Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

PC19 Benthic Processes and Ecology

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001

Location: Southwest Hall

Carlson, P, R, Florida Marine Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA, paul.carlson@fwc.state.fl.us

Yarbro, L, A, Florida Marine Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA, laura.yarbro@fwc.state.fl.us

Peterson, B, , Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA, petersob@fiu.edu

Davis, J, , Florida Marine Research Institute, Key Largo, FL, USA,

Davis, B, , University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA,

POTENTIAL FOR SEAGRASS RECOVERY IN FLORIDA BAY: RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON, RESUSPENSION, AND EPIPHYTES TO LIGHT ATTENUATION

To assess the potential for seagrass recovery in Florida Bay, we have continuously measured subsurface and bottom PAR at seven stations in Florida Bay since fall 1998. In addition to continuous light data, we collect discrete water samples monthly for analysis of turbidity, color, chlorophyll and total suspended solids and plant samples for epiphyte light attenuation measurement. Diffuse attenuation coefficients vary seasonally and among basins within Florida Bay: attenuation is higher in winter than in summer and generally higher in the basins which lost large amounts of seagrass in die-off episodes between 1987 and 1991. Persistent phytoplankton blooms in the north-central region of the Bay are associated with high (>3) Kd values, but water clarity at most sites was higher in 2000 than in 1999. Epiphyte attenuation is higher in winter and spring (30-50%) than in summer and fall (15-30%), and values are higher in the eastern region of the Bay (>40%) than in the west (ca. 20%). Calcium carbonate derived from calcareous algae and resuspended sediment comprise more than half of the epiphyte load.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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