Also, an unknown, but undoubtedly significant, contribution of dissolved 

 organic material and particulate detritus is carried to the reef from man- 

 grove wetlands by outgoing tides. The tremendous superiority of coral reefs 

 over other ecoystems in terms of productivity has been documented by Odum 

 (1971). 



There is no doubt that all four reef zones (and possibly, also the Deep 

 Ridge), identified in this study, are tied together by trophic relationships, 

 just as the total coral reef ecosystem is tied in with the surrounding ocean. 

 The coral reef - open ocean relationship, is illustrated by the frequent 

 visits to the reef by large schools of jacks, mackerel and other pelagic 

 fishes. These fishes use the reef not only as a feeding ground, but also 

 participate in, and benefit from, the cleaning-mutualistic symbiotic relation- 

 ship with reef-dwelling finfish and invertebrates (i.e., "cleaning stations"). 



3. Endangered Species 



There have been no reported endangered species in the Looe Key proposal 

 site. Although the Looe Key area is suitable habitat for three marine turtles 

 protected under the Endangered Species Act, no sightings, to date, have been 

 verified. Pillar coral ( Dendrogyra cylindrus ) found in the patch reefs 

 north of the main section of Looe Key was nominated but did not qualify as a 

 federally designated endangered species. 



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