Interactive Identification Guide to South Florida Octocorals

How to use this guide

Using This Guide

You can use the interactive map in two ways: the Flash Version and the PDF version. Both work in the same fashion. The small plus sign next to each picture will expand the map for more choices. Keep clicking on the plus (+) sign for each choice until you reach the octocoral species name. You may need to use the horizontal and vertical scroll bars at the bottom and right side of the screen to move the view along. You can also use the tools on the bottom left to zoom in and out, toggle between different displays and to print the map. Once you reach the species' name, you can click on the Chain Link to go to pictures and a full description of the species.

This guide ...

  • offers practical identifications of the shallow-water octocorals of southern Florida from Indian River Lagoon through the Florida Keys, Florida Bay and the Dry Tortugas;
  • includes color photographs of whole colonies and close-ups, of both living and preserved specimens, documenting both typical growth forms and variations;
  • offers descriptions with simplified technical terms suitable for non-specialists including environmental managers, marine biologists, teachers and advanced students;
  • provides several layers of features both for quick overview assessments and more detailed investigations;
  • was funded by grants from the National Coral Reef Institute (Nova Southeastern University) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries.

Contributors

  • Charles G. Messing, National Coral Reef Institute, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
  • Howard R. Lasker, Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology & Behavior, University at Buffalo
  • Juan A Sánchez Muñoz, BIOMMAR, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
  • John Reed, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University
  • Vanessa Brinkhuis, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg FL
  • Paola Espitiah, National Coral Reef Institute, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
  • Matthew W. Johnston, National Coral Reef Institute, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
  • Luisa Fernanda Dueñas Montalvo, BIOMMAR, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
  • Márcio Coelho, Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology & Behavior, University at Buffalo
  • Vanessa Smilansky, Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology & Behavior, University at Buffalo
  • Keri Baker, Nova Southeastern University, Oceanography Library

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