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DISTRIBUTION AND QUALITY OF SEAGRASS MEADOWS IN THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM
Citation:
LEWIS, M. A. DISTRIBUTION AND QUALITY OF SEAGRASS MEADOWS IN THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM. Presented at Audobon Society , Pensacola, FL, April 27, 2006.
Description:
Abstract for oral presentation: Seagrass meadows have 22 ecological benefits and have an estimated value of $20,500 per acre in Florida. Seagrass meadows support a variety of marine life that includes macroalgae (148 species), epiphytes (1 13 species), macroinvertebrates (230 species) and fish (75 species). Seagrass coverage in the Gulf of Mexico has decreased 20 to 100% in most estuaries since the 1950's. As a result, determination of the extent of seagrass coverage and identification of the cause(s) of declines are high priority research issues. Aerial surveys of seagrass coverage in the Pensacola Bay system have occurred in 1960, 1980, 1992 and 2003. The results for the 2003 survey are presented and compared to previous surveys. Total seagrass coverage in 2003 was 4087 acres (21 18 continuous and 1969 patchy). The majority of the seagrassess were in Santa Rosa Sound (74%) and Big Lagoon (13%). Coverage in East Bay(