Florida Bay Project Profiles: Fresh Water Effects on Aquatic Plant Communities

Question: Is aquatic plant community structure determined by salinity variability? How do community structures compare between slow (Seven Palm Lake) and fast (Taylor River) freshwater flow systems in northern Florida Bay?

Experiment: Salinity and temperature is measured every two weeks at five sites each in the Seven Palm Lake and Taylor River Slough areas of northern Florida Bay. Additionally, the depth of the water column, depth of the sediment and the availability of light to the submerged plants are measured. Plant identification and percentage of cover on the bottom are recorded.

Findings To Date: Variations in salinity do influence the plant community structure. When the water is less saline, musk algae (Chara hornmanii) and widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) are dominant. As the wet season starts spiny naiad (Najas marina) and bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa) move in to the upstream sites. Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) and shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) tend to be dominant in the downstream, more saline waters, but at the end of the dry season when salinities can be extremely high, mermaid’s wineglass (Acetabularia sp.) and merman’s shaving brush (Penicillus sp.) occur with increasing frequency.

Status: Statistical analysis of the data collected over the past five years is planned for the summer of 1998.

Restoration Impacts: The findings from this research will help determine the quantities of fresh water allowed to flow into the Everglades and northern Florida Bay. They do this in part, by contributing to the development of a multi-species aquatic plant vs. salinity fluctuation computer simulation model.

Funding Source: South Florida Water Management District

Other Related Profiles:

FBPP - 02
FBPP - 05

February 04, 2012 This page last modified: July 16, 2001
February 04, 2012 This page last modified: July 16, 2001	*Seagrass Ecology* Fresh Water Effects on Aquatic Plant Communities Florida Bay Project Profile - 4 *Question:* Is aquatic plant community structure determined by salinity variability? How do community structures compare between slow (Seven Palm Lake) and fast (Taylor River) freshwater flow systems in northern Florida Bay? *Experiment:* Salinity and temperature is measured every two weeks at five sites each in the Seven Palm Lake and Taylor River Slough areas of northern Florida Bay. Additionally, the depth of the water column, depth of the sediment and the availability of light to the submerged plants are measured. Plant identification and percentage of cover on the bottom are recorded. *Findings To Date:* Variations in salinity do influence the plant community structure. When the water is less saline, musk algae (Chara hornmanii) and widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) are dominant. As the wet season starts spiny naiad (Najas marina) and bladderwort (Utricularia foliosa) move in to the upstream sites. Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) and shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) tend to be dominant in the downstream, more saline waters, but at the end of the dry season when salinities can be extremely high, mermaid’s wineglass (Acetabularia sp.) and merman’s shaving brush (Penicillus sp.) occur with increasing frequency. *Status: Statistical analysis of the data collected over the past five years is planned for the summer of 1998. Restoration Impacts:* The findings from this research will help determine the quantities of fresh water allowed to flow into the Everglades and northern Florida Bay. They do this in part, by contributing to the development of a multi-species aquatic plant vs. salinity fluctuation computer simulation model. Funding Source: South Florida Water Management District Other Related Profiles: FBPP - 02 FBPP - 05
	The Florida Bay Education Project is an archived site. For more information go to NOAA's South Florida Ecosystem Education Project at www.aoml.noaa.gov/sfp/outreach.shtml.

Seagrass Ecology

Fresh Water Effects on Aquatic Plant Communities