Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Florida Bay: A history of recent ecological changes

  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Florida Bay is a unique subtropical estuary at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Recent ecological changes (seagrass die-off, algal blooms, increased turbidity) to the Florida Bay ecosystem have focused the attention of the public, commercial interests, scientists, and resource managers on the factors influencing the structure and function of Florida Bay. Restoring Florida Bay to some historic condition is the goal of resource managers, but what is not clear is what an anthropogenically-unaltered Florida Bay would look like. While there is general consensus that human activities have contributed to the changes occurring in the Florida Bay ecosystem, a high degree of natural system variability has made elucidation of the links between human activity and Florida Bay dynamics difficult. Paleoecological analyses, examination of long-term datasets, and directed measurements of aspects of the ecology of Florida Bay all contribute to our understanding of the behavior of the bay, and allow quantification of the magnitude of the recent ecological changes with respect to historical variability of the system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Bohnsack, J. A., D. E. Harper, andD. B. McClellan. 1994. Fisheries trends from Monroe County, FL.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:982–1018.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosence, D. 1989. Biogenic carbonate production in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:419–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, R., G. V. N. Powell, J. A. Hovis, N. C. Kline, andT. Wilmers. 1989. Variations in reproductive success between subpopulations of the osprey (Pandion halietus) in south Florida.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:245–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, J. N., J. W. Fourqurean, andR. D. Jones, 1997. Spatial characterization of water quality in Florida Bay and White-water Bay by multivariate analyses: Zones of similar influence.Estuaries 20:743–758.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, J. N., J. W. Fourqurean, andR. D. Jones, 1999. Seasonal and long-term trends in water quality of Florida Bay (1989–1997).Estuaries 22:417–430.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brewster-Wingard, G. L. andS. E. Ishman. 1999. Historical trends in salinity and substrate in central Florida Bay: Paleoecological reconstruction using modern analogue data.Estuaries 22:369–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brownder, J. A., V. R. Restrepo, J. K. Rice, M. B. Robblee, andZ. Zein-Eldin. 1999. Environmental influences on potential recruitment of pink shrimp,Farfantepenaeus duorarum, from Florida Bay nursery grouds.Estuaries 22:484–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, IV,M.J., J. H. Hunt, W. F. Herrnkind, M. J. Childress, R. Bertelsen, W. Sharp, T. Matthews, J. M. Field, andH. G. Marshall. 1995. Cascading disturbances in Florida Bay, USA: Cyanobacterial blooms, sponge mortality, and implications for juvenile spiny lobstersPanulirus argus.Marine Ecology Progress Series 129:119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambridge, M. L., A. W. Chiffings, C. Brittan, L. Moore, andA. J. McComb. 1986. The loss of seagrass in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. II. Possible causes of seagrass decline.Aquatic Botany 24:269–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, P. R., L. A. Yarbro, andT. R. Barber. 1994. Relationship of sediment sulfide to mortality ofThalassia testudinum in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:733–746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costello, T. J. andD. M. Allen, 1966. Migrations and geographic distributions of pink shrimp,Penaeus duorarum, of the Tortugas and Sanibel grounds, Florida.Fishery Bulletin 65:449–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czerny, A. B. andK. H. Dunton, 1995. The effects of in situ light reduction on the growth of two subtropical seagrasses,Thalassia testudinum andHalodule wrightii.Estuaries 18:418–427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durako, M. D. andK. M. Kuss, 1994. Effects ofLabyrinthula infection on the photosynthetic capacity ofThalassia testudinum.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:727–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrhardt, N. M. andC. M. Legault. 1999. Pink shrimp recruitment variability as an indicator of Florida Bay dynamics.Estuaries 22:471–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enos, P. andR. D. Perkins. 1979. Evolution of Florida Bay from island stratigraphy.Geological Society of America Bulletin 90:59–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finucane, J. H. andA. Dragovich. 1959. Counts of red tide organisms, Gymnodinium breve, and associated oceanographic data from the Florida west coast. Special Science Report 298. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourqurean, J. W., R. D. Jones, andJ. C. Zieman. 1993. Processes influencing water column nutrient characteristics and phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton biomass in Florida Bay, FL, USA: Inferences from spatial distributions.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 36:295–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fourqurean, J. W. andJ. C. Zieman. 1991. Photosynthesis, respiration and whole plant carbon budget of the seagrassThalassia testudinum.Marine Ecology Progress Series 69:161–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourqurean, J. W., J. C. Zieman, andG. V. N. Powell. 1992. Phosphorus limitation of primary production in Florida Bay: Evidence from the C∶N∶P ratios of the dominant seagrassThalassia testudinum.Limnology and Oceanography 37:162–171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frankovich, T. A. andJ. C. Zieman 1994. Total epiphyte and epiphytic carbonate production onThalassia testudinum across Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:679–695.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giesen, W. B. J. T., M. M. van Katwijk, andC. Den Hartog. 1990. Eelgrass condition and the turbidity in the Dutch Wadden Sea.Aquatic Botany 37:71–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, M. O., M. D. Durako, J. W. Fourqurean, andJ. C. Zieman. 1999. Decadal changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in Florida Bay.Estuaries 22:445–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halley, R. B. andL. M. Roulier. 1999. Reconstructing the history of eastern and central Florida Bay using mollusk-shell isotope records.Estuaries 22:358–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrnkind, W. F., P. Jernakoff, andM. J. I. Butler. 1994. Puerulus and post-puerulus ecology, p. 213–229.In B. Phillips, S. Cobb, and J. Kittaka (eds.), Spiny Lobster Management. Blackwell Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, J. G., G. V. N. Powell, andS. M. Sogard. 1989a. Decapod and stomatopod assemblages on a system of sea-grass-covered mud banks in Florida Bay.Marine Biology 100: 473–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, J. G., G. V. N. Powell, andS. M. Sogard. 1989b. Decapod and stomatopod communities of seagrass-covered mud banks in Florida Bay: Inter- and intra-bank heterogeneity with special reference to isolated subenvironments.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:251–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmquist, J. G., G. V. N. Powell, andS. M. Sogard. 1989c. Sediment, water level and water temperature characteristics of Florida Bay's grass-covered mud banks.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:348–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hudson, J. H., G. V. N. Powell, M. B. Robblee, andT. J. Smith, III. 1989. A 107-year-old coral from Florida Bay: barometer of natural and man-induced catastrophies?Bulletin of Marine Science 44:283–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, J. H. 1994. Status of the fishery forPanulirus argus in Florida, p. 158–168.In B. Phillips, S. Cobb, and J. Kittaka (eds.), Spiny Lobster Management. Blackwell Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iverson, R. L. andH. F. Bittaker. 1986. Seagrass distribution and abundance in eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal waters.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 22:577–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaap, W. 1985. An epidemic zooxanthellae expulsion during 1983 in the lower Florida Keys: Hyperthermic etiology. 5th International Coral Reef Symposium, Volume 6. Antenne du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle et de l'Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

  • Lapointe, B. E. andM. W. Clark. 1992. Nutrient inputs from the watershed and coastal eutrophication in the Florida Keys.Estuaries 15:465–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E. andW. R. Matzie. 1996. Effects of stormwater nutrient discharges on eutrophication processes in nearshore waters of the Florida Keys.Estuaries 19:422–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., J. D. O'Connell, andG. S. Garrett. 1990. Nutrient couplings between on-site sewage disposal systems, groundwaters, and nearshore surface waters of the Florida Keys.Biogeochemistry 10:289–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavrentyev, P. J., H. A. Bootsma, T. H. Johengen, J. F. Cavaletto, andW. S. Gardner. 1998. Microbial plankton response to resource limitation: Insights from the community structure and seston stoichiometry in Florida Bay, USA.Marine Ecology Progress Series 165:45–57.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lessios, H. A., P. W. Glynn, andD. R. Robertson. 1983. Mass mortalities of coral reef organisms.Science 222:715.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lessios, H. A., D. R. Robertson, andJ. D. Cubit. 1984. Spread ofDiadema mass mortality through the Caribbean.Science 226: 335–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Light, S. S. andJ. W. Dinnen. 1994. Water control in the Everglades: A historical perspective, p. 47–84.In S. M. Davis and J. C. Ogden (eds.), Everglades: The Ecosystem and Its Restoration. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, W. F. 1994. An annotated bibliography of the fishes of Everglades National Park. United States National Park Service, Homestead, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, J. J. 1999.. The response of fishes to physicochemical changes in the mangroves of northeast Florida Bay.Estuaries 22:500–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matheson, R. E. J., D. K. Camp, S. M. Sogard, andK. A. Bjorgo. 1999. Changes in seagrass-associated fish and crustacean communities on Florida Bay mud banks: The effects of recent ecosystem changes?Estuaries 22:534–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzotti, F. J. 1999. The American crocodile in Florida Bay.Estuaries 22:552–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nance, J. M. 1994. A biological review of the Tortugas pink shrimp fishery through December 1993. Galveston Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Calveston, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Marine Fisheries Service. 1989. Research needs for south Florida fisheries and habitats. Draft of the proceedings of a workshop on the status of the Tortugas fishery, October 24–25. National Marine Fisheries Service Galveston Laboratory, Galveston, Texas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelsen, Jr.J. E. andR. N. Ginsburg. 1986. Calcium carbonate production by epibionts onThalassia in Florida Bay.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 56:622–628.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onuf, C. P. 1996a. Biomass patterns in seagrass meadows of the Laguna Madre, Texas.Bulletin of Marine Science 58:404–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onuf, C. P. 1996b. Seagrass responses to long-term light reduction by brown tide in upper Laguna Madre, Texas: Distribution and biomass patterns.Marine Ecology Progress Series 138: 219–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, R. D. 1977. Pleistocene depositional framework of South Florida, p. 131–198.In P. Enos, and R. D. Perkins (eds.), Quaternary Sedimentation in South Florida: Geological Society of America Memoir 147, Volume 147. Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phlips, E. J. andS. Badylak. 1996. Spatial variability in phytoplankton standing crop and composition in a shallow inner-shelf lagoon, Florida Bay, Florida.Bulletin of Marine Science 58: 203–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phlips, E. J., T. C. Lynch, andS. Badylak. 1995. Chlorophylla, tripton, color, and light availability in a shallow tropical inner-shelf lagoon, Florida Bay, USA.Marine Ecology Progress Series 127:223–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirc, H. 1985. Growth dynamics inPosidonia oceanica (L.) Delile. I. Seasonal changes of soluble carbohydrates, starch, free amino acids, nitrogen and organic anions in different parts of the plant.Marine Ecology 6:141–165.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, A. B., D. E. Hoss, W. F. Hettler, D. S. Peters, andS. Wagner. 1989a. Abundance and distribution of ichthyoplankton in Florida Bay and adjacent waters.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, G. V. N., R. D. Bjork, J. C. Ogden, R. T. Paul, A. H. Powell, andW. B. Robertson, Jr. 1989b. Populations trends in some Florida Bay wading birds.Wilson Bulletin 101:436–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robblee, M. B., T. R. Barber, P. R. Carlson, M. J. Durako, J. W. Fourqurean, L. K. Muehlstein, D. Porter, L. A. Yarbro, R. T. Zieman, andJ. C. Zieman. 1991. Mass mortality of the tropical seagrassThalassia testudinum in Florida Bay (USA).Marine Ecology Progress Series 71:297–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robblee, M. B. andW. J. DiDomenico. 1991. Seagrass die-off threatens ecology of florida Bay.Park Science 11:21–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudnick, D. T., Z. Chen, D. L. Childers, J. N. Boyer, andT. D. I. Fontaine. 1999. Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to Florida Bay: The importance of the Everglades watershed.Estuaries 22:398–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schomer, N. S. andR. D. Drew. 1982. An ecological characterization of the lower Everglades, Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. FWS/OBS-82/58.1. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, III,T. J., J. H. Hudson, M. B. Robblee, G. V. N. Powell, andP. J. Isdale. 1989. Freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay: A historical reconstruction based on fluorescent banding in the coralSolenastrea bournoni.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:274–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Socard, S. M., G. V. N. Powell, andJ. G. Holmquist. 1987. Epibenthic fish communities on Florida Bay banks: Relations with physical parameters and seagrass cover.Marine Ecology Progress Series 40:25–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sogars, S. M., G. V. N. Powell, andJ. G. Holmquist. 1989. Spatial distribution and trends in abundance of fishes residing in seagrass meadows on Florida Bay mudbanks.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:179–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, W. A. 1968. A list of fishes from Alligator Reef, Florida, with comments on the nature of the Florida reef fish fauna.Undersea Biology 1:4–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockman, K. W., R. N. Ginsburg, andE. A. Shinn. 1967. The production of lime mud by algae in south Florida.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 37:633–648.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stumpf, R. P., M. L. Frayer, M. J. Durako, andJ. C. Brock. 1999. Variations in water clarity and bottom albedo in Florida Bay from 1985 to 1997.Estuaries 22:431–444.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swart, P. K., G. F. Healy, R. E. Dodge, P. Kramer, J. H. Hudson, R. B. Halley, andM. B. Robblee. 1996. The stable oxygen and carbon isotopic record from a coral growing in Florida Bay: A 160 year record of clirnatic and anthropogenic influence.Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 123:219–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swart, P. K., G. Healy, L. Greer, M. Lutz, A. Saied, D. Anderegg, R. E. Dodge, andD. Rudnick. 1999. The use of proxy chemical records in coral skeletons to ascertain past environmental conditions in Florida Bay.Estuaries 22:384–397.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tabb, D. C., D. L. Dubrow, andR. B. Manning. 1962. The ecology of northern Florida Bay and adjacent estuaries. Technical Series #39, State of Florida Board of Conservation, Miami, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, G. W. andA. J. Chester. 1989. Distribution and abundance of fishes among basin and channel habitats in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:200–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thayer, G. W., A. B. Powell, andD. E. Hoss 1999. Composition in environmental conditions in Florida Bay.Estuaries 22: 518–533.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilmant, J. T. 1989. A history and an overview of recent trends in the fisheries of Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:3–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turney, W. J. andB. F. Perkins 1972. Molluscan distribution in Florida Bay. Sedimenta III. Rosenstial School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanless, H. R. andM. G. Tagett. 1989. Origin, growth and evolution of carbonate mudbanks in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:454–489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, E. andL. Bunkley-Williams. 1990. The world-wide coral reef bleaching cycle and related sources of coral mortality.Atoll Research Bulletin 335:1–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, E., C. Goenaga, andV. Vicente. 1987. Mass bleachings on Atlantic coral reefs.Science 238:877–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C., J. W. Fourqurean, andT. A. Frankovich. 1999. Seagrass die-off in Florida Bay (USA): Long-term trends in abundance and growth of turtle grass,Thalassia testudinum.Estuaries 22:460–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C., J. W. Fourqurean, andR. L. Iverson. 1989. Distribution, abundance and productivity of seagrasses and macroalgae in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:292–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C., J. W. Fourqurean, M. B. Robblee, M. Durako, P. Carlson, L. Yarbro, andG. Powell. 1988. A catastrophic die-off of seagrasses in Florida Bay and Everglades National Park: Extent, effect and potential causes.Eos 69:1111.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences and Southeast Environmental Research Program, Florida International University, 33199, Miami, Florida

    James W. Fourqurean

  2. Florida Caribbean Science Center United States Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division, Florida International University, 33199, Miami, Florida

    Michael B. Robblee

Authors
  1. James W. Fourqurean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael B. Robblee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James W. Fourqurean.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fourqurean, J.W., Robblee, M.B. Florida Bay: A history of recent ecological changes. Estuaries 22, 345–357 (1999). https://doi.org/10.2307/1353203

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1353203

Keywords

Search

Navigation