strata of Florida Bay adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico was the most diverse in terms of 
seagrass composition, particularly in the northern portion, and exhibits the highest 
overall densities of Syringodium. The central and eastern strata are dominated by 
monotypic stands of Thalassia with the sparsest seagrass densities occurring in the 
eastern area adjacent to the Florida Keys. Here the sediment veneer is the thinnest 
observed in our study area. Over 90 species of fish representing 43 families were 
collected during the study, and all species contributed to over 90% of the fish 
collected. Western Florida Bay and channels in Florida Bay consistently supported fish 
communities that were comprised of similar species and the highest densities relative 
to other study areas. On an areal basis, the average numerical abundance and standing 
crop values of fish we observed are similar to, but at the low end of, the range of 
several published reports of fishes in seagrass meadows. Cluster analysis 
demonstrated two obvious associations. One cluster was characterized by species that 
occurred frequently and in large numbers, and this grouping occurred primarily in 
channels and in northwestern Florida Bay where mixtures of Syringodium and Thalassia 
were prevalent. A second cluster was of low fish density stations that are generally in 
areas of sparse monotypic meadows of Thalassia. Juvenile gray snapper and spotted 
seatrout were collected regularly, but in small numbers, during the stratified sampling 
phase as well as at regular sampling at Joe Kemp Key and Bradley Key. Although gray 
snapper were collected in western Florida Bay, they were most abundant in channels in 
eastern Florida Bay. This distribution is coincident with our larval sampling which found 
larval snapper only in the vicinity of the Florida Keys. Juvenile spotted seatrout were 
collected primarily in northwestern Florida Bay, and primarily in areas with mixed 
seagrass meadows containing Syringodium. Larval seatrout also were collected in 
greatest abundance in the same area, possibly suggesting only limited geographic 
movement of juveniles after settlement out of the plankton. Discriminant function 
analyses of data from randomly sampled sites were employed in an attempt to identify 
those environmental characteristics most important in determining juvenile spotted 
seatrout and gray snapper habitat. High densities of Syringodium and high percentages 
of organic matter in the sediments were particularly diagnostic of spotted seatrout 
habitat, while Halodule and biomass were the most informative variables in describing 
gray snapper habitat, particularly when these seagrasses were present in channels. 
These discriminant functions were employed to classify Joe Kemp Key and Bradley Key 
collections as having occurred at target fish or non-target fish habitat. Target fish 
were collected on all occasions at Joe Kemp Key and Bradley Key. The discriminant 
functions developed from our stratified random sampling phase of the study classified 
the sampling locations at Joe Kemp Key and Bradley Key as target fish habitat on all but 
one occasion. Data are also presented on the food habits of juvenile gray snapper and 
spotted seatrout, and on the distribution of spiny lobsters, blue and ornate crabs, and a 
penaeid shrimp based on otter trawl collections at the randomly sampled sites. Food 
habit data was similar to published accounts for similar size fish. There appeared to be 
distinct distribution patterns of lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. The red mangrove prop 
roots of Whitewater Bay, Coot Bay and Florida Bay provides extensive habitat that 
heretofore has not been evaluated quantitatively for fishes. A technique was developed 
and tested to sample these habitats quantitatively. Fishes collected from this habitat 
type were compared with fishes collected by trawl from the immediately adjacent 
seagrass habitat. The mangrove prop root habitat supported an overall greater density 
and standing crop of fish. Several of the species utilizing the prop root habitat are of 
commercial and recreational importance (e.g., mullet and gray snapper), while many 
are forage foods for predatory fishes. This phase of the study demonstrated that the 
red mangrove prop root habitat is utilized by a wide variety of fish, and that greater 
attention should be given to evaluating it as a refuge and a source of food resources for 
fishes in Everglades National Park. 
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