Distribution of foraminifera living in Buttonwood Sound was controlled by a complex 
interplay of physicochemical and biological factors, only partially reflected by the 
measured parameters. 
1962 - 1966 
Kolipinski, M. C., H. Klein, and A. L. Higer (1967) Field guidebook on geology and ecology of 
Everglades National Park. Miami Geol. Soc., Miami, FL. 28 pp. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] This field trip 
guidebook summarizes the geology and ecology of the Everglades Nationla Park with 
emphasis on the Whitewater Bay - Shark River estuary and upper Florida Bay from 
various publications compiled to complement a carbonate field course taught by the 
senior author. Also, a list of field stops are provided with brief ecological descriptions 
of each site. Provisional water quality measurements from the Shark River are given 
for the period of November through December 1966. 
1963 
Eidman, M. (1967) Contribution to the biology of needlefishes, Strongylura spp., in south 
Florida. M. S. Thesis, University of Miami., Coral Gables, FL. 84 pp. 
In South Florida, the needlefishes occurred in all seasons. Needlefishes were caught in 
greatest numbers in Buttonwood Canal during the period March through May. A smaller 
peak of abundance was found from September through November. These fish favor 
shallow and quiet water although they are sometimes found in swift currents. Sand 
flats are their typical habitat. The needlefishes in Virginia Key feed mostly on fish. In 
Buttonwood Canal insects and crustaceans were of considerable importance in the diet 
In winter, crustaceans comprised almost 50% of the total volume of the diet. Fish 
ranked second, followed by insects. In spring and summer more than 60% of the total 
volume of the diet consisted of insects. Fishes ranked second, and crustaceans were not 
important. In fall, fish comprised almost 70% of total volume; the rest consisted of 
insects and crustaceans. Feeding activities seem to be mostly in daylight, but continues 
through the night with lower intensity. The needlefishes are surface or near-surface 
predators. The smallest fish feed mainly on plankton. Strongylura timucu have paired 
gonads; the right gonads are always longer than the left. In Strongylura marina only the 
right gonad is functional, the left being vestigial. Females can be classified into six 
maturity stages, and males into four maturity stages. The individual needlefishes 
spawned in a restricted period. The populations spawned over an extended period; 
spawning takes place mainly in spring in Buttonwood Canal. The mean size of female 
needlefishes was significantly greater than of the males. The sex ratio fluctuated from 
one month to the next, and averaged 12 females to 5 males in 1963. Size of ova does 
not change between locations in the ovary. The eggs are demersal. Each female 
produces between 800 and 4000 eggs in one season. Males and females mature more or 
less at the same size, about 200 mm in standard length, at 2 yrs of age. Females are 
heavier than males of the same length. 
1963 0 
Fleece, J. B. and H. G. Goodell (1963) Carbonate geochemistry and sedimentology of the 
keys of Florida Bay, Florida. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap., 73:6. (Abs.). 
[ABSTRACT ONLY. DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] The shoals 
within Florida Bay are elongate depositional features oriented roughly either 
northwest-southeast or northeast-southwest; in many instances they intersect at 
nearly right angles. All the small mangrove keys within the bay are located along these 
shoals. The sediments within the Bay are almost entirely clastic biogenetically 
deposited carbonate. Five of these keys, together with their adjacent shoal areas, have 
been cored throughout their depth. The lithologies of the cores from the shoal areas are 
only slightly more homogeneous than the corresponding key borings and consist 
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