:43 Friends of Acadia
3:09 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
3:45 Lynn Riddick talks to Dr. Ilsa Kuffner about coral transplant research at Dry Tortugas National Park.
20:10 Whispering Winds - Grant Geissman - Sounds of the Caribbean
20:25 National Parks Traveler
20:38 Western National Parks Association
21:01 North Cascades Institute
21:20 Washington’s National Park Fund
21:54 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
22:22 Lynn Riddick's discussion with Dr. Kuffner continues.
51:14 Flamingo - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
51:27 Episode Closing
52:17 Orange Tree Productions
52:50 Splitbeard Productions
53:03 National Parks Traveler footer

Dry Tortugas National Park

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