An Ecological Analysis of Seagrass Meadows of the Gulf Islands National Seashore
Heck Kl and Zande JM. 1997. An Ecological Analysis of Seagrass Meadows of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium/ University of South Alabama. Dauphin Island, AL
The emphasis of the report is to document a study to monitor the health of seagrass resources in GUIS - FL and MS Divisions. The study was prefaced by a 3-year study indicating seagrass degeneration in Big Lagoon due to significant burial by Hurricane Opal in 1995. The report includes estimates of seagrass species composition, abundance, productivity, and leaf size, as well as including certain water quality measurements. There was also a study of short-term estimates of the growth and abundance of turtle grass and shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) in Big Lagoon and Santa Rosa Sound. The results indicate a steady state of good health for the seagrass resources in the GUIS MS unit; however, the manatee grass (Syringodium filaforme) that was presence in low abundance in previous studies has now disappeared from the MS sampling stations. In the FL unit, the seagrasses continue to show a clear decline.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Heck, K; Zande, J
- Date of Issue
- 1997-08
- Publisher
- Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium/ University of South Alabama
- Units
- GUIS
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Big Lagoon (GUIS), Gulf Islands National Seashore FL - MS, Management, manatee grass (Syringodium filaforme, Plant Studies, Sampling Techniques, Santa Rosa Sound (GUIS), Seagrasses, shoal grass (Halodule wrightii)