The biodiversity of reef fish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was evaluated in terms of abundance, biomass, evenness, species richness, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and functional diversity, using observations collected from 1999 – 2016 by the Reef Visual Census program. To compare the different diversity indices, species richness, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, and functional diversity were converted into effective number of species. We examined the seven indices by level of protection and type of no-take marine zones and by three habitat strata. The study detected abundance, biomass, and diversity were significantly greater (except evenness) inside no-take marine zones compared to areas open to fishing. Smaller reserves had higher abundance, biomass, and richness values than larger reserves and areas open to fishing, but had moderately higher diversity values. This may be attributed to a few species with many individuals that are dominant inside and outside no-take marine zones. Surprisingly, none of the indices were significantly different (except for functional diversity) between the larger Ecological Reserve and areas open for consumption. This may be due to spillover effects. Furthermore, the no-take marine zones only explained a small proportion of total percent deviance in the indices. Habitat type had a greater influence on patterns in composition and diversity where high relief reef habitats had the greatest abundance, biomass, and diversity indices. Based on our results managers should prioritize preserving high relief reefs through a network of small reserves to enhance reef fish composition and biodiversity.

On decadal timescales, the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) is ~100 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Its abundance is increasing, many of its sources are temperature dependent. The Arctic is the site of the fastest warming globally. Feed-backs between Arctic temperature and CH4 emissions and concentrations need investigation. Unfortunately, available Arctic in situ data are extremely sparse with no marine observations outside summer. Satellite instruments measuring solar radiation reflected from the surface are ineffective in the Arctic. Thus, we leverage satellite data from AIRS, IASI-1, and IASI-2 Thermal Infrared (TIR) spectrometers, which provide year-round, day/night CH4 observations. Available in situ high latitude NOAA/ESRL surface coastal (50-85°N) flask atmospheric CH4 concentrations were compared with satellite data. We find: 1) remote sensing data revealed 150% (IASI-1, mid-upper troposphere) and 80% (surface data for Arctic stations) increases in atmospheric CH4 concentration growth rates between 2010-2014 and 2014-2017 time spans. Global NOAA/ESRL surface concentration rates increased by 90% for the same period; 2) maximum CH4 seasonal emission from the Arctic land occurs in boreal summer, while that from the Barents Kara Sea (BKS) occurs in boreal winter (Nov–Mar). Total annual Arctic Ocean CH4 emissions are preliminary estimated as ~40% of all land emissions North of 50°N; 3) marine emissions are concentrated in shelf areas within ~100 km of the coasts of major Arctic BKS lands; 4) CH4 anomalies over BKS, defined as surplus over its concentration at the North Atlantic area, grew after 2014; 5) the strongest SST increase was observed every year in the southeast Barents Sea in June due to strengthening of the warm Murman Currents and in the south Kara Sea in Sept. Direct in situ CH4 flux measurements during polar night over sea are necessary to test the satellite results.