Snorkeling Man-O-War Key

From The RIMS Instructor's Guide....

Red Mangrove roots

There are two approaches to exploring the mangroves around Man-O-War Key. One approach is by snorkeling through the shallow tidal creeks. Snorkeling allows the students to look at the dense communities attached to the prop roots. Communities found associated with the mangrove roots include algae, seagrass, invertebrates, fish and phytoplankton. Some species of algae associated with the prop roots include Bostrichia spp., Dasycladus vermicularis, Caulerpa spp. and Acetabularia spp. In addition Halimeda spp., Udotea spp., Avrainvillea spp., Penicillus spp., Caulerpa spp., Rhipocephelus phoenix and other Chlorophytes can be found in the extensive Turtle Grass (Thallasia testudinum) beds and the mud adjacent to the roots. The second approach is to wade on shore and explore the tangles of prop roots from land. It’s important to observe both the above water and below water communities that mangroves create. Walking around the key allows students to examine and identify characteristics of the Red Mangroves and the more landward Black Mangroves found in areas with less tidal submergence. Students can also identify some of the important terrestrial organisms associated with mangroves.

Man-O-War Key is outside of the marine reserve. Collection is allowed.
INVERTEBRATE FAUNA Specifically Associated with Mangroves:
Fire Sponge (Tedania ignis)
Green Sponge (Haliclona viridis)
White Sponge (Geodia gibberosa)
Pale Anemones (Aiptasia pallida)
Corkscrew Anemone (Bartholomea annulata)
Stinging Mangrove Anemone (Bunodeopsis antilliensis)
Collared Sand Anemone (Actinostella flosculifera)
Upside-down Sea Jelly (Cassiopea xamachana, C. frondosa)
Sea Wasp (Carybdea alata)
Fireworm (Hermodice carunculata)
Magnificent Banded Fanworm (Sabellestarte magnifica)
Banded Featherduster (Sabella melanostigmata)
Medusa Worm (Loimia medusa)
Coffee Bean Snail (Melampus coffeeus)
Mangrove Periwinkle (Littorina angulifera)
Lettuce Sea Slug (Tridachia crispatus)
Mangrove Oyster (Isognomon alatus)
Mangrove Star Barnacle (Chthamulus fragilis)
Ghost Shrimp (Ocypode quadrata)
Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)
Land Crab (Cardisoma guanhumi)
Mangrove Crab (Aratus pisonii)
Spotted Mangrove Crab (Goniopsis cruentata)
Spiny Lobster (Panularis argus)
Black Encrusting Tunicate (Botrylloides nigrum)
Mangrove Tunicate (Ecteinascidia turbinata)
Variable Encrusting Tunicate (Botryllus planus)
Green Encrusting Tunicate (Symplegma viride)