forests, respectively. The edge to area ratio for deciduous seasonal forests accessible 
by road has increased from 5.2 km km' 2 in the original condition to 269 km km' 2 
currently. The loss of forested area and increase in forest fragmentation has probably 
affected the physical condition of the forests and plant and animal populations in the 
keys. A regional approach to conservation of the keys forested ecosystems is needed to 
preserve the biodiversity of the archipelago. 
1944 - 1974 
Emiliani, C., J. H. Hudson, E. A. Shinn, and R. Y. George (1978) Oxygen and carbon isotopic 
growth record in a reef coral from the Florida Keys and a deep-sea coral from Blake Plateau. 
Science . 202:627-9. 
Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis through a 30-yr (1944 to 1974) growth of 
Montastrea annularis from Hen and Chickens Reef showed a strong yearly variation in 
the abundances of both 13 C and 18 0 and a broad inverse relationship between the two 
isotopes. Normal annual dense bands formed during the summer and were characterized 
by heavy carbon and light oxygen. 'Stress bands' were formed during particularly 
severe winters and were characterized by heavy carbon and heavy oxygen. The 
isotopic effect of Zooxanthellae metabolism dominated the temperature effect on the 
18 0/ 16 0 ratio. The isotopic results on the deep-sea solitary coral Bathypsammia 
tintinnabulum, where Zooxanthellae were nonexistent, indicated that the abundance of 
the heavy isotopes 13 C and 18 0 was inversely related to the growth rate, with both 
carbon and oxygen approaching equilibrium values with increasing skeletal age. 
1 947 
Davis, C. C. (1949) Observations of plankton taken in marine waters of Florida in 1947 and 
1948. Quart. J. Fig. Ac ed. S ci ., 12(2):67-103. 
A series of 100 samples of plankton was obtained from a number of marine localities, 
mostly along the southern east coast of Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent 
waters. They were analyzed and the proportional numbers of various plankton 
categories was estimated. One hundred ninety seven (197) categories of plankton were 
encountered. An attempt was made whenever possible to identify the forms to species, 
but this was not always possible because of unavailability of literature, or because of 
total lack of information, specially as regards larval stages of various organisms. Each 
category is discussed separately, and the seasonal and local distribution is discussed in 
so far as the data allowed. The various species characteristic of the various 
environmental portions of the area investigated are listed, and many of them are 
thought to be of value as indicators of waters of different origin. Conversely, the 
differing plankton populations found in the different regions are thought to be of 
significance as an indication of varying, but as yet undetermined, nutritional and other 
environmental influences. The plankton data was obtained through the analysis of 
samples taken at widely scattered locations in Florida and at various times of the year, 
and is exploratory in nature. The Florida Bay sites located at Garfield Bight and off 
Shark Point were sampled in 1947. 
1947 - 1948 
Davis, C. C., and R. H. Williams (1950) Brackish water plankton of mangrove areas in 
southern Florida. Ecology . 31 (4):519-31. 
A total of 39 plankton samples from 28 mangrove-bordered inland bodies of water 
along the lower west coast and the south coast of Florida were analyzed. Salinity was 
also determined at each locality. Biologically similar areas have hardly been 
investigated previously anywhere in the world. Salinities varied from 0.61 °/oo in 
Broad River to 29.09 °/oo in Garfield Bight off Florida Bay. West coast localities were 
found to differ from south coast localities in their plankton content, probably primarily 
129 
