Oculina Reef Model Ecosystem
In the deep offshore waters of east central Florida lies a unique coral reef system comprised of a single species of coral called the ivory tree coral, Oculina varicosa. These reefs are found at depths from 250 to 300 feet, and stretch over ninety nautical miles along the edge of the continental shelf from Fort Pierce to Cape Canaveral, Florida and nowhere else. This delicately branching coral grows at the slow rate of about a 1/2" per year, forming bushy, spherical colonies which can grow up to five feet in diameter.
Oculina corals are pure white because they lack the characteristic color from tiny microscopic algae called zooxanthellae that live symbiotically within most shallow water corals. Because they live too deep to depend on symbiotic algae, Oculina corals must catch their food, which consists of zooplankton and suspended organic matter.
Deep water Oculina reef systems play host to an extremely diverse assemblage of fishes and invertebrates, many of which are of commercial value. It serves as a breeding ground for gag and scamp grouper and as a nursery for juvenile snowy grouper. As a result, the federal government has designated these reefs as an Area of Particular Concern. The depth of Oculina reefs make it extremely difficult to aquire specimens for the exhibit's 500-gallon display. The coral rubble, Oculina corals, and other invertebrates like brittle stars, sea stars, anemones, urchins, and crabs living in the exhibit were collected during two research cruises by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution's submersible. And while many of the fishes found in this habitat also live in shallower waters, most are very aggressive predators (including some on corals) which can not be maintained in our model ecosystem.
