nursery sanctuaries. National Parks' provide protection for about 1/3 of the juvenile 
spiny lobster habitat in south Florida. 
1980 0 
DeFelice, D. R. and G. W. Lynts (1980) Epiphytic diatoms as r-selectors in Florida Bay, 
Florida. Fla. Sci.. 43 (Suppl.):23. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY. DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Examination of 
epiphytic diatom populations of Florida Bay provides an excellent opportunity to test 
the applicability of r selection to low trophic level organisms. Cocconeis placentula 
Ehrenberg, the dominant epiphyte, exemplifies many of the characteristics attributed 
to the theoretical V endpoint species. Specimens of this species are small, considered 
degenerate, and live in an unpredictable and ephemeral environment ( Thalassia 
testudinum grass blades). The epiphytic assemblage is characterized by high 
productivity and low equitability. Recolonization is periodically necessary due to short 
lived nature of the grass blade substratum. Strategy for Cocconeis placentula is to put 
all possible matter and energy into reproduction with the smallest practicable amount 
into each individual offspring. The r endpoint represents an ecologic vacuum with no 
competition. Production is regulated solely by maximum intrinsic rate of natural 
increase (r max). 
1980 0 
Dunson, W. A. (1980) The relation of sodium and water balance to survival in seawater of 
estuarine and fresh-water races of the snakes Nerodia fasciata, N. sipedon and N. valida. 
Copeia . 1980(2):268-80. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Subspecies of the Florida banded 
water snake ( Negroid fascinate) vary markedly in their tolerance to seawater. The 
freshwater race N. f. pictiventris differs physiologically from the estuarine races N. f. 
compressicauda and N. f. clarki in several, important ways. When placed in seawater, it 
has a higher body water influx and efflux, a higher body sodium influx, and its skin is 
more permeable to water and sodium. It is likely that the high rate of sodium influx, 
immediately after placement in seawater, is the primary factor leading to drinking of 
seawater and subsequent death. Thus the distinction between freshwater and estuarine 
races is not simply behavioral, as was previously believed, but is dependent also on 
physiological differences. Other freshwater snakes studied ( N. sipedon, Regina 
septemvittata) also had greater rates of water influx than found in marine or estuarine 
species. The queen snake (R. septemvittata) has the highest rates of sodium influx and 
water exchange. Immediately after immersion in seawater, water exchange is 
primarily through the skin and sodium uptake through the mouth. Interbreeds between N. 
f. pictiventris and N. f. compressicauda had the seawater tolerance of the estuarine 
race. It appears that these estuarine subspecies are in the process of evolving into true 
marine species. They may not have a salt gland, but they are capable of surviving long 
penods in saline habitats. A similar evolutionary development may be occurring among 
coastal populations of the Mexican water snake N. valida. Some specimens of N. f. 
compressicauda were collected in Florida Bay. 
1980 0 
Enos, P. (1980) Stratigraphic sequences in a shelf lagoon: Florida Bay. Geol. Soc. Amer. 
12(2):33. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY. DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] A carbonate 
facies mosaic is being deposited in Florida Bay, which is characterized by variable 
salinity, low energy and compartmentalizatlon by mudbanks. Lithofacies are: (1) calcite 
'mudstone' of freshwater ponds; (2) peat from coastal mangrove swamps; (3) 
aragonitic skeletal packstone lag from intrabank basins; (4) skeletal-pelletal 
257 
