SUMMARY 



1. The total, inorganic, and organic phosphorus content of the 

 Peace River, Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Harbor, and ten stations 

 in the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida extending to 120 

 miles offshore is reported for a period covering more than sixteen 

 months in 19)49 and 19!?0. 



2. The phosphorus-rich water of the Peace River does not normally 

 increase the phosphorus content of local Gulf waters to any measurable 

 degree. 



3. In the surface water there is a gradual decrease in phosphorus 

 content with increase in distance from shore out to a distance of about 

 85> miles. 



h. At distances of lJj. or more miles from the Florida west coast 

 in the surface water the concentration of total phosphorus was usually 

 below 0.25 jig-at/L; the concentration of inorganic phosphorus usually 

 below 0.10 _ug-at/L; and the amount of organic phosphorus usually exceeded 

 the inorganic. 



5>. Larger quantities of phosohorus were found at depths below 50 

 meters and this was largely inorganic phosphorus. 



6. An upwelling of deep water was found at certain times but this 

 upwelling did not have any apoarent effect on the phosphorus content of 

 the water in the euphotic zone. 



7. There was no evidence of the bottom sediments of the Gulf con- 

 tributing any anpreciable quantities of phosphorus to the Gulf water. 



8. The integral mean concentrations of total phosphorus in the 

 water column at each station varied widely from month to month indicat- 

 ing either complex movements of the water masses or a redistricution of 

 phosphorus by biological agencies. 



9. Blooms of Trichodesmiurn drifting with the wind were found to 

 constitute a mechanism for the local accumulation of large quantities of 

 phosphorus. 



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