Lynn Brewster-Wingard 2006 database http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/eh_fbswc/index.html Recent negative trends in the Florida Bay ecosystem have been attributed to human activities, however, neither the natural patterns of change, nor the pre-human baseline for the environment have been determined. The major objectives of this project are 1) to determine patterns of faunal and floral change over the last 150-200 years, and 2) to explore associations between biotic changes and anthropogenically-induced changes and/or natural changes in the physical environment. Environmental managers and policy makers responsible for restoring the Everglades ecosystem to a "natural state" can use these data to make economical and realistic decisions about restoration goals and to determine interim steps to ameliorate further damage to the ecosystem. The history of the ecosystem during the last 150-200 years is studied by analysis of faunal and floral assemblages from a series of shallow cores taken in Florida Bay. Cores are located at strategic sites in Florida Bay, with initial emphasis on the northeast and northern portions of the Bay where the most significant changes are thought to have occurred. These cores are submitted for Pb 210 analysis to determine the age and degree of disruption of the sediments. Cores that present a good stratigraphic record are sampled at closely spaced intervals for all macro-and micro-fauna and flora present. Quantitative down-core assemblage diagrams are drawn up and the various faunal and floral data are 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 are 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, and data from Florida Bay will supplement and be correlated to onshore data and to Biscayne Bay (Ecosystems History: Terrestrial and Fresh Water Ecosystems of Southern Florida Project and Ecosystems History: Biscayne Bay and the southeast coast Project). 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. This project is one component of an interdisciplinary study of the ecosystem history in Florida Bay. A number of USGS and other agencies scientist's are examining a series of shallow cores (~1-2 m) collected from Florida Bay. By studying the patterns of change that have occurred in the ecosystem over the last two centuries, we gain insight into the natural processes, including the natural range of variability that exists within any ecosystem. We can then determine the degree to which anthropogenic-induced change has effected the system. This understanding is critical to the restoration effort; otherwise we will be attempting to restore the system to a targeted snapshot in time, without understanding how realistic or obtainable those goals are. The ecosystem history component of the initiative will save time and money by providing realistic, economical, obtainable goals. Our component of this study is to analyze the down-core faunal and floral assemblages, over the last 150-200 years. Cores are located at strategic sites in Florida Bay, with initial emphasis on the northeast and northern portions of the Bay where the most significant changes are thought to have occurred. These cores are submitted for Pb 210 analysis to determine the age and degree of disruption of the sediments. Cores that present a good stratigraphic record are sampled at closely spaced intervals for all macro- and micro-fauna and flora present. Quantitative down-core assemblage diagrams are drawn up and the various faunal and floral data are 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 are 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, and data from Florida Bay will supplement and be correlated to onshore data and to Biscayne 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. 19950201 20030206 ground condition Complete as needed -80.75 -80.33 25.25 24.75 none mollusks ostracodes benthic foraminifera dinocysts pollen salinity diversity biology ecology vegetation invertebrates ecosystem history hydrology diatoms ISO 19115 Topic Category biota environment inlandWaters 002 007 012 Department of Commerce, 1995, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 10-4, Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology United States US U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the outlying areas of the United States, and associated areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, D. C., NIST Florida FL Department of Commerce, 1990, Counties and Equivalent Entities of the United States, Its Possessions, and Associated Areas, FIPS 6-3, Washington, DC, National Institute of Standards and Technology Miami-Dade County Monroe County USGS Geographic Names Information System Florida Bay none Central Everglades Upper Keys Lower Keys Florida Keys none Holocene sediments none wet season dry season none none Lynn Brewster-Wingard U.S. Geological Survey mailing address

926A National Center

Reston VA 20192 USA 703 648-5352 703 648-6953 lwingard@usgs.gov Scott Ishman, Debra Willard, Tom Cronin, and Lucy Edwards are principal investigators on complementary projects. Bob Halley and Charles Holmes are collecting and dating cores as part of their respective projects. Technical assistance is provided by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Florida Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI), the Keys Marine Lab, and NOAA. MS Access database Edwards, L. E. Weedman, S. D., Simmons, K. R., Scott, T. M., Brewster-Wingard, G. L., Ishman, S. E., Carlin, N. M. 1998 report USGS Open-File Report 98-205 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/98-205/ Wingard, G. Lynn Cronin, Thomas M., Holmes, Charles W., Willard, Debra A., Dwyer, Gary, Ishman, Scott E., Orem, William, Williams, Christopher P., Albietz, Jessica, Bernhardt, Christopher E., Budet, Carlos A., Landacre, Bryan, Lerch, Terry, Marot, Marci, Ortiz, Ruth E. 2004 report USGS Open-File Report 2004-1312 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/2004-1312/ Trappe, Carleigh A. Brewster-Wingard, G. Lynn 2001 report USGS Open-File Report 01-143 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/01-143 Brewster-Wingard, G. Lynn Ishman, Scott E., Waibel, Neil J., Willard, Debra A., Edwards, Lucy E., Holmes, Charles W. 1998 report USGS Open-File Report 98-0122 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr98122.html Scott, Thomas M. Means, Guy H., Brewster-Wingard, G. Lynn 1997 report USGS Open-File Report 97-0534 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr97534.html Willard, Debra A. Brewster-Wingard, G. Lynn, Fellman, Claire, Ishman, Scott E. 1997 report USGS Open-File Report 97-0736 Reston, VA U. S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr97736.html Brewster-Wingard, G. Lynn Ishman, S. E., Edwards, L. E., Willard, D. A. 1996 report USGS Open-File Report 96-0732 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr96732.html Ishman, S. E. Brewster-Wingard, G. L., Willard, D. A., Cronin, T. M., Edwards, L. E., Holmes, C. W. 1996 report USGS Open-File Report 96-0543 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr96543.html Brewster-Wingard, G. L. Ishman, S. E., Willard, D. A., Edwards, L. E., Holmes, C. W. 1997 report USGS Open-File Report 97-460 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/97-460/ Wingard, G. Lynn Cronin, T. M., Willard, D. A., Ishman, S. E., Edwards, L. E., Holmes, C. W., Weedman, S. D. 199510 report Conference Proceedings Florida Bay Science Conference 1995 Gainesville, FL Program Management Committee for Florida Bay Research This report was published as part of the Florida Bay Science Conference: A Report by Principal Investigators http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/flbay/sedi95.html#ecosystem Wingard, G.L. Ishman, S.E., Cronin, T.M., Edwards, L.E., Willard, D.A., Halley, R.B. 1995 report USGS Open-File Report 95-628 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/95-628/ Brewster-Wingard, G.L. Ishman, S.E., Willard, D.A., Edwards, L.E., Holmes, C.W. 1997 report USGS Open-File Report 97-460 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/ofr/97-460/ Pyle, Laura Cooper, Sherri R., Huvane, Jacqueline K. 1998 report USGS Open File Report 98-522 Reston, VA U.S. Geological Survey http://pubs.usgs.gov/pdf/of/ofr98522.html not applicable not available Flora and fauna were analyzed from a series of Pb-210 dated shallow cores collected in Florida Bay. Core data will be compared to data from modern sampling sites within Florida Bay. Cores are retained by Bob Halley and Charles Holmes in the USGS St. Petersburg, FL. office. Processed faunal and floral samples are retained at the USGS in Reston, VA. 1) Cores or bottom samples are collected from strategic sites in Florida Bay. 2) Cores are a) visually examined, b) x-rayed, and c) Pb210 profiles are developed. These 3 methods determine if the sediments within the core are disrupted. If the core seems to be undisturbed, then processing proceeds. 3) Samples for sedimentologic, palynologic, charcoal, and isotopic analyses are removed. 4) Portions of the cores and the surface samples are washed through sieves down to 63 microns for calcareous samples. 5) Palynologic, and charcoal analyses proceed through a series of acidulation processes and slides prepared for counting of dinocysts, pollen grains, and charcoal. 6) Calcareous samples are dried and picked for mollusks, benthic foraminifera and ostracodes. Counts of taxa present are made. 7) Percent abundance diagrams are constructed. Core data is compared to modern analogue data for information on salinity and substrate preferences of species. Data from all faunal and floral groups are combined and analysis completed. Unknown Lynn Brewster-Wingard U.S. Geological Survey mailing address

926A National Center

Reston VA 20192 USA 703 648-5352 703 648-6953 lwingard@usgs.gov Florida Bay Heather S.Henkel U.S. Geological Survey mailing address

600 Fourth St. South

St. Petersburg FL 33701 USA 727 803-8747 ext 3028 727 803-2030 hhenkel@usgs.gov Ecosystem History of South Florida Estuaries Data 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. MS Access unknown The Access database is available as a zipped file 4.8 http://sofia.usgs.gov/exchange/flaecohist/ The database may be downloaded from the SOFIA website none 20061206 Heather Henkel U.S. Geological Survey mailing and physical address

600 Fourth Street South

St. Petersburg FL 33701 USA 727 803-8747 ext 3028 727 803-2030 sofia-metadata@usgs.gov Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998