1 976 
Odell, D. K., and E. D. Asper (1977) A summary of information derived from the recurrent 
mass stranding of a herd of Pseudorca crassidens (Cetacea: Delphinidae). Marine Mammal 
Stranding Workshop, Athens, GA, 10 - 12 August, 1977. 207-222. 
A herd of at least 29 false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) entered shallow water 
on the southwest coast of Florida on 22 July 1976. One died, 4 were taken into 
captivity after stranding and later died, and 24 returned to sea. On July 25, a herd of 
30 Pseudorca stranded on Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, about 325 km south of the 
first site. At least some of the animals from the two standings were identical based on 
dorsal fin photographs. One of the Loggerhead Key animals died and the rest were 
forced back to sea. Three were found dead near Cape Sable, Everglades National Park, 
on 2 August. Twenty skeletons were recovered in the same area on August 28. Cape 
Sable is about 190 km ENE of the Dry . These animals were probably the same animals 
that were forced off Loggerhead Key. Body measurements, organ weights and 
reproductive data were collected from 6 animals that were necropsied. Blood data from 
34 animals indicate stress but were, in general, comparable to normal values for other 
small cetaceans. The cause(s) of the strandings were not determined. 
1976 0 
Smith, W. G., and H. H. Roberts (1976) Coastal change at Cape Sable, Monroe County, 
Florida. Louisiana State University Coastal Studies Institute. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] A report on 
shoreline change in the Everglades National Park indicates that the three points of Cape 
Sable are littoral accumulative forms of successively accumulated beach ridges 
consisting of predominantly molluscan shell debris. According to radiocarbon analysis, 
these ridges have been in their present position 1200 - 2000 yrs. Results reveal that 
older phases of coastal change exist inland from the three capes in the form of low 
carbonate mud ridges similar to those found along the present Florida Bay shoreline. 
1 976 
Videlock, S. L. (1983) The stratigraphy and sedimentation of Cluett Key, Florida Bay. M. S. 
Thesis. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 161 pp. 
Cluett Key began developing very soon after sea level flooded the floor of Florida Bay 
some 4000 yrs ago. The island grew from a nucleus of supratidal sediment. Sediment 
accumulation was rapid in the west and northwest and slower in the east and southeast. 
Deposition has been fairly continuous since the island began. Cluett Key may still be 
accreting (migrating?) to the southeast today. Sediments of Cluett Key are composed 
largely of unstable phases of calcium carbonate, aragonite and magnesium calcite. The 
stable phases, calcite and dolomite, are responsible, on an average, for less than 15% 
of the mineralogic composition. This suggests that under present Florida Bay 
environmental conditions aragonite and magnesium calcite are "stable." The mineralogic 
composition of offshore sediments differs from that of onshore sediments. Offshore 
sediments contain a greater amount of aragonite and almost no dolomite. This could be 
due to either differences in the fauna and flora between the two locations and/or 
diagenetic changes that may be occurring. Aragonite needles are not responsible for the 
bulk of lime mud sediment on Cluett Key. Sediment here is mostly molluscan and 
foraminiferal in origin. For the most part, magnesium calcite/calcite ratios remain 
fairly constant with depth. However, many cores exhibit a sudden increase in the ratio 
at an average depth range of 120 - 150 cm. The reason for this increase may be 
related to grain size. This horizon may be coarser and have a higher permeability than 
the surrounding sediment. Consequently, water may circulate too rapidly for diagenetic 
changes to take place. Fauna present in sediments taken some distance from the island 
is similar yet larger in size than offshore fauna located closer to Cluett Key. This may 
affect the grain size of the sediment at each particular location and could eventually 
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