Effects of the December 1983 and January 1985 Freezing Air Temperatures on Select Aquatic Poikilotherms and Plant Species of Merritt Island, Florida
Provancha MJ, Schmalzer PA, Hall CR. 1986. Effects of the December 1983 and January 1985 Freezing Air Temperatures on Select Aquatic Poikilotherms and Plant Species of Merritt Island, Florida. Florida Scientist. 49(4):199-212
Freezing air temperatures during the periods 25-26 December 1983 and 20-23 January 1985 resulted in hypothermal stress and mortality of several aquatic poikilotherms in the upper Indian River lagoon system, Brevard County, Florida. Twenty-three species of fish representing 15 families were found stressed or dead in the 1983 freeze and nine species representing 8 families were observed in the 1985 freeze. One hundred and fifty-two sea turtles were rescued from lagoonal waters in January 1985 of which 145 were Chelonia mydas (green turtle), and 7 were adult Caretta caretta (Atlantic loggerhead). Numerous indigenous plant species of tropical and subtropical origin were extensively damaged. These included Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle. Exotic plant species such as Schinus terebinthifolius, Casuarina equisetifolia, and Melalcuca quinquenervia were also damaged.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Provancha, Mark; Schmalzer, Paul; Hall, Carlton
- Units
- CANA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Atmospheric Sciences, Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), Indian River Estuarine System, loggerhead turtle (Carretta carretta), Plant Studies, red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle)