overlying the basal peat facies (2) are interpreted to have initiated from a coastal tidal 
flat that developed overlying a paralic peat. Furthermore, while there is evidence that 
mudbank sediments are an important component of some Florida Bay islands, we believe 
that the majority of islands initiate and nucleate from coastal supratidal flats. Data 
generated from 14 C analyses of sediments from the basal peat facies (2) have been 
combined with existing 14 C data to form an integrated 14 C database for South Florida 
peats. An updated Holocene sea level curve based on this database indicates a rise in 
sea level at 1.9 mm yr 1 from -5.6 m to -1 m (5400 to 3000 yr BP). The rate of sea 
level rise slowed considerably so that between -1 m and present mean sealevel (3000 
yr BP to the present), South Florida has been inundated at a rate of 0.3 mm yr' 1 . 
1985 0 
Seaman, W. J. (ed.) (1985) Florida aquatic habitat and fishery resources. Fla. Chap. Amer. 
Fish. Soc., Kissimmee, FL. 543 pp. 
[NO COPY OF PAPER AVAILABLE. ABSTRACT FROM SCHMIDT (1991).] This book 
summarizes and reviews over 1000 technical articles on the latest fishery and habitat- 
related scientific information of lakes, rivers, coastal marshes, mangrove forests, 
bays, and oceanic systems of Florida. Florida Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands, located 
within the boundaries of the Everglades National Park, are discussed as major 
estuarine-lagoon systems. Conclusions are presented concerning Florida's major 
coastal and offshore fisheries which are dependent upon species related to nursery 
areas in estuaries and nearshore areas. 
1985 0 
Sengupta, S., and D. F. Merriam (1985) Definition of major sub-environments in Florida 
Bay. Geol. Sqc, A me r . A bstr.. 17(7):712. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY. DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] The 
environment in Florida Bay is influenced by the freshwater run off from the 
Everglades, ground water seeping through the Pleistocene "basement rocks", rainfall, 
and marine waters from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The relation of water 
properties such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, turbidity, 
calcium, and magnesium along with sedimentological, geochemical, and biological 
properties of the recent sediments collected in Florida Bay were used to determine the 
subenvironments. Statistical data analysis of these spatial data reveals that (a) salinity 
increases from brackish to marine towards center of Bay, (b) pH is normal marine 
towards center of Bay, and it increases toward the mainland and keys, (c) dissolved 
oxygen decreases toward the center of the Bay, and (d) dissolved carbon dioxide 
increases towards the center of the Bay. The statistical analysis allows definition of 
four subenvironments which show a distinct change in orientation from winter to 
summer. These changes are attributed to wind direction, nutrient supply, rainfall, 
water circulation, and basin configuration. Geochemical analyses indicate that the 
waters of Florida Bay are supersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate. Inorganic 
precipitation can occur in certain regions of the Bay, particularly in the northern 
subenvironment. X-ray diffraction studies indicate no evidence for diagenesis in the 
mineralogy of the sediments. 
1985 0 
Sorensen, C. E., and D. F. Merriam (1985) Geochemical and grain-size distribution in three 
basins in Florida Bay. Geol. Soc. Amer, Abs. . 17(3): 19. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY. DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Sediment and 
water samples were collected in three basins (lakes) of Florida Bay to determine 
whether biological or physical processes control sediment grain size. The three basins 
were selected because of their similar size and their location in different parts of the 
298 
