Spatial and temporal variation in seagrass coverage in Southwest Florida: assessing the relative effects of anthropogenic nutrient load reductions and rainfall in four contiguous estuaries

The estuaries of Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Lemon Bay, and Upper Charlotte Harbor are contiguous waterbodies located within the subtropical environment of Southwest Florida. Based on an examination of rainfall data over the period of record (1916–2001) within the watersheds of these estuaries, there i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 50; no. 8; pp. 797 - 805
Main Authors:	Tomasko, D.A., Corbett, C.A., Greening, H.S., Raulerson, G.E.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2005 Elsevier
Subjects:	Analysis of Variance Animal, plant and microbial ecology Applied ecology Biological and medical sciences Conservation of Natural Resources Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution Environmental Monitoring - statistics & numerical data Estuaries Eutrophication Florida Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Magnoliopsida - growth & development Marine Marine and brackish environment Marine Biology Models, Theoretical Nitrogen - analysis Oceans and Seas Phytoplankton - growth & development Rain Seagrass Seawater - analysis Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis Water quality Florida United States North America America USA, Florida, Lemon Bay ASW, USA, Florida, Sarasota Bay ASW, USA, Florida, Tampa Bay ASW, USA, Florida, Charlotte Harbor ASW, USA, Florida, Lemon Bay USA, Florida, Charlotte Harbor USA, Florida, Sarasota Bay USA, Florida, Tampa Bay Estuaries Seagrass Florida Water quality Eutrophication Brackish water environment Load Water quality: Eutrophication Spatial variation Time variation Marine environment Nutrient Water pollution Sea grass Environment quality Anthropogenic factor
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Summary:	The estuaries of Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Lemon Bay, and Upper Charlotte Harbor are contiguous waterbodies located within the subtropical environment of Southwest Florida. Based on an examination of rainfall data over the period of record (1916–2001) within the watersheds of these estuaries, there is no evidence for spatial differences (at the watershed level) or monotonic trends in annual rainfall. During the 1980s, nitrogen loads into Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay (generated primarily by domestic wastewater treatment facilities) were reduced by 57% and 46%, respectively. In response, both Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay have lower phytoplankton concentrations, greater water clarity and more extensive seagrass coverage in 2002 than in the early 1980s. As there is no evidence of a concurrent trend in rainfall during the period of 1982–2001, it is unlikely that variation in rainfall can account for the observed increase in seagrass coverage in these two bays. In contrast, seagrass coverage has remained relatively constant since the mid 1980s in Lemon Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Domestic wastewater treatment facilities are minor sources of nitrogen to Lemon Bay, and water clarity in Charlotte Harbor varies mostly as a function of dissolved organic matter and non-chlorophyll associated turbidity, not phytoplankton levels. Even in estuaries that share boundaries and are within 100 km of each other, varied responses to anthropogenic changes and natural phenomena were observed in water quality and associated seagrass extent. Resource management strategies must take into account system-specific factors—not all strategies will result in similar results in different systems.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2
ISSN:	0025-326X 1879-3363
DOI:	10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.02.010