Lowest salinities consistently occurred within the upper northeast reaches including 
Little Madeira and Joe Bays. An increasing salinity gradient consistently occurred from 
the upper Nest Key basin eastward into Blackwater Sound suggesting the major region 
of upland runoff lies between Little Madeira and Joe Bays. Seasonal dynamics of 
salinity conditions within the Bay were tied to the distinct seasonal rainfall conditions 
of south Florida although considerable annual variability has occurred in the specific 
month of maximum and minimum salinity. Lowest concentrations have typically 
occurred during the late summer or fall months while highest salinities occur during 
late spring. Seasonal and annual variability in concentrations were greatest within the 
northeastern region of the Bay. Within year ranges of monthly mean values as great as 
52 °/oo have been recorded within Little Madeira Bay. High concentrations occurring in 
late spring were often rapidly diluted following the onset of the rainy season within this 
upper Bay region. Consistent temporal data upon which to evaluate long-term changes in 
environmental conditions at any given location were limited. Strong evidence for long¬ 
term changes, given the high annual variability in conditions, was lacking. However, 
observable trends within the database will be present. 
1958 0 
Ginsburg, R. N., and H. A. Lowenstam (1958) The influence of marine bottom communities 
on the depositional environments of sediments. J. GeoL 66:310-18. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] The effects of 
benthic fauna on the sediment environment in Florida Bay was examined. This 
investigation described the ability of organisms, apart from reef builders, to control or 
modify their physical environment. It was found that certain organisms cause 
recognizable differences in sediment and other organisms. 
1958 
Thomas, L. P. (1961) Distribution and salinity tolerance of the amphiurid brittlestar, 
Ophiophragus filograneus (Lyman, 1985). Bull. Mar, Sci. . 11(1): 158-60. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] The distribution 
of the amphiurid, Ophiophragus filograneus in Florida was presented along with a brief 
discussion of the ecology of the species. Based on collections of O. filograneus in Coot 
and Whitewater Bays, a new minimum salinity range (7.7 %o ) for echinoderms was 
reported. 
1958, 1960 
Lynts, G. W. (1962) Distribution of Recent foraminifera in upper Florida Bay and associated 
sounds. Cushman Found. Foram. Res. Contr. . l3(4):l27-44. 
The distribution of the total population and standing crop from upper Florida Bay and 
associated sounds was investigated for distributional factors. A total of 68 samples 
were collected and investigated for foraminiferal content and analyzed for per cent of 
sand, salt and clay. The total population was used to divide the area into four faunal 
provinces: upper Florida Bay, Blackwater Sound, Barnes Sound and Card Sound, and to 
further subdivide these provinces into brackish and more marine biotopes. The relative 
abundance of the miliolidae. Quinqueloculina lamarckiana d'Orbigny and Discorbis 
floridana Cushman showed a direct relationship with salinity while that of Streblus 
beccarii (Linnaeus) and Elphidium galvestonense Kornfeld showed an inverse 
relationship. The whole area was characterized by the Miliolidae and was considered to 
be in the porcelaneous zone. The relationship between Foraminifera and sediment 
distribution was quantitatively analyzed and the results indicate that sediment size may 
be a factor controlling the distribution of certain Foraminifera. The quantitative 
considerations also indicate that the Foraminifera were not on the whole wave or 
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