A general concern over possible environmental pollution in southern Florida by man¬ 
made poisons prompted this extensive survey of chlorinated insecticides, 
polychlorinated biphenyls, and metals in upper trophic level samples. The resulting 
analyses provide a baseline for future analyses, and clues for particular poisons or 
particular species in need of more study. These data revealed that DDT, DDE, DDD, 
dieldrin, and PCBs appear to exist in concentrations well below amounts known to have 
either acute or chronic effects on local species. Less is known of the significance of the 
various metal concentrations reported here, although levels of Hg in fresh water 
vertebrates, and As in marine species are great enough to deserve more intensive 
study. Collections were made between 1971 and 1973. The samples were eggs, and/or 
tissue of ospreys, pelicans, common egrets, white ibis, cormorants, sooty terns, 
cattle egrets, red shouldered hawk, alligators, crocodiles, pinfish, stone crabs, sea 
catfish, crevalle jacks, silver mullet, spiny lobsters, gray snappers, pink shrimp, blue 
crabs, bluegills, Florida gar, largemouth bass, leopard frogs, mosquito fish, and 
crayfish collected in Florida Bay or the Everglades. The samples were analyzed for DDT 
and metabolites, dieldrin, As, Hg, Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu. 
1972 
Davies, T. D. (1980) Peat formation in Florida Bay and its significance in interpreting the 
Recent vegetational and geological history of the Bay area. Ph. D. Dissertation. 
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 338 pp. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING PRIOR TO 1980 BUT UNKNOWN.] Florida Bay, a large shallow 
water embayment, occupies approximately 600 square miles between the South Florida 
mainland and the coralline Florida Keys. Bay sediments developed on the surface of the 
gently sloping (0.3 ft mi' 1 ) Pleistocene Miami Formation. The Miami Formation beneath 
the Bay is a karst limestone similar to that exposed in many areas of the Everglades to 
the north. Sediments covering the Bay floor are composed almost entirely of calcareous 
mud with occasional occurrences of peat. These sediments are young when compared to 
the 100,000-yr-old Miami limestone bedrock. Radiocarbon dates of basal peats indicate 
that peat accumulation began in south and southwestern sectors of the Bay about 5,500 
radiocarbon yrs ago. Paleobotanical evidence from buried peats reveals that flora once 
occupying the Bay area was significantly different from today's. It was similar to flora 
presently growing on the mainland to the north in the freshwater Everglades. The 
purpose of the research was to develop an understanding of early vegetational and 
geological history of Florida Bay, and to relate the history of the Bay to the 
development and/or destruction of the South Florida coastline. There were five 
integrated parts: (1) determination of lateral and vertical extent or peat in Florida 
Bay; (2) determination of peat types contained in Bay sediments; (3) interpretation or 
environments responsible for formation of the various peat types encountered; (4) 
establishment of modes of occurrence of sulfur in peat sediments; and (5) 
interpretation or role peat sediment plays in island formation. Initial data were 
gathered at 547 grid sampling stations and 74 additional sites. Peat was found more 
widespread over the Bay than previously recorded. Sediment isopach and bedrock 
contour maps were produced. At 15 sites, 22 3-in piston cores were obtained 
representing the full thickness of peat present at each site. Peat and carbonate samples 
were processed for analyses of peat constituents and pollen stratigraphy. Peat thin 
sections were prepared at 3-in intervals. Environments of deposition were determined. 
Some important conclusions resulting from this study are the following. Autochthonous 
peat is more widespread over the Bay than previously recorded. Peat commonly occurs 
as basal sediment beneath numerous islands and banks, but is absent in open basin 
areas. Erosion of the peat “body" has played a role in the geomorphology of the Bay. 
Peat sedimentation began at least 5,500 radiocarbon yrs ago in south and southwestern 
parts of the Bay where the bottom of the Bay is lowest in elevation. Petrographic and 
palynologic data indicate freshwater marsh and swamp vegetation grew in the area in 
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