@article{simmons_bohnenstiehl_eggleston_2022, title={Spatiotemporal Variation in Coral Assemblages and Reef Habitat Complexity among Shallow Fore-Reef Sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1424-2818"]}, DOI={10.3390/d14030153}, abstractNote={With the unprecedented degradation and loss of coral reefs at multiple scales, the underlying changes in abiotic and biotic features relevant to the three-dimensional architecture of coral reefs are critical to conservation and restoration. This study characterized the spatiotemporal variation of habitat metrics at eight fore-reef sites representing three management zones in the Florida Keys, USA using visual habitat surveys (2017–2018) acquired before and after Hurricane Irma. Post-hurricane, five of those sites were surveyed using structure-from-motion photogrammetry to further investigate coral morphology on structural complexity. Multivariate results for visual surveys identified moderate separation among sites, with fished sites characterized by complex physical features such as depth and vertical hard relief while protected sites generally harbored high abundances of live coral cover. Three-dimensional models of mapped sites showed within site variation as another driver in site separation. Additionally, fine-scale orthoimage analyses identified significant differences in dominant coral morphologies at each mapped site. This study suggests protected reef sites generally harbor higher live coral cover despite some fished sites being structurally similar in seabed topography. Our work provides fine-scale spatial data on several managed sites within a marine sanctuary and highlights the contribution of diverse coral assemblages to the coral reef framework.}, number={3}, journal={DIVERSITY-BASEL}, author={Simmons, Kayelyn R. and Bohnenstiehl, DelWayne R. and Eggleston, David B.}, year={2022}, month={Mar} }
 @article{simmons_eggleston_bohnenstiehl_2021, title={Hurricane impacts on a coral reef soundscape}, volume={16}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0244599}, abstractNote={Soundscape ecology is an emerging field in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and provides a powerful approach for assessing habitat quality and the ecological response of sound-producing species to natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Little is known of how underwater soundscapes respond during and after severe episodic disturbances, such as hurricanes. This study addresses the impacts of Hurricane Irma on the coral reef soundscape at two spur-and-groove fore-reef sites within the Florida Keys USA, using passive acoustic data collected before and during the storm at Western Dry Rocks (WDR) and before, during and after the storm at Eastern Sambo (ESB). As the storm passed, the cumulative acoustic exposure near the seabed at these sites was comparable to a small vessel operating continuously overhead for 1–2 weeks. Before the storm, sound pressure levels (SPLs) showed a distinct pattern of low frequency diel variation and increased high frequency sound during crepuscular periods. The low frequency band was partitioned in two groups representative of soniferous reef fish, whereas the high frequency band represented snapping shrimp sound production. Daily daytime patterns in low-frequency sound production largely persisted in the weeks following the hurricane. Crepuscular sound production by snapping shrimp was maintained post-hurricane with only a small shift (~1.5dB) in the level of daytime vs nighttime sound production for this high frequency band. This study suggests that on short time scales, temporal patterns in the coral reef soundscape were relatively resilient to acoustic energy exposure during the storm, as well as changes in the benthic habitat and environmental conditions resulting from hurricane damage.}, number={2}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Simmons, Kayelyn R. and Eggleston, David B. and Bohnenstiehl, DelWayne R.}, year={2021}, month={Feb} }
 @article{carr_abas_boutahar_caretti_chan_chapman_mendonca_engleman_ferrario_simmons_et al._2020, title={The Aichi Biodiversity Targets: achievements for marine conservation and priorities beyond 2020}, volume={8}, ISSN={["2167-8359"]}, DOI={10.7717/peerj.9743}, abstractNote={In 2010 the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity revised and updated a Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, which included the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Here a group of early career researchers mentored by senior scientists, convened as part of the 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, reflects on the accomplishments and shortfalls under four of the Aichi Targets considered highly relevant to marine conservation: target 6 (sustainable fisheries), 11 (protection measures), 15 (ecosystem restoration and resilience) and 19 (knowledge, science and technology). We conclude that although progress has been made towards the targets, these have not been fully achieved for the marine environment by the 2020 deadline. The progress made, however, lays the foundations for further work beyond 2020 to work towards the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. We identify key priorities that must be addressed to better enable marine biodiversity conservation efforts moving forward.}, journal={PEERJ}, author={Carr, Hannah and Abas, Marina and Boutahar, Loubna and Caretti, Olivia N. and Chan, Wing Yan and Chapman, Abbie S. A. and Mendonca, Sarah N. and Engleman, Abigail and Ferrario, Filippo and Simmons, Kayelyn R. and et al.}, year={2020}, month={Dec} }