1928 - 1994 
Frederick, B. C., S. Gelsanliter, J. A. Risi, and H. R. Wanless (1994) Historical evolution of 
the southwest Florida coastline and its effects on adjacent marine environments. Bull. Mar. 
Sci. . 54(3): 1074. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY.) An examination of historical aerial photography (1928 - present) 
reveals three significant types of change in the coastal/wetland environment on the 
southwest coast of Florida between Cape Sable and Chatham River: coastal erosion, 
erosion of shorelines and islands in larger interior bays, and landward expansion of 
mangrove communities. There are two types of coastal erosion. Progressive erosion 
from winter storms has affected significant portions of this west-facing coastline. 
Hurricane surges penetrating tidal creek complexes have created local patches of 
catastrophic erosion within the wetland environment. Coastlines and islands within 
larger interior bays are eroding, especially along the north and east shores. This 
erosion has resulted from both recurrent winter storm waves and episodic hurricane 
scour. Eroded sediment is largely organic and is oxidized, dissolved or transported out 
of the system. Shore erosion within bays has resulted in the expansion of tidal prisms 
and in the enlargement of channels connecting to the offshore marine environment. 
During the past 52 yrs of historical records, some mangrove community boundaries 
have remained relatively stable while others have dramatically expanded across 
adjacent transitional and freshwater marshes. As much as 86 m of landward expansion 
is recognized. Mangrove community expansion occurs by both episodic, storm¬ 
generated seedling introduction and progressive expansion. Gently sloping coastlines 
provide a setting to record the temporary advance of infringing mangrove communities 
in this wetland coastal landscape. Erosion of these coastlines is providing a significant 
volume of dissolved and particulate organics and nutrients into adjacent mangrove, 
transitional, and freshwater wetlands and into the adjacent marine environments. 
Organics and nutrients discharged into coastal marine waters are pulsed southward by 
winter storms into Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. Future global warming with 
increased rates of sea-level rise and increased frequency of hurricanes, should 
dramatically increase rates of erosion of this wetland coastline and increase the 
importance of this area as a source for organic and nutrient discharge. 
1929 0 
Cooke, C. W., and S. Mossom (1929) Geology of Florida. 1927-28. Twentieth Ann. Rep. 
Florida State Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL. 29-228. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] The geologic 
formations that make up the Floridian Plateau were named and described in this report. 
Additionally, the general features and local details for marine formations (Miami Oolite 
and Key Largo Limestone) underlying the coastal areas of the Everglades National Park 
were discussed. 
1930 0 
Small, J. K. (1930) The vegetation and erosion on the Everglade Keys. Sc i, , M.QIL, 30:33- 
49. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] The pinewoods or pinelands of 
Florida are nearly level areas of greater or lesser extent. The high pinelands are dry 
and often somewhat rolling. The low pinelands where the water table is always near the 
surface are often called "flatwoods" because of the flatness of the land. They are 
composed, according to locality or region, of one or another of the several long-lead 
pines. The undergrowth consists of saw-palmetto, shrubs, and annual and perennial 
herbs. They are often fire-swept, and consequently the soil, sand or rock is nearly or 
quite devoid of humus. The evidence furnished by the character of the surface erosion 
similar in both the hammocks and the pinelands shows that the ancient islands, now the 
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