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release any of the maps. Attempts to reach Dr. Meeder recently have been unsuccessful.
When asked about indicator species or VEC’s, Dr. Fourqueran recommended shoal grass
(Halodule wrightii). This is due to previous work in Florida Bay (Roblee and Thayer work
over the last 10 years) that has shown greater habitat value for juvenile pink shrimp in shoal
grass as compared to turtle grass. He acknowledged his opinion that historically there was
probably more shoal grass in Biscayne Bay than now due to historical freshwater discharges,
and that managing existing discharges to prevent “pulses” and encouraging more long-term
modulated inputs of freshwater might convert existing turtle grass meadows to shoal grass
meadows – a good thing in his opinion.
We briefly discussed the ecology of the large manatee grass meadow in north
Biscayne Bay. He believes it persists due to its tolerance of lower light levels not any salinity
related phenomenon. He suggested getting a copy of a ten year study of seagrass beds and
water quality (produced by DERM 10 years ago).
We also discussed the distribution of Halophila johnsonii in Biscayne Bay. He
confirmed he is not aware of any reports of it south of Rickenbacker Causeway. He
described the species as having an optimum window for occurrence in “fine grained
sediments in protected areas.” He did not think the southern limit was related to temperature,
but had no other explanation.
Florida International University (Continued)
Interviewee: John F. Meeder, Ph.D., Restoration Scientist, Florida International University.
Interviewer: R.R. Lewis. Interview date: Sep. 25, 2003.
Dr. Meeder indicated that he is very familiar with the MFL process and had attended
many meetings on the subject. He described his work for both the SFWMD and BNP, and
provided a number of papers as hard copies and on CDs. He indicated that there are two
active combined MFL/habitat restoration projects underway that he has worked on; Historic
Creek and Black Point, both of which are on the west side of Central Bay. He also
mentioned the “L31E Surface Water Rediversion Pilot Project” as notable.
When asked about VECs he said “I don’t like single species management.” He
supports the concept of introducing water into a restored system that includes all the parts
(freshwater to estuarine to marine), monitoring, and adapting the system as needed. He
doesn’t think that there are any good reference sites existing today, but there is ample
evidence that freshwater flows were much greater prior to channelization of the transverse
glades and reduction in the head of water in the Everglades.
Discussion ensued regarding how wide a mesohaline zone could be established on the
west side of Central Bay. Has had a number of discussions with Joan Browder and has
looked at the available water to reduce salinities up to 1000 m offshore and he indicated that
Rick Alleman (SFWMD) has the numbers. He noted a lack of historic salinity measurements
in the nearshore zone on the west side of Central Bay.
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Florida International University (Continued)
Interviewee: Danielle Mir-Gonzalez. Interviewee: G. Braun. Interview date: October 8,
2003.
Ms. Mir-Gonzalez is a graduate student who is working on a Master’s thesis project
that is focused on the relationship between submerged aquatic vegetation and water quality in
westerly portions of southern Biscayne Bay. During the period from March-May, 2002, she
documented the presence/absence and estimates of cover all species of seagrasses and
macroalgae within 230 sample sites that are located from 50 m to 600 m from the western
shore of Biscayne Bay in the area from Black Point to Turkey Point. She has also installed
20 seepage meters which will be monitored bi-monthly for two years. Although her work is
still under way, (projected MS thesis completion/publication date is by mid-2004)
preliminary results suggest that in areas of reduced salinity Ruppia maritima appears to be
more abundant than other seagrasses. She has also documented the presence of the
freshwater alga Chara, which is rooted in nearshore areas.
When published, the results of Ms. Mir-Gonzalez’ work should be acquired and
analyzed, as it may be helpful in understanding freshwater seepages and the presence and
distribution of SAV in areas of Biscayne Bay that are affected by freshwater flows.
Florida International University (Continued)
Interviewee: Michael Ross. Interviewer: G. Braun. Interview date: October 22, 2003.
Mr. Ross has been involved with monitoring in coastal wetlands along the western
shore of Biscayne Bay for nearly a decade. His study focuses on the ‘white zone’ including a
transect located east of the L31 Canal near Card Sound Rd., which follows a salinity gradient
from Juncus marsh through mangroves and includes nearshore seagrass beds, good
descriptions of which are contained in a chapter in Porter and Porter. Although some
individual species of plants could potentially be good indicators of varying salinities, the
majority of the discussion centered on diatoms, as Mr. Ross’ work in collaboration with
Evelyn Gaiser has revealed that there are specific assemblages of diatoms that are present in
specific salinity regime areas. He suggests that both she and WMD’s Scott Hagerty, who is
heavily involved with diatom work related to Everglades restoration, would be good sources
for additional details regarding diatoms. His knowledge of them indicates that if we could
identify a salinity regime that would maintain the existing assemblage of diatoms,
maintaining that salinity regime would likely prevent significant harm to other biota. He
further suggests that diatoms would be better indicators than macrophytes and/or soils
because of; a) their comparatively instantaneous response to severe conditions, and b) their
greater richness would allow more specific conditions to be monitored.
The Ph.D. dissertation by Marguerite Koch, which dealt with salinity tolerances of
various macrophytes could also be a resource to us, if we decide to explore plants as
indicators.
Southern Illinois State University
Interviewee: Scott Ishman. Interviewee: G. Braun. Interview date: October 9, 2003.
Mr. Ishman was the lead scientist in a mid-1990’s paleo-ecological investigation of
sediments in a single core sample taken in the Manatee Bay area of Biscayne Bay. The study
used the presence/absence of foraminferans, ostracodes, mollusks and pollen to reconstruct
ecological changes in the Bay that resulted from modifications to salinity regimes and
15
changes in the water delivery system from the mid 1800’s through the present. Mr. Ishman,
whose primary area of expertise is forams, suggested that of the 24 species of foraminiferans
that were present in the core sample, there are two taxa (Ammonia parkinsoniana tepida and
Elphidium galvestonense mexicanum) that would potentially serve as indicators of conditions
of ecosystem health. Both of these species have fairly narrow salinity tolerances and prefer
oligohaline to mesohaline conditions. They are epi-benthic, are relatively easy to sample and
count and have life cycles of + one year. He offered to forward some reference papers that
will describe salinity tolerances and life cycle info regarding these species.
He has done a little other foram work in Biscayne Bay, but thinks that the presence or
absence of these and/or other foram species would be excellent indicators in the different
areas of the Bay, particularly because they are benthic and respond quickly to changes. A
potential downside is that these species could be affected by non-salinity water quality
parameters (primarily D.O. and temp), which could make it challenging to know for sure that
a die-off was exclusively the result of changes in salinity.
He is currently involved in other research in Biscayne Bay that will result in a greater
understanding of the life cycles of forams.