The distribution and abundance of benthic vegetation in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park

Zieman, Joseph; Fourqurean, James

This study was undertaken to delineate and describe the benthic vegetation communities in the submerged portions of Florida Bay (Everglades National Park). Distributional, standing crop, productivity and isotope data along with water characteristics and sediment properties were used to identify seven primary benthic vegetational communities in Florida Bay: Northeast, East Central, Interior, Atlantic, Gulf, Mainland, and Conchie Channel. Some of these communities were qualitatively compared to communities described in earlier studies (Turney & Perkins 1972, no. 439 in bibliography; Schmidt 1979, no. 348). The importance of environmental factors (salinity, temperature, and light) on controlling the distribution and extent of these communities in Florida Bay was discussed. This report also provides complete data sets for qualitative descriptions of each study site, quantitative standing crop data, leaf mark and C-14 uptake productivity data. Study Period: 1983-85; Study Type: Qualitative, quantitative; Habitat: Open water bays, basins, mudbanks, channels; Gear Type: Underwater visual censusing techniques, aerial photography for benthic community identification/verification, Quadrats (10x10 cm, 10x20 cm, 50x50 cm for standing crop/leaf production, plexiglass cylinders (C-14 uptake); Number of Stations: 108 (macrophyte standing crop), 16 (leaf production), 12 (C-14 uptake); Number of Replicates/Station: 3 (Standing crop), 16 (leaf production); Temporal Frequency: Seasonally; Abiotic Parameters Measured: Salinity, sediment and water depth, solar radiation; Dominant Taxon/Taxa Studied: Thalassia, Halodule, Syringodium, Penicillus.