Fouling community of the Loxahatchee River estuary,Florida, 1980–81

Monthly growth of the fouling community at eight test panel sites in the Loxahatchee River Estuary was related to salinity and temperature. Growth was lowest in January 1981 (averaging 23 g per m², dry weight), and increased during spring and early summer with increasing water temperature. Maximum growth occurred during early or midsummer at upstream locations, before river or canal discharge substantially reduced salinity, and in late summer at downstream locations. Growth was greatest at salinities slightly less than that of seawater and decreased at salinities less than about 10‰. Growth was suppressed throughout the estuary in August 1981, probably because of the sudden decrease in temperature and salinity, and perhaps the increase in physical scouring, caused by runoff from Tropical Storm Dennis. Large loads of nutrients transported to the estuary from storm runoff, however, may have subsequently stimulated growth, which increased in September 1981 to the maximum for the year (averaging 683 g per m², dry weight).     

The disruption and recovery of fish communities in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, following two hurricanes in 2004

During the summer of 2004, four hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) affected Florida between August 13 and September 27. Two storms (Frances: category 2 and Jeanne: category 3) made landfall in the southern portion of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) on the east-central coast of Florida. The presence of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's long-term fisheries monitoring program in the IRL provided a unique opportunity to examine the effects of large tropical events on estuarine fish communities. Increased sampling efforts to monitor the effects of tropical disturbances on the fish community within the IRL and one of its major tributaries (St. Sebastian River) were initiated within days after the passing of the last hurricane (Jeanne). The objectives of the study were to characterize changes to the composition of the fish community within the lagoon and river immediately after the passage of two hurricanes, and to examine the recovery of the fish communities. Analyses indicated that immediately after the last hurricane passed, community diversity within the estuary decreased following these storms due to the absence of many marine species, whereas the fish community within the St. Sebastian River shifted to one containing a greater percentage of freshwater species. Recovery of the community structure to pre-hurricane conditions was evident within several weeks following the last hurricane, and by mid December 2004 (ca. 3 mo after the last storm), there was little difference between the pre-hurricane and post-hurricane fish communities.     

Influence of sequential hurricanes on nekton communities in a Southeast Florida estuary: Short-term effects in the context of historical variations in freshwater inflow

We examined nekton community-level responses to Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, which made landfall 20 d apart in the St. Lucie estuary in southeastern Florida in 2004. The passage of these storms contributed to large freshwater discharges that exceeded 150 m³ s⁻¹, as well as estuary-wide reductions in salinity and near-hypoxic conditions in the North Fork of the estuary that persisted for several months. Although such environmental variations are not uncommon, seasonal patterns of community structure were disturbed throughout much of the estuary, likely in response to uncharacteristically-rapid reductions in salinity. Immediately following the hurricanes, abundances of several freshwater and oligohaline taxa (i.e., blue crabCallinectes sapidus, shadDorosoma spp., and ladyfishElops saurus) increased markedly in the inner estuary, while abundances of several other fishes (i.e., striped mulletMugil cephalus, white mulletM. curema, lookdownSelene vomer, pigfishOrthopristis chrysoptera, and pinfishLagodon rhomboides) declined. Nekton communities recovered quickly, and by spring, community structure throughout much of the estuary was indistinguishable from pre-hurricane conditions. Although nekton communities were resilient to hurricane-related disturbances, projected increases in Atlantic hurricane activity and associated freshwater discharges over the coming decades may test the resilience of estuarine communities in Florida.     

Seasonal variation in standing crop of the seagrassSyringodium filiforme and associated macrophytes in the Northern Indian River,Florida

Seasonal variation in the standing crop of the seagrassSyringodium filiforme and its associated macrophytes was studied in a northern basin of the Indian River, a large mesohaline lagoon in central Florida, near the northern distributional limit ofS. filiforme. The minimum standing crop occurred from February through April and the maximum in September. Two other seagrasses,Halodule wrightii andHalophila engelmannii, together with a drift algal community, occurred in the study quadrat, but were not major components of the macrophytic system. The formation of sizeable sandy patches within Indian River seagrass beds is partially due to the burrowing activities ofLimulus polyphemus. Thermal stresses associated with the northern geographicalS. filiforme range may contribute to this phenomenon by restricting annual production, hence limiting patch regrowth.     

Production and nutrient dynamics of aSyringodium filiforme Kütz. Seagrass bed in Indian River Lagoon,Florida

A year-long analysis of the characteristics of the seagrassSyringodium filiforme and the associated dynamics of the nutrient pool in the sediment pore water was done to assess co-variation. Changes in seagrass growth rate and standing stock throughout the year were accompanied by seasonal changes in the nutrient pools. The link between plant production and morphometrics and the sediment nutrient pool was found to be predominantly physiological, with the plant balancing the ability to photosynthesize with the nutrients needed for maintaining production. Measurements of whole plant growth for this seagrass, rather than the more typical leaf growth measurements, show that the production of new shoots and rhizome elongation for these plants represents as substantial amount of growth that usually goes unmeasured. Further, these whole plant growth measures demonstrate the rapid lateral rhizome spread of this species, exceeding one meter per plant per year. The primary cause of seasonal variation in the yearly seagrass cycle was investigated. Correlation analysis supported the hypothesis that the major factor controlling seasonal variation in this seagrass was light. During the peak growing season, however, growth was not regulated by light but by nitrogen. Depletion of the sediment ammonium pool and reduction in pore water ammonium relative to adsorbed ammonium, as well as changes in N content of seagrass leaves, support our hypothesis of peak growing season nitrogen limitation. Our results forSyringodium filiforme in terrigenous sediments are in contrast to our recent findings of phosphorus limitation in this same species occurring in carbonate sediments.     

The impacts of the 2004 hurricanes on hydrology, water quality, and seagrass in the Central Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Between August 14 and September 26, 2004, four tropical weather systems (Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne) affected the central Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The central IRL received a prodigious amount of rainfall for the 2 mo, between 72 and 83 cm, which is a once-in-50-yr rainfall event. High stream discharges were generated that, combined with wind-suspended sediments, significantly reduced salinities and water transparency. In September, salinities among central IRL segments dropped from 30 psu or more to ≤15 psu, color increased from a low of 10 pcu to ≥100 pcu, and turbidity increased from ≤3 NTU up to 14 NTU. Evidence of the hurricanes' physical effects on seagrasses (burial, no scour) was limited to just one of the more than 25 sites inspected. Within 2 to 3 mo following the hurricane period, most parameters related to water transparency returned to or showed improvement over their prehurricane (February–July 2004) levels. Unseasonably low salinities (<20 psu) and moderately high color (>20 pcu) were observed through spring 2005, largely attributable to a relatively long residence time and a wetter-than-average spring season in 2005. By the end of the study period (July 2006), the central IRL generally showed a continuation of two opposite seagrass trends—an increase in depthlimit coverage but a decline in coverage density—that began before 2004. Also, within a limited reach of the central IRL, there was a temporary shift in species composition in summer 2005 (Ruppia maritima increased asHalodule wrightü decreased). It is likely that the persistently low salinities (not color) in 2004–2005 affected the species composition and coverage density. This study reveals that seagrasses are resilient to the acute effects of hurricanes and underscores the need to reduce chronic, an thropogenic effects on seagrasses.     

Possible effects of the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes on manatee survival rates and movement

Prior research on manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) survival in northwest Florida, based on mark-resighting photo-identification data from 1982–1998, showed that annual adult apparent survival rate was significantly lower during years with extreme storms. Mechanisms that we proposed could have led to lower estimates included stranding, injury from debris, being fatally swept out to sea, or displacement into poorly monitored areas due to storm-generated longshore currents or storm-related loss of habitat. In 2004 and 2005, seven major hurricanes impacted areas of Florida encompassing three regional manatee subpopulations, enabling us to further examine some of these mechanisms. Data from a group of manatees tracked in southwest Florida with satellite transmitters during Hurricanes Charley, Katrina, and Wilma showed that these animals made no significant movement before and during storm passage. Mark-resighting data are being collected to determine if survival rates were lower with the 2004 and 2005 storms.     

Effects of the 2004 hurricanes on the fish assemblages in two proximate southwest Florida estuaries: Change in the context of interannual variability

We examined interannual differences in fish assemblage structure in Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor, Florida, from 1996 to 2005 to reveal the extent of hurricane-induced changes in relation to multiannual variability for five different assemblages in each estuary: small-bodied fishes (<generally 80-mm standard length) along river shorelines, in river channels, along bay shorelines, and on the bay shelf (<1.5-m water depth); and large-bodied fishes (>generally 100-mm standard length) along bay shorelines. Fish assemblages tended to differ, between estuaries, as did interannual variability in assemblage structure. In the lower portions of tributary rivers to Tampa Bay, the small-bodied shoreline fish assemblage during August 2004 to July 2005, i.e., during and after the multiple hurricanes, was different from assemblages of August to July in previous years. This may have been a result of physical displacement of fish or suboptimal salinities caused by increased freshwater inflow. The small-bodied shoreline fish assemblage in Charlotte Harbor also differed between prehurricane and hurricane periods, possibly because damage to vegetated shorelines affected fish survival through a decrease in feeding and refuge habitats. In the remaining habitats, fish assemblage structure from August 2004 to July 2005 were within the range of variability exhibited over the 9-yr study period. There were several unusual fish assemblages that appeared to be attributable to drought conditions (1996, 1999–2000), suggesting that other major environmental perturbations may be as important as hurricanes in influencing assemblage structure. We conclude that although the 2004 hurricane season affected some of the fish assemblages of Tampa Bay and charlotte Harbor, these assemblages generally appeared quite resilient to natural environmental perturbations from a decadal perspective.     

Patterns of mangrove forest structure and soil nutrient dynamics along the Shark River estuary, Florida

The basal area and productivity of managrove wetlands are described in relation to selected soil properties to understand the general pattern of optimum forest stature at the mouth of estuaries in the Everglades, such as the Shark River Slough, Florida (U.S.). The basal area of mangroves decreases from 40.4 m² ha⁻¹ and 39.7 m² ha⁻¹ at two stations 1.8 km and 4.1 km from the estuary mouth to 20.7 m² ha⁻¹ and 19.6 m² ha⁻¹ at two sites 9.9 km and 18.2 km from the mouth, respectively. The gradient in basal area at these four sites is mostly the result of approximately 34 yr of growth since Hurricane Donna. Wood productivity is higher in the lower estuary (10.7 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 12.0 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) than in the upper estuary (3.2 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 4.2 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Porewater salinity among these four mangrove sites during seasonal sampling in 1994 and 1995 ranged from 1.6 g kg⁻¹ to 33.5 g kg⁻¹, while sulfide was generally<0.15 mM at all sites. These soil values indicate that abiotic stress cannot explain the decrease in forest structure along this estuarine gradient. Concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are more closely related to patterns of forest development, with higher soil fertility at the mouth of the estuary as indicated by higher concentrations of extractable ammonium, total soil P, and available P, along with higher ammonium production rates. The more fertile sites of the lower estuary are dominated by Laguncularia racemosa, whereas the less fertile sites in the intermediate and upper estuary are dominated by Rhizophora mangle. Relative N mineralization per unit of total N is higher in the lower estuary and is related positively to concentrations of available P, indicating the importance of turnover rates and nutrient interactions to soil fertility. Concentrations of Ca-bound P per volume soil in the lower estuary is 40-fold higher than in the upper estuary, and along with an increase in residual P in the upper estuary, indicate a shift from mineral to organic P along the estuarine gradient. Mineral inputs to the mouth of Shark River estuary from the Gulf of Mexico (rather than upland inputs) apparently control the patterns of mangrove structure and productivity.     

Stable isotope analysis of carbon cycling in the Perdido estuary, Florida

Stable carbon isotope (δ¹³C) analysis was used in the Peridido Estuary, Florida U.S. to determine the predominant carbon source that supports the bacterial assemblage. Stable carbon isotope values were measured in the suspended particulate matter (SPM), dissolved organic and inorganic matter, and bacteria. Stable nitrogen isotope (δ¹⁵N) ratios were measured in SPM and nitrate to assist in understanding carbon cycling through the estuary. Analyses were conducted on samples from riverine, coastal, and anthropogenic sources and compared with samples from the bay. Stable isotope ratio analysis was coupled with estimates of mixing of riverine and coastal waters into the bay. Preliminary observation of the °¹³C data indicates that terrestrial organic matter is the primary carbon source that is assimilated by bacteria in the ecosystem. Stable isotope data from carbon and nitrogen pools in combination with analysis of estuarine current velocities indicates that primary production is an important factor in the carbon cycle. This study demonstrates the importance of stable isotope analysis of multiple carbon and nitrogen pols to assess sources and cycling of organic matter.     

Quantitative assessment of benthic food resources for juvenile Gulf sturgeon,Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi in the Suwannee River estuary, Florida, USA

Gulf sturgeon,Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi, forage extensively in the Suwannee River estuary following emigration out of the Suwannee River, Florida. While in the estuary, juvenile Gulf sturgeon primarily feed on benthic infauna. In June–July 2002 and February–April 2003, random sites within the estuary were sampled for benthic macrofauna (2002 n = 156; 2003 n = 103). A mean abundance of 2,562 ind m⁻² (SE ± 204) was found in the summer, with significantly reduced macrofaunal abundance in the winter (mean density of 1,044 ind m⁻², SE ± 117). Benthic biomass was significantly higher in the summer with an average summer sample dry weight of 5.92 g m⁻² (SE ± 0.82) compared to 3.91 g m⁻² (SE ± 0.67) in the winter. Amphipods and polychaetes were the dominant taxa collected during both sampling periods. Three different estimates of food availability were examined taking into account principal food item information and biomass estimates. All three estimates provided a slightly different view of potential resources but were consistent in indicating that food resource values for juvenile Gulf sturgeon are spatially heterogeneous within the Suwannee River estuary.     

Sedimentary environments and facies of the subtropical mgeni estuary,Southeast Africa

The Mgeni Estuary is situated on the subtropical, mainly microtidal Natal coast. Modern sedimentary environments in the estuary comprise two groups. Barrier-associated environments include inlet channel, inlet beachface, tidal delta, washover fans, transverse intertidal bars and aeolian dunes. Estuarine environments include subtidal channels, interidal bars, back-barrier lagoon, tidal creek, tidal creek side-attached bars, creek mouth bar, mangrove fringe and supratidal mudflats. Each sedimentary facies is described in terms of grain-size, sedimentary structures, and sedimentary processes. The distinctive flora and fauna play an important role in facies recognition. Vertical sequences produced by infilling of the estuary and subsequent coastal erosion are discussed. The facies are considered sufficiently distinct to warrant recognition in the geological record.     

Mercury dynamics in sulfide-rich sediments: Geochemical influence on contaminant mobilization within the Penobscot River estuary, Maine, USA

Research concerning the fate and biogeochemical cycling of mercury (Hg) within coastal ecosystems has suggested that microbially mediated diagenetic processes control Hg mobilization and that ligands with strong affinity for Hg, such as dissolved inorganic sulfide (S(-II)) and dissolved organic matter (DOM), control Hg partitioning between the dissolved and particulate phases. We have studied total Hg cycling in the sediments of the Penobscot River estuary using a combination of equilibrium porewater samplers and kinetic modeling. The Penobscot estuary has been subject to Hg contamination from multiple industries including a recently closed chlor-alkali production facility. The Hg concentration within the estuary surface sediments ranges from 1.25 to 27.5 nmol Hg g⁻¹ sediment and displays an association with sediment organic matter and a concentration maximum within 3 cm of the sediment-water interface (SWI). Porewater profiles for the Penobscot estuary are divisible into three kinetically discrete intervals with respect to Hg dynamics. Beginning at depth in the sediment and moving upward toward the SWI we have defined: (1) a zone of net Hg solubilization at depth, with a zero-order net Hg production rate , (2) a zone of net Hg consumption within the zone dominated by FeS_(s) precipitation with , and (3) a zone of net diffusive transfer within the vicinity of the SWI. Zone 1 is characterized by dissolved S(-II) concentrations ranging from 400 to 500 μM. Equilibrium modeling in this zone suggests that inorganic S(-II) plays the dominant role in both mobilization of sediment-bound Hg and complexation of dissolved Hg. In zone 2, FeS_(s) precipitation occurs concomitant with Hg consumption. Net transfer within zone 3 is consistent with the potential for ligand-mediated Hg efflux across the SWI. S(-II)-mediated Hg mobilization at depth in Penobscot estuary sediments suggests a broadening of the depth interval over which biogeochemical Hg cycling must be examined. Our results also show that, while estuary sediments act as a net sink for particulate Hg inputs, they may also function for a considerable time interval as a source of dissolved Hg.     

Field and laboratory evaluation of habitat use by rainwater killifish (Lucania parva) in the St. Johns River estuary, Florida

I examined the relative importance of beds of tapegrass (Vallisneria americana) and adjacent unvegetated habitats to juvenile and adult (6–35 mm standard length) rainwater killifish (Lucania parva) over a large spatial scale within the St. Johns River estuary, Florida. Abundance of rainwater killifish did not differ between oligohaline and tidal freshwater portions of the estuary and this species was relatively rare at opposite ends of the St. Johns River estuary. The presence of rainwater killifish at a given site was determined in part by large-scale variation in environmental factors such as habitat complexity and salinity. When present at a site, rainwater killifish were found almost exclusively in structurally complex beds of tapegrass. Behavioral observations in the laboratory indicated that rainwater killifish preferred vegetated over unvegetated habitats in the absence of both potential prey and predators and that use of vegetated habitats increased further upon addition of predatory largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). A laboratory predation experiment indicated that survival of rainwater killifish exposed to largemouth bass was significantly higher in vegetation than over open sand. Strong preferences for structurally complex vegetation likely reflect an evolved or learned behavioral response to risk of predation and help explain habitat use of rainwater killifish in the St. Johns River estuary.     

Retrospective analysis of the impacts of major hurricanes on sediments in the lower Everglades and Florida Bay

A record of the impacts of major hurricanes on sediment stratigraphy and composition in subtropical ecosystems has been preserved in the lower Everglades and Florida Bay. These impacts were observed in discontinuous layers of sediment that were identified from high-resolution, vertical profiles of excess ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. Discontinuities were found at different geographic locations and at two to three different depths in the sediment column; however, the layers were each deposited within time periods that corresponded with the passing of category 3–5 hurricanes during 1960, 1948 and 1935. A simple mass balance model for excess ²¹⁰Pb was used to show net changes of ±20–100% in excess ²¹⁰Pb inventory that resulted from sediment disturbances of <1 to >22 cm. Abrupt shifts in sediment composition were often observed in hurricane-impacted layers. Ratios of organic (C/P) were four- to fivefold higher than normal in post-hurricane layers of sediment at open bay sites. These layers are phosphorus poor and seem to reflect preferential decomposition of organic P relative to organic C in association with hurricanes. The net effect is for major hurricanes to redistribute sediment, organic matter and nutrients.This revised version was published online in July 2003.     

Effects of simulated saltwater intrusions on the growth and survival of wild celery,Vallisneria americana, from the Caloosahatchee estuary (South Florida)

The effects of simulated saltwater intrusions on the growth and survival of the freshwater angiosperm,Vallisneria americana Michx., from the Caloosahatchee estuary (southwest Florida, USA) were examined experimentally using indoor mesocosms. Intrusions were simulated by raising salinity in the mesocosms to 18‰ for varying durations and then returning the salinity to 3‰. In separate experiments, exposures of short duration (1, 5, 11, and 20 d) and long duration (20, 30, 50, and 70 d) were examined. Plants held at a constant 3‰ served as controls. Mortality was proportional to the duration of exposure. Statistically significant (p<0.05) losses of blades and shoots occurred at exposures of 20 d or longer, although during a l-mo recovery period at 3‰ viable plants survived the 70-d exposure to 18‰. Expressed as a percentage of initial levels, the extent of recovery after 1 mo was proportional to duration of exposure.V. americana can survive the salinity stress associated with most intrusions of salt water in the upper Caloosahatchee estuary.     

A comparison of mercury in estuarine fish between Florida Bay and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA

Concentrations of mercury (Hg) in fish were compared between two Florida estuaries, the Indian River Lagoon and Florida Bay. The objective was to determine if differences in Hg concentration exist and to attempt to relate those differences to sources of Hg. Five hundred and thirteen estuarine fish were collected and analyzed for Hg concentration. Fish species collected were black drum, bluefish, bonnethead shark, common snook, crevalle jack, gafftopsail catfish, gray snapper, Mayan cichlid, pompano, red drum, sheepshead, southern flounder, spadefish, and spotted seatrout. Analysis of variance of species-specific Hg data among the three defined regions of eastern and western Florida Bay and the Indian River Lagoon substantiated regional differences. Proximity to known anthropogenic sources of Hg appeared to be a significant factor in the distribution of Hg concentration among the fish collected. Sufficient numbers of crevalle jack, gray snapper, and spotted seatrout were collected to permit statistical analysis among regions. Hg concentrations in all three of these species from eastern Florida Bay were higher than those collected in the other two areas. A major fraction of the estuarine fish collected in eastern Florida Bay exceeded one or more State of Florida or U.S. Food and Drug Administration fish consumption health advisory criteria. In general, fish from western Florida Bay contained less Hg than those from the Indian River Lagoon, and fish from the Indian River contained less Hg than those from eastern Florida Bay. Crevalle jack from all areas and spotted seatrout from Florida Bay were placed on a consumption advisory in Florida. Detailed study of Florida Bay food web dynamics and Hg biogeochemical cycling is recommended to better understand the processes underlying the elevated Hg levels in fish from eastern Florida Bay. This information may be vital in the formulation of appropriate strategies in the ongoing South Florida restoration process.     

Biodeposition by a fouling community in the Indian River,Florida

Biodeposition rates were studied for a fouling community with a biomass of 6–10 kg per m² dry wt including shells in which the barnacle Balanus eburneus was a dominant species. The fouling community filtered Indian River lagoon water containing 2–15 mg per 1 mud-size particles and deposited them as sand-size fecal pellets. Measurements of the fecal pellet flux by sediment traps indicated seasonal variations between 16.7 and 74.8 g per m² per day. A significant correlation was found between fecal pellet flux and temperature (r=0.90; p<0.001). The average flux of fecal pellet deposition was four times greater than the average flux of suspended particle settling without biological influence. Suspended sediment concentration did not significantly affect the rate of biodeposition. Annual biodeposition was 18 kg per m².