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Two of his co-authors of the “Record of Ecosystem Change…” paper could provide
insight as to the extent to which ostracodes and mollusks could also be good indicators. The
ostracode contact is Tom Cronin (USGS) 703-648-6366. The mollusk contact is Lynn
Wingard 703-648-5352.
University of Miami - Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS)
Interviewee: Craig Faunce. Interviewer: G. Braun. Interview date: October 21, 2003.
Mr. Faunce is a Ph.D. candidate at RSMAS doing work on Biscayne Bay fisheries,
with the seasonal and spatial distribution of gray snapper as his specific area of focus. He
has worked on Biscayne Bay fisheries for the last + five years, but his work has all been
south of the Rickenbacker Causeway. He has two major sampling areas: 1) offshore islands
where the salinity regime is generally 28-35 ppt and 2) western shoreline areas where salinity
is typically 7-28 ppt. We discussed various fish species that are more abundant in the
shoreline areas and their potential usefulness as indicators. Although the presence of many
of the species that are more abundant in the nearshore areas is more likely linked to nonsalinity factors (e.g., increased nutrients which result in increased plankton populations) he
does suggest the goldspotted killifish (Floridichthys carpio) as a species whose
presence/absence may be related to appropriate salinity regimes and/or suitable water levels.
Although this species may be somewhat too euryhaline to be an ideal indicator, he does think
there is a linkage between its presence in oligohaline regimes and its replacement by
sheepshead minnows in higher salinity areas. He speculates that there may also be a species
of mud crab that could be a good indicator.
Mr. Faunce doesn’t think that the southern bay is in all that degraded a condition, and
thinks that it is reasonable to use existing conditions as what needs to be protected from
adverse impacts. When his research project is completed during 2004, he expects the
resulting data could be very useful in developing the MFL for Biscayne Bay. He does feel
strongly that the variable of ‘duration’ of low flows is as important as the minimum flow
itself, and that seasonality must be taken into account, because a specific low flow rate would
have highly varying effects if it were to occur during the dry or wet season.
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University of Miami (Continued) Interviewee: Dr. Diego Lirman. Interviewer: G. Braun.
Interview date: October 9, 2003.
Dr. Lirman was the primary researcher and author of a paper entitled “The Influence
of Salinity on Seagrass growth, Survivorship, and Distribution within Biscayne Bay, Florida:
Field, Experimental, and Modeling Studies. The paper includes separate figures showing the
results of seagrass blade densities of Thalassia testudinum, Syringodium filiforme and
Halodule wrightii in Biscayne Bay. Dr. Lirman suggested H. wrightii would be an
appropriate SAV indicator of estuarine health, as his research documented that its spatial
distribution in the Bay is primarily restricted to nearshore areas that are currently subject to
freshwater inflows. He is aware that oysters are present in northern portion of Biscayne Bay,
and suggests that they may be a good non-floral indicator species of estuarine health in those
areas where they currently exist.
Contrary to the perspectives provided by others (e.g., BNP staff), he contends
Biscayne Bay is in very good ecological condition, and that while the structure of the benthic
community may not be the same as it was decades ago, the presence of thriving hard coral,
soft coral and sponge communities are indicators of its current state of good health. These
organisms are extremely susceptible to reductions in salinity, and he has concerns that
modifying the delivery of freshwater into the Bay would likely result in die-offs of these
species. He has encountered Ruppia maritima only very rarely and has not ever observed
Chara in the Bay. The modeling work he has done in collaboration with others (e.g., Wang)
indicates that freshwater flows currently only affect a relatively narrow shoreline fringe of
the Bay.
He suggests several other reference materials that may be of assistance to us,
including: 1) a dissertation by UM/RSMAS’ Patrick Biber regarding descriptions of the
macroalgae communities in Biscayne Bay, 2) a paper on the corals of Biscayne Bay, 3) a
paper on the sponges of Biscayne Bay, and 4) a dissertation regarding the presence,
abundance and distribution of hydroids in Biscayne Bay.
Together with the National Geodetic Survey, Dr. Lirman is currently finishing an
intensive one-year seagrass mapping effort in Biscayne Bay through which an extensive
digital photographic file for existing seagrass and benthic conditions is being developed. By
integrating a dGPS system into a high-resolution shallow-water video camera, the project
will produce a comprehensive photographic catalog of existing conditions.
OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Audubon of Florida
Interviewee: Jerry Lorenz, Ph.D., Research Director, Audubon of Florida, Tavernier Science
Center. Interviewer: R.R. Lewis. Interview date: Sep. 24, 2003.
Dr. Lorenz was only generally familiar with MFL process. He has only recently
begun work east of US 1, and is now working in the “white zone” landward of Barnes Sound,
having needed permission from FPL to access the site, which has taken a while. He has
noted historical use of the area by Roseate spoonbills, which are about 10% of mixed flocks
of feeding wading birds; but their visibility from the air makes them a good VEC. Feeding
areas appear to be similar in cover and salinity regime to those used by juvenile (0-1 year)
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American crocodiles. Food items also appear to be similar (“prey based or forage fishes”).
He and Frank Mazzotti have discussed this, and his recollection is that “growth of juvenile
crocodiles is directly related to salinity and that if during the first year of growth they do not
reach a given biomass, they are subject to death from low temperatures.” Lower salinities
appear to produce greater benthic primary production with leads to more food for the prey
based fishes which in turn are the food base for both juvenile crocodiles and the wading bird
guild in the while zone, which includes the Roseate spoonbill. He has a recent report on up
to 150 spoonbills using the white zone near the Turkey Point Power Plant radiator canal
system, has not been able to confirm this report in person, but is beginning work there.
He suggested reviewing all the L31E experimental work as indicating what could be
done, and suggested closing the C-111 and ensuring moderated sheet flows of freshwater as
opposed to pulsed freshwater, which is a major problem. He described Manatee Bay as
“dead” due to these continued pulsed flows.
Dynamac Corporation
Interviewee: Grant Gilmore, Ph.D., Senior Aquatic Ecologist, Dynamac Corporation, Vero
Beach. Interviewer: R.R. Lewis. Interview date: October 27, 2003.
Dr. Gilmore is an ichthyologist who has some familiarity with the Biscayne Bay and
its fish fauna. He indicated that was not familiar with any of the state MFL programs. After
an explanation was provided about the state MFL law, and what BFA was hired to do, when
asked about what fish species might be good indicators of the salinity regime, he mentioned
the five species of snook in Florida, spotted sea trout and six species of “tropical peripherals”
that he is working up life history descriptions for NMFS for their designation as “species of
concern.” One of these is the opossum pipefish (Microphis brachyurus lineatus). This is a
species likely to occur along the western shore of Biscayne Bay if permanent freshwater is
available for access from the sea. This species, like the others has some dependency on the
existence of freshwater connected to the sea. Structures may impede migrations and prevent
its existence.
His familiarity with spotted seatrout indicates that it is not a good indicator for lower