Ecological study of fishes and the water quality characteristics of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park, Florida

Schmidt, Thomas

An ecological study of the fishes of Florida Bay (Everglades National Park) was directed toward acquiring baseline information on their relative abundance by number and biomass, habitat types, and the effect of environmental conditions on their distribution. A total of 182,530 fishes representing 128 species and 50 families were collected throughout Florida Bay. Their total biomass was 764.9 kg. An additional 21 species were identified from supplemental observations. In general the greatest numbers and biomass of the fishes occurred during the wet season (summer and fall months) whereas the lowest numbers and biomass occurred during the dry season (winter and spring months). The greatest abundance and diversity fishes was found in western Florida Bay followed by eastern and central Bay regions, respectively. The sampled areas of Florida Bay was found to support seagrass and macroalgal communities composed primarily of Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, and green algae, Pencillus sp. Salinity appeared to be the most important factor measured affecting fish distribution. Study Period: May 1973-October 1976; Study Type: Qualitative, quantitative; Habitat: Banks, basins, bays, shorelines, channels; Biological Component: fishes, benthic flora; Gear Type: Seine, otter trawl; Number of Stations: 27; Number of Replicates/Station: 1 (seine), 2 (trawl); Temporal Frequency; Biweekly(water quality), monthly/quarterly(biological); Abiotic Parameters Measured: Salinity, temperature, pH, DO, turbidity, wind speed/direction, cloud cover; Dominant Taxon/Taxa Studied: Anchoa mitchili, A. hepsetus, Eucinostomus gula, Lagodon rhomboides.