few instances, Halodule wrightii has replaced turtle grass as the dominant seagrass 
after die-off. Currently, stations sampled quantitatively for pink shrimp, careidean 
shrimp, and benthic fish prior to seagrass die-off are being resampled to evaluate 
impacts on shrimp and fish abundance and species composition as well as differences in 
shrimp and fish relationships to grass canopy structure. Western Florida Bay, a major 
nursery ground, is possibly the principal nursery ground for the Tortugas pink shrimp 
fishery. It is likely that seagrass die-off on the scale being seen in Florida Bay will 
seriously impact its nursery function. 
1989 0 
Ryan, J. D., F. G. Lewis, and S. J. Schropp (1989) Metal and nutrient concentrations in 
Florida Bay sediments. Symp. on Florida Bay: A Subtropical Lagoon. Miami, FL. June, 1987. 
Bull. Mar. ScL 44(1):523. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY, DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Geochemical 
conditions of bays and estuaries can be determined by analyzing bottom sediments, 
which comprise a reservoir reflecting present, as well as historic inputs to these 
coastal environments. For naturally occurring substances (e.g., metals and nutrients), 
however, an interpretive problem arises in distinguishing an anthropogenic contribution 
to the natural fraction. Using two interpretive tools developed for coastal Florida, 
metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Mn and Zn) and nutrient (total organic carbon, total Kjeldahl 
nitrogen and total phosphorus) concentrations were assessed for sediments from a 
variety of habitats in Florida Bay (i.e., seagrass beds, mangroves and soft-bottom 
unvegetated areas). Nutrient data were collected seasonally, while metals data were 
obtained only once. Results were compared with data from several other pristine 
coastal environments of South Florida to attempt to establish background ranges of 
these constituents for the lower peninsula of the State. Metal and nutrient levels in 
Florida Bay were very low and typical of those reported for clean carbonate sediments. 
1989 0 
Shaw, A. B. (1989) Distribution of mollusks in sediments of Florida Bay and reef tract. 
Symp. on Florida Bay: A Subtropical Lagoon. Miami, FL. June, 1987. Bull. Mar. Sci. . 
44(1 ):523. 
[ABSTRACT ONLY, DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Collections of 
mollusks from bottom sediment samples of Florida Bay and the adjoining reef tract 
were classified into 9 major biofacies or assemblages, 5 minor and 4 subfacies. Most 
were recognizable by the dominant taxon (i.e., the most abundant taxon in the sample). 
The biofacies were diagnosed so they could be used in the field. Salinity patterns 
seemed to influence the distribution of the major biofacies in the interior of the bay, 
but the correspondence was not rigid, presumably because of fluctuations in salinity 
both seasonally and from year to year. Bathymetry was more closely correlated with 
the distribution of some of the biofacies, although the total range of depths within the 
bay was not large. 
1989 0 
Snedaker, S. C. (1989) Overview of ecology of mangroves and information needs for 
Florida Bay. Symp. on Florida Bay: A Subtropical Lagoon. Miami, FL. June, 1987. Bull. Mar. 
SsL, 44(1 ):341-7. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] The mangrove forest areas 
bordering Florida Bay have provided research data and information which have formed 
the bases both for conservation laws and for the advances in mangrove research at 
other laboratories throughout the world. In this regard, the structural diversity of 
Florida Bay mangroves has been reasonably documented, but little research has been 
done on functional diversity, particularly as it relates to the nearshore estuarine flora 
333 
