<br>Section 1. Nearshore Hardbottom within the East Florida and Caribbean Seascape<br> Chapter 1. Introduction: the Habitat and the Ecosystem  1.1. Introduction 1.2. Ecological Concepts and terms 1.3. Nearshore, Intermediate and Offshore Hardbottom 1.4. Species: Windows into Assemblages  1.5. Equilibrium and Scale 1.6. Ecological Functions Chapter 2. Shallow Hardbottom of East Florida and the Caribbean and the Regional Shelf Setting 2.1 Introduction  2.2 Geological and Biological Attributes of Nearshore Hardbottom 2.3 Distribution of Shallow Hardbottom along East Florida and the Caribbean 2.4 Offshore Hardbottom Areas 2.5 Regional Setting: Currents and Shelf Margins 2.5.1 Currents and Upwelling 2.5.2 Tides, Wind Events, Wave Activity, and Hurricanes<br>Section 2. Organisms and Assemblages of East Florida Nearshore Hardbottom<br> Chapter 3. Macroalgae and Cyanobacteria 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1. Functional Form Groups 3.1.2. Latitudinal Gradients 3.1.3. Depth Gradients 3.1.4. Algal Reproduction 3.2 Summary Chapter 4. Invertebrates 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Sessile Species 4.2.1. Polychaetes 4.2.2. Anthozoans 4.2.3. Sponges 4.2.4. Hydrozoans 4.2.5. Tunicates and Bryozoans 4.2.6. Molluscs (sessile) 4.2.7. Barnacles 4.3. Motile Species 4.3.1. Crustaceans 4.3.2. Gastropods and Other Molluscs 4.3.3. Echinoderms 4.4. Summary 4.4.1. Diversity 4.4.2. Trophic patterns and Functional Groups 4.4.3. Latitudinal and Cross-shelf Distribution 4.4.4. Reproduction and Life-history 4.4.5. Dispersal and Connectivity 4.4.6. Recruitment and Cross-shelf Habitat Use 4.4.7. Economic and Recreational Value 4.4.8. Importance of Hardbottom to Invertebrates Chapter 5. Fish Assemblages 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Taxonomic Composition 5.3 Reproduction and Early Life History 5.4 Feeding 5.5 Movement  5.6 Summary 5.6.1 Species Richness 5.6.2 Spawning 5.6.3 Settlement and Early Associations with Habitat 5.6.4 Developmental Patterns and Cross-shelf Habitat Use 5.6.5 Latitudinal variations in Shallow hardbottom Fish Assemblages Chapter 6. Marine Turtles 6.1. Introduction 6.1.1. Adult Marine Turtles 6.1.2. Hatchling Marine Turtles 6.1.3. Predators 6.1.4. Water Depth 6.1.5. Seasonality 6.2 Species Overviews 6.2.1. Green Turtles 6.2.2. Loggerhead Turtles 6.2.3. Hawksbill Turtles 6.3. Disturbance Events and Turtles 6.3.1. Shoreline Project Disturbances 6.3.2. Red Tide Disturbances 6.4. Summary<br>Section 3. Functions of Nearshore Hardbottom and Mitigation Alternatives<br> Chapter 7. Functional Ecological Attributes of Shallow Hardbottom 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Ecological Functioning Group 7.2.1. Structure-Shelter Associated Functional Groupings 7.2.2. Trophic Functional Groupings 7.3. Latitudinal Comparisons 7.4. Disturbance Ecology 7.5. Obligate and Facultative Habitat Use 7.6. Population Connectivity and Maintenance Chapter 8. Mitigating Shallow Hardbottom Impacts 8.1.  Stressors and Effects 8.1.1. Ecological Assessment Frameworks 8.1.2. Stressors, Responses, and Effects 8.2. Mitigation and Nearshore Hardbottom Burial 8.2.1. Artificial Reefs 8.2.2. Monitoring 8.3. Conclusions on Management and Mitigation  8.4. Research NeedsLiterature CitedAppendices<br>