The results for L. plumulosus were identical to those for 

 S. viridis , but L. plumulosus was less abundant and was collected in 

 large numbers only during May 1976. 



Lepidactylus dystious showed highly significant differences in 

 density for all factors. This species was found on all sites but was 

 least abundant on the deepwater sites of all transects and the marsh 

 sites of transect IV. A general increase occurred in October, March, 

 and May, and a small decrease occurred in July 1976. Lepidactylus dystious 

 .and Monoaulodes sp. had similar distributions. 



Chironomid larvae showed no significant difference in density between 

 seasons, but highly significant differences between sites and transects. 

 Chironomids were most abundant on transect IV, and also attained high 

 densities on sites 1, 2, 7, and 8 of the other transects. They were 

 least abundant on transect VI and on sites 3, 4, 5, and 6 on transect V. 



The oligochaete, Pelosoolex sp., showed highly significant 

 differences in density for all factors; densities increased with each 

 season. It was most abundant in the marsh area of transect IV and on 

 sites 7 and 8 of all transects. 



e. Physical Data . Water temperatures were recorded at each site 

 (Table 44). Bottom temperatures varied from 17.7° Celsius in March to 

 35.1° Celsius in July. The temperature decreased as the distance from 

 shore increased with the greatest temperature range (4.1° Celsius) 

 between sites 1 and 8. Transect IV was usually one or two degrees 

 warmer than the other transects on the nearshore sites, probably 

 because it was insulated by the marsh. 



Salinity levels ranging from 0.7 to 4.0 parts per thousand were 

 recorded at each site (Table 45) . Salinities were lowest during 

 October and March, increased during May, and decreased slightly during 

 July. Salinities increased with distance from shore with the greatest 

 range (2.25 parts per thousand) between sites 1 and 8. The salinities 

 were lowest on the inner sites of transect IV, probably because the 

 marsh reduced the mixing of the freshwater runoff with the brackish 

 waters of the sound. 



The vertical distance from MSL was recorded for each site (Table 46) . 

 The beach has little slope for the first 75 to 90 meters, and minor 

 changes in elevation are caused by small undulations in the sand 

 surface. The beach is stable, and elevations are constant from season 

 to season. 



The descriptive statistics are reported for grain-size distribution, 

 mean, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis (Tables 47 to 50, respectively). 

 Grain-size statistics remained stable during most of the study, but in 

 May the average particle size increased by approximately 1 phi. This 

 may have been caused by winter storms on the beach. Average grain size 

 remained relatively constant at different distances from shore and 

 between sites. 



71 



