Preliminary Paleontologic Report on Core 37, from Pass Key, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay
Brewster-Wingward GL, Ishman SE, Wailbel NJ, Willard DA, Edwards LE, Holmes CW. 1998. Preliminary Paleontologic Report on Core 37, from Pass Key, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Open-File Report. Open-file Report 98-122. U.S. Geological Survey
This report is produced by the “Ecosystem History of Florida Bay and the Southwest Coast” component of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Ecosystem Program, and is one of a series of USGS Open-File Reports on the distribution of biogenic components in sediments sampled from the southern Florida region. The data presented in these reports can be used to estimate changes in salinity, substrate, and other critical components of the ecosystem over time. Sediments from Pass Key core 37, in eastern Florida Bay (N 25.1478°, W 80.5745°) record a history of rapid sedimentation during this century. The lowest portion of the core contains benthic fauna indicative of relatively low salinities and sparse seagrass coverage. This period is followed by an increase in salinity and seagrass. In the middle portion of the core, a slight decrease in salinity and an increase in seagrass occur. These shifts in the benthic fauna correspond to a period when the terrestrial flora change, and an increase in dinocyst absolute abundance occurs, indicating changes in factors affecting the entire South Florida ecosystem. These changes may represent a period of increased terrestrial flushing, due to rainfall, water management practices or a combination of both. The benthic faunas in the upper portion of the core indicate an increase in salinity and seagrass density.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Brewster-Wingward, G.; Ishman, Scott; Wailbel, Neil; Willard, Debra; Edwards, Lucy; Holmes, Charles
- Date of Issue
- 1998
- Publisher
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- core 37, core samples, Ecosystem, Everglades National Park, Fauna, Flora, Florida Bay, Monitoring, Natural Resources, Salinity, Sampling, Sediment, Soil, USGS, Vegetation