dissolved solids) is present beneath the topographic highs (up to 0.5 m above sea level) 
of the island. This water supports a variety of hardwoods and grasses. Hypersaline 
ground water (90 to 130 %o) is present beneath low elevations (within 0.1 m of sea 
level) where water is ponded intermittently. Bay water ranges between 30 and 50 %o 
during the year. The areal distribution, stratigraphy, abundance, chemistry, and grain 
size suggest this dolomite to be of Holocene age. Although the complex hydrochemical 
setting requires further study, the presence of this dolomite mud may offer an 
alternative to dolomitization models requiring high permeabilities and rapid water 
movement. 
1977 0 
Steinker, D. C. (1977) Foraminiferal studies in tropical carbonate environments: South 
Florida and Bahamas. Fla. Sci. . 40(1):46-61. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Those who seek to understand 
ancient carbonate rocks must first pursue knowledge of modern carbonate depositional 
environments. Those who study modern carbonates in tropical areas quickly learn that 
plants and animals exert significant influences upon the depositional environment, 
affecting the sedimentary framework. The foraminifera are important both as members 
of the biota and as skeletal constituents of carbonate sediments in areas such as South 
Florida and the Bahamas. Most studies of modern foraminifers from the South Florida- 
Bahama region have concentrated on distributions among sediment samples, with living 
and dead populations distinguished on the basis of rose bengal stain. Rose bengal is found 
to be an unreliable indicator of living specimens and methods of direct observation are 
suggested for the recognition of live foraminifers. Generally, a larger living population 
is found on marine vegetation than in the sediments of those areas. The assemblage 
among the bottom sediments commonly is sorted by waves and currents and does not 
necessarily accurately reflect the biocoenosis of an area. Attempts must be made to 
discriminate between those factors of the environment that influence the distribution of 
living populations and those that determine the thanatocoenosis in the sediments. More 
biologically oriented investigations are necessary for a better understanding of the 
foraminifera in their natural habitats. Such investigations should include both field 
studies and laboratory cultures. 
1977 0 
Vander Kooi, V. (1977) Paleoenvironmental history of eastern Florida Bay based on 
foraminiferida. M. S. Thesis. University of Akron, Akron, OH. 172 pp. 
[NO COPY OF THE PAPER AVAILABLE.] 
1977 - 1978 
Davis, G. E., D. S. Baughman, J. D. Chapman, D. MacArthur, and A. H. Pierce (1978) 
Mortality associated with declawing stone crabs, Menippe mercenaria. Rep. T-522. South 
Florida Research Center, Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL. 23 pp. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] This study was 
designed to measure the mortality of declawing stone crabs, Menippe mercenaria, using 
standard commercial techniques under laboratory conditions, as a precursor to a field 
investigation. From 1977 to 1978, 201 stone crabs were collected by traps in Florida 
Bay, returned to the lab and maintained in aquaria. Of 101 crabs that had both claws 
removed, 47 died and 28 of 100 single claw amputees died. Declawing wound width was 
significantly correlated with survival. Instantaneous crab mortality from declawing 
wounds of commercial fishermen ranged from 23 to 51%. 
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