reflecting an early history dominated by physical sedimentation. There is, however, 
striking lateral gradation in bank morphology, internal stratigraphy (textural and 
compositional sequence) and bank dynamics. These reflect gradients in sediment supply, 
physical processes and biogenic communities during later Holocene flooding history. 
Four zones are recognized: (1) Inner Destructional Zone in eastern Florida Bay has 
small, discontinuous erosional mudbanks with a grainstone veneer separated by rock 
floored basins. This zone is sediment starved. (2) Central Migration Zone in central 
Florida Bay has an anastomosing maze of narrow, continuous banks dominated by 
layered mudstone sequences. These are actively migrating across a veneer of basal 
skeletal packstone on the limestone bedrock. This zone receives sufficient sediment 
supply to maintain banks. (3) Western Contructional Zone in western Florida Bay has 
very broad, actively expanding banks separated by shallow lakes containing about I m 
of molluscan wackestone. The broad banks have coalesced from smaller core banks of 
layered mudstone. Excess sediment from local production and/or detrital input has 
caused bank growth and lake infilling. (4) Outer Destructional Zone along the exposed 
western margin of Florida Bay has scattered, erosional bank remnants with layered 
mudstone cores surrounded by a barren Pleistocene limestone surface. Intense marine 
burrowing has (a) destroyed aspects of the transgressive depositional facies sequence 
in Florida Bay including much evidence of bank nucleation, and (b) blurred evidence of 
physical sedimentation during the later stages of bank development. Seagrasses are a 
dominant community covering vast portions of bank and lake sediments in Florida Bay at 
present. This study of the Bay's sediment history indicated that (a) seagrasses are now 
at a peak in their influence in Florida Bay's history, (b) they are episodically eliminated 
from much of Florida Bay, and (c) seagrasses have had only a minor to moderate 
influence on the growth and evolution of Florida Bay's mudbanks. This study was based 
on historical aerial photography beginning in 1935, description and mapping of surficial 
sediments, internal stratigraphy by core transects, and bedrock topography beneath 
the mudbanks. 
1936 - 1938 
Davis, J. H. (1940) The ecology and geologic role of mangroves in Florida. Publ. 517. 
Carnegie Institute, Washington, DC. Pap.. Tortuqas Lab. . 32:305-412. 
A fairly thorough reconnaissance of most of the Florida coasts south of 30° N latitude 
was made, and the regions for special study were chosen. Exploration was by boat, 
automobile, airplane, and on foot and was supplemented by examination of photos, maps 
and charts. From the air, zonation of the swamps and depth of the water were most 
plainly visible. No large area was neglected, so that the results are representative of 
conditions along all of the Florida coasts. The regions for study, and particularly the 
stations for special study, were chosen with regard to the types of mangrove 
communities and the evidences of land-area changes. Some of the stations were 
selected at random so as to avoid the error of choosing too many with similar 
vegetation and environmental conditions. Florida Bay was one of the five regions where 
stations were established. At each station, observations were made and data on soil, 
water and other features were recorded. [SAMPLING WAS DONE DURING THE SEASONS 
OF 1936 TO 1938 ACCORDING TO SCHMIDT (1991).] 
1940 0 
Carr, A. F. (1940) A contribution to the herpetology of Florida. University of Florida Pub., 
Biological Science Ser., 3(1):1-118. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] This citation is a discussion of 
early works on the herpetology of Florida. A list of species in included. 
125 
