Differences between transects at the reef stations appeared 

 minor and primarily concerned differences in relative abundance of 

 only a few species. These differences could be attributed to any 

 niomber of factors, not necessarily related to past dredging acti- 

 vities . 



For sandy-bottom stations, except for the relatively low 

 number of individuals at HS-4, the only significant differences in 

 density or diversity between transects occurred at intertidal 

 stations HS-1 and GS-1 and shallow subtidal stations HS-2 and GS-2. 

 Since sediment particle size is an important determinant of the 

 distribution and abundance of benthic organisms, the fact that 

 sediments at HS-1 and HS-2 were considerably coarser than at GS-1 

 and GS-2 (Table 1) may account for these differences. The greater 

 pore-space available in the intertidal zone at Hallandale may have 

 provided a more favorable habitat for the isopods, Eiccydioe 

 littovali-s and Ancinns depvessus , which were common at HS-1 but 

 absent from GS-1. Subtidal ly, the greater abundance of fauna 

 (primarily small polychaetes and amphipods) at GS-2 than at HS-2 

 may have been favored by the smaller grain sizes. 



A direct comparison between the results of this study and 

 those of Courtenay, et al. (1974) can not be made. The earlier 

 study was essentially a qualitative survey of the fishes and more 

 conspicuous reef fauna at Hallandale Beach and several other local- 

 ities in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Sandy-bottom communities 

 were not investigated, and few quantitative measures were made of 

 the reef fauna. Although the number of species observed by Courte- 

 nay, et al. (1974) is greater than recorded in this study (Table 3), 

 the difference is apparently due to sampling technique. In the 

 earlier study, samples were selectively collected over a large 

 area of the reef rather than from randomly selected quadrats. 

 Hence, more of the less common species were included in their 

 findings. No evidence was found in the present study of the 

 "substantial damage" to nart of the reef adjacent to the borrow 

 area during the 1971 dredging operation as reported by Courtenay, 

 et al. (1974) . This damage included scouring of reef edges by 

 dredging equipment and suffocation of coral by siltation. Either 

 this area was not located in this study, or the damage is no longer 

 evident . 



Observations in this study at Hallandale and Golden Beach 

 indicate that no lasting effects of beach restoration are apparent. 

 Although many coral heads and alcyonarjans along both transects 

 showed evidence of disease or damage, dredging could not be clearly 

 implicated, and the reefs appeared in no way distinct from others 

 along the Broward County coastline. 



VI. RECOr-IMENDATIONS 



Because of high productivity and diversity of shallow- 

 water marine habitats off southeastern Florida, and because of 

 the great potential for environmental damage resulting from coastal 



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