concentrated in suspended particulates and in the 4-p fraction of bottom sediments. The 
influences of such concentrations on the environment are unknown. However, adverse 
effects may be expected in bottom-dwelling organisms that feed on silt and clay 
fractions of sediments where toxic metal concentrations are high. Organisms that 
ingest suspended particulates including plankton in areas of elevated metal 
concentrations may be subject to the adverse effects of these toxins. Obvious 
detrimental effects of toxic metals in the study area are elusive and difficult to define. 
A reduction in seagrass and green algae has been reported in areas of high toxic metal 
concentration in this paper and by other workers. Reefs which displayed highest 
concentrations of toxic metals have undergone serious deterioration which may be 
caused primarily from influx of cold water during extreme temperature conditions 
during winter months and secondarily by toxic metal contamination. Such 
concentrations of metals may serve to forewarn of continuing toxic metal accumulation 
commensurate with rapid development within the study area. 
1973 - 1974 
Odell, D. K. (1975) Status and aspects of the life history of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops 
truncatus, in Florida. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Can. . 32(7): 1055-58. 
Aerial censuses of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in waters of the 
Everglades National Park carried out every 1 - 2 months during 1973 and 1974 
resulted in sightings of a minimum of five and a maximum of 79 animals. Seasonal 
variation in numbers apparently occurs. The survey covered Florida Bay, Whitewater 
Bay, the Gulf of Mexico coast within Park boundaries and western inland waters. 
1973 - 1974 
Schmidt, T. W. (1986) Food of young juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris (Poey), 
near Sandy Key, western Florida Bay. Florida Scientist . 49(1 ):7-9. 
The food habits of the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris, were investigated by 
examining the stomach contents of juveniles between 58 and 100 cm in total length 
from shallow grass flats near Sandy Key in western Florida Bay. Sharks were obtained 
from monthly seine collections of fishes made at three sites in the Bay from May 1973 
to June 1974. Small demersal fish, mainly Opsanus beta and Lagodon rhomboides, and 
the commercially important pink shrimp, Penaeus duorarum, were the most common 
dietary items of N. brevirostris in the coastal marine waters. Small, fast-moving 
pelagic fishes were also found in the shark's diet. 
1973 - 1974 
Schmidt, T. W. (1979) Seasonal biomass estimates of marine and estuarine fishes within 
the western Florida Bay portion of Everglades National Park, May 1973 to July 1974. 
Proc., First Conf. on Scientific Research in the National Parks, Vol. I. New Orleans, LA. 
November 9 -12, 1976. R. M. Linn (ed.). National Park Service Trans, and Proc. Series, 
5:665-72. 
Trawls were used to sample the demersal fish inhabiting channels and basins of depth in 
excess of 1 m while beach seines were used to sample the entire water column (<1 m) 
over nearshore grass beds and intertidal sand and mudflats. Sampling took place in 
1973 and 1974. The objectives of these fishery investigations were established in part 
to provide data for the first time on the seasonal, relative abundance, and biomass of 
the estuarine and marine fish fauna by habitat and their relationship with various 
environmental parameters. The results were used to assist in the evaluation of sport 
and commercial fisheires resource management program within the Florida Bay portion 
of the Everglades National Park. 
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