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 1972 I97J 1974 1975 



YEAR and MONTH 



Figure 42. Relative importance of four dominant species of invertebrates 

 and fishes taken in the Apalachicola Bay system from March 1972 through 

 February 1975. These species represent 32.4% and 86.0% of the respective 

 3-yr totals (Livingston et al . 1976). 



show distinct patterns of relative 

 abundance throuqh a given seasonal period. 



Various independent ecological 

 factors operate to determine the temporal 

 distribution of the dominant estuarine 

 organisms. Biological functions, such as 

 adaptive response to the physical and 

 trophic environment, determine 

 distributional patterns, thereby allowing 



a somewhat orderly temooral succession of 

 dominant forms within certain broad 

 trophic spectra. Patterns of reproduction 

 of various dominant estuarine species have 

 evolved in such a way as to permit long- 

 term partitioning of the estuarine 

 environment. Superimposed on these 

 patterns of response are varying levels of 

 resource division based on vertical and 

 horizontal distribution of the component 



96 



