Characterizing Past and Present Mangrove Shorelines to Aid Conservation of the Smalltooth Sawfish, Pristis pectinata, Along the Southwest Coast of Florida

Project Investigators: Thomas J. Smith III, Ginger Tiling Project Start Date: 2008 End Date: 2009 Recent Funding: (FY08) USGS, NOAA Proposals

Summary

This project aims to answer the question: Are juvenile sawfish selecting for a specific type of mangrove shoreline, and if so, what type of mangrove shoreline is it?

This pilot project has several related goals concerning a specific type of habitat thought to be important for juvenile sawfish habitat: mangrove shorelines. First, we will delineate and classify historic mangrove shorelines. Second, we will map and classify current mangrove shorelines. Third, we will determine amounts of shoreline change. Lastly, we will conduct an analysis to compare sawfish sightings and/or captures with the type of shoreline where those sightings-captures occurred. This will allow us to answer the question: Are juvenile sawfish selecting for a specific type of mangrove shoreline, and if so, what type of mangrove shoreline is it?

Proposals

• 2008