CONTENTS 



Page 



PREFACE 1 i 1 



SUMMARY i V 



FIGURES VI i 



TABLES X 



CONVERSION TABLE xi i 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xi i i 



1. INTRODUCTION (HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND OVERVIEW) 1 



1.1. Geographic Setting and Classification 1 



1.2. Driving Forces and Human Influence 2 



2. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 6 



2.1. Origin and Evolution of the Estuary 6 



2.1.1. Geological Time Frame 6 



2.1.2. Geomorphology and Regional Geology 7 



2.1.3. Watershed Characterization 9 



2.1.4. Barrier Islands 10 



2.2. Climate 11 



2.2.1. Temperature 11 



2.2.2. Precipitation 11 



2.2.3. Wind 12 



2.3. Hydrology 13 



2.3.1. Freshwater Input 13 



2.3.2. Tides and Currents 13 



2.4 Physical/Chemical Habitat 14 



2.4.1. Temperature and Salinity 14 



2.4.2. Dissolved Oxygen 18 



2.4.3. pH 18 



2.4.4. Water Color and Turbidity 18 



2.5 Biological Habitats 19 



2.5.1. Wetlands 19 



2.5.2. Seagrass Beds 24 



2.5.3. Soft-Bottom Substrates 25 



2.5.4. Oyster Bars 25 



2.5.5. Nearshore Gulf Environment 25 



2.6 Natural Resources of the Apalachicola Drainage System 26 



3. PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRIENT CYCLING 28 



3.1. Primary Producers 28 



3.1.1. Allochthonous Sources 28 



3.1.2. Autochthonous Sources 31 



3.2. Detritus Flux and Nutrient Dynamics 36 



3.3. Microbial Ecology 41 



4. SECONDARY PRODUCERS 43 



4.1. Zooplankton 43 



4.2. Larval Fishes 46 



