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6.44k
throughout project area; is the primary seagrass in
higher salinity areas
Table 3b
Salinity and Habitat Requirments of Potential Faunal Indicator Species
Species
Substrate
&/or
habitat
Comments
Invertebrates
Callinectes sapidus
Blue crab
5-28 0-34 Sand, salt
marsh
Salt marsh habitat important nursery for juven-iles;
adults in creeks, rivers and estuaries
Crassostrea virginica
American oyster
7-39
15-26
0-42
14-30
Solid
substrate
Although tolerant of varying temp, salinity and
water quality conditions, preferred S% as noted
Farfantepenaeus
duorarum
Pink shrimp
5-47 25-45
Over
seagrasses
Biscayne Bay population continually recruits from
and returns to Tortugas grounds to the west;
economically valuable species
Limulus polyphemus
Horseshoe crab
10-15 5-34 Sand Suitable shoreline profile appears to be more important than salinity for successful reproduction
Menippe mercenaria
Stone crab
> 20 6-40 Hardbottom
juv-seagrass
Habitats variable; nearshore shallow-water
grassflats, hardbottom with sponges, rubble…
Vertebrates
Mammals
Trichechus manatus
W. Indian Manatee
open water,
seagrasses
Inhabit fresh water, estuaries & marine environments. In Biscayne Bay, combination of warm
water and fresh water in a predominately marine
system causes aggregations
Turciops truncatus
Bottlenose Dolphin
open water Inhabits primarily marine environments, although
also present in estuaries
Reptiles
Crocodylus acutus
American crocodile
shallow open
water
Although tolerates wide salinity varioations, studies
in BB documented approx. 45% of non-hatchling
crocs were in s% of 1-5 ppt.
Malaclemys terrapin
tequesta
Diamondback terrapin
Estuarine
waters
Prefers shallow, medium-salinity estuaries, where it
feeds on sanils, crabs and other invertebrates
Birds
Ajaia ajaja
Roseate Spoonbill
Sand Feeds in waters of varying salinities; but requires
abundant supply of salinity-dependant small fishes
to nest successfully
Egretta caerulea
Little Blue Heron
Sand Feeds in shallow waters of varying salinities; nests
successfully in coastal and inland areas
Egretta rufescens
Reddish Egret
Sand Feeds in waters of varying salinities; but requires
abundant supply of salinity-dependant small fishes
to nest successfully
Egretta thula
Snowy Egret
Sand Feeds in shallow waters of varying salinities; nests
successfully in coastal and inland areas
0-40+
0-40+
0-40+
Salinity
(ppt)
Juv. Adult
0-40
pref < 20
0 - 35+