Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)

Data Sets

Services / Tools

Ancillary Descriptions

Are you using a browser that doesn't support JavaScript or have you disabled JavaScript?

If you have disabled JavaScript, you must re-enable JavaScript to use this page.
Or you can view this record using the Text Only Format.

Ecosystem History of Biscayne Bay and the Southeast Coast

Entry ID: USGS_SOFIA_metish

[ Get Data ]
[ Update this Record ]

Summary

Abstract: Historical changes in South Florida related to rapid population growth in the early to mid-1900's have led to significant alteration of the natural hydrocycles and water quality of Florida and Biscayne Bays. The Biscayne Bay ecosystem shows increasing signs of distress; declines in fisheries, increased pollution, and dramatic changes in nearshore vegetation. Northern and central Biscayne Bay are ... strongly affected by the urban development associated with the growth of Miami. Southern Biscayne Bay is influenced by drainage from the Everglades, which has been altered by canals and agricultural activities. Restoration and preservation of Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park are dependent on a comprehensive understanding of the linkages between the hydrologic system and the bay ecosystem, and of the natural versus human-induced variability of the ecosystem. In this project modern surface samples were collected from 26 sites in Biscayne Bay. The primary biota analyzed were 1) benthic foraminifera, 2) ostracodes, 3) mollusks, 4) dinoflagellate cysts, 5) pollen and macro-plant material. The distribution of the biota was quantified to determine relationships with environmental conditions. These results were used to interpret historical faunal and floral changes recorded in shallow sediment cores. Water samples, ostracode and foraminiferal shells collected from the modern sediment samples are being analyzed for trace element geochemistry to derive a calibration equation to calculate absolute salinity in down-core samples. Shallow cores (1-2 meters) were collected along a north-south transect within Biscayne Bay for analysis of the downcore faunal and floral assemblages over the last 150 years. Quantitative down-core assemblage diagrams will be drawn up and the various faunal and floral data will be compared to look for correlated changes among the groups analyzed. Determinations of salinity, bottom conditions, nutrient supply and various other physical and chemical parameters of the environment will be made for each sample based on the fauna and flora present. Data from all cores will be integrated to search for regional patterns of change in diversity and distribution of the fauna and flora; data from Biscayne Bay will supplement and be correlated to onshore data and to data from Florida Bay. The integrated data set will be analyzed to see if detected changes in biota correlate to alterations in physical parameters and/or historic records of human-induced modifications of the environment. Living assemblages will be collected twice a year to provide data on habitat distribution, preferred substrates and seasonality of the living biota for interpretation of the down-core assemblages.

Recent negative trends have been observed in the ecosystem of Florida Bay, including algal blooms, seagrass die-offs, and declining numbers or shellfish, adversely affecting the fishing and tourist industries. Many theories of cause and effect exist to explain the adverse trends, but these theories have not been scientifically tested. Prior to finalizing plans for ecosystem restoration, the relative roles of human activities versus natural ecosystem variations need to be established. This project addresses this need by focusing on two primary goals. First, to determine the characteristics of the ecosystem prior to significant human alteration, including the natural range of variation in the system; this establishes the baseline for restoration. Second, to establish the extent, range, and timing of changes to the ecosystem over approximately the last 150 years and to determine if these changes correlate to human alteration, meteorological patterns, or a combination of factors. In addition, data on recovery times of certain components of the ecosystem will be obtained allowing biologists to estimate responses to proposed restoration efforts. This project is planned as a five year study, to be completed in 2000. This project is one segment in a group of coordinated USGS projects examining the biota, geochronology, geochemistry, sedimentology, and hydrology of southern Florida, Florida Bay and the surrounding areas. Data are being compiled from terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments in onshore and offshore sites in order to reconstruct the ecosystem history for the entire region over the last 150 years.

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: The database may be downloaded from the SOFIA website

Multimedia Sample

View full image

Description: communities in the Biscayne Bay area

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 26.0

S: 25.1

E: -80.0

W: -80.3

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Scott Ishman

Dataset Title: Ecosystem History of Biscayne Bay and the Southeast Coast

Dataset Release Date: 2006

Online Resource: http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/eh_bbsec/

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1996-03-01

Stop Date: 2000-01-31

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > FLORIDA

Science Keywords

BIOSPHERE > TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS > WETLANDS

BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > POLLEN

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

ENVIRONMENT

INLAND WATERS

Project

USGS_SOFIA > South Florida Information Access

Quality The field data contained in this database have not been reviewed for publication and therefore may contain inconsistencies or errors. The field measurements (such as salinity and temperature) were made on an variety of instruments over the years. Project personnel have made every attempt to calibrate and standardize the instruments and check the data, however, the field data should be considered preliminary. Also taxonomic names may not represent the most up to date usage, but are internally consistent.

Access Constraints None

Use Constraints None

Ancillary Keywords

Benthic Foraminifera

Dinocysts

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

SOUTH FLORIDA INFORMATION ACCESS, FLORIDA INTEGRATED SCIENCE CENTER, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Data Center URL: http://sofia.usgs.gov/

Data Center Personnel
Name: HEATHER S. HENKEL Phone: 727.803.8747 ext. 3028 Fax: 727.803.2032 Email: hhenkel at usgs.gov Contact Address: USGS-FISC-St. Petersburg 600 Fourth St. South City: St. Petersburg Province or State: FL Postal Code: 33701 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Size: 4.8

Distribution Format: MS Access

Fees: None

Personnel

G. LYNN BREWSTER-WINGARD

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: 703-648-5352

Fax: 703-648-6953

Email: lwingard at usgs.gov

Contact Address:

USGS

926A National Center

City: Reston

Province or State: VA

Postal Code: 20192

Country: USA

ALICIA ALEMAN

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Email: alicia.m.aleman at nasa.gov

Contact Address:

Goddard Space Flight Center

Code 610.2

City: Greenbelt

Province or State: MD

Postal Code: 20771

Country: USA

Publications/References

Edwards, L. E., Weedman, S. D.; Simmons, K. R.; Scott, T. M.; Brewster-Wingard, G. L.; Ishman, S. E.; Carlin, N. M., 1998, Lithostratigraphy, petrography, biostratigraphy, and strontium-isotope stratigraphy of the surficial aquifer system of western Collier County, Florida, USGS Open-File Report, 98-205, Reston, VA, U.S. Geological Survey.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/98-205/

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2007-02-07

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-03-03

Reformat as FGDC document

View Text Only Format

[ Update this Record ]