South Florida Seagrass Fish and Invertebrate Assessment Network

Project Investigator: Mike Robblee Scope of Work

Summary

This project will quantify change and trend in nearshore epibenthic fish, shrimp and crab communities in south Florida seagrass habitats with the long-term objective of assessing the performance of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

This project samples locations in Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay including Card and Barnes Sounds, and the southwest mangrove coast including Whitewater Bay. The project has two components: (a) monitoring epibenthic densities at the end of the dry and wet seasons, April/May and September/October, respectively, over the long-term and (b) special-focus studies to adjust the sampling design to the distribution characteristics of the sampling environment. Initially, sampling design and protocols will be based on long-term sampling using the 1-m² throw-trap in Johnson Key Basin in western Florida Bay. Recent experience in Biscayne Bay and more limited experience in southwest mangrove coast estuaries suggest that the JKB sampling design will need adjustment. Focused studies will direct these improvements. This project will be closely coordinated with regional submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring in the South Florida Fish Habitat Assessment Network.

Scope of Work

• 2003