HR: 09:00h
AN: NB41F-03 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: The St. Johns River, Florida: a Unique Lentic/Lotic Waterbody on the Southeastern Coastal Plain.
AU: * Dobberfuhl, D R
EM: DDobberfuhl@sjrwmd.com
AF: St. Johns River Water Management District, 4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177 United States
AB: The St. Johns River is a 500-km, low-gradient, black water river located in northeast Florida. Tidal effects, reverse flow events, and numerous saline springs result in estuarine conditions sometimes extending far upstream. Invertebrate sampling has occurred aperiodically in the lower mainstem of the river since 1974. In general, fresher areas of the river exhibited higher taxa richness but relatively little difference in diversity. The river shows differences in invertebrate populations throughout the lower estuarine section related to salinity. The watershed is facing tremendous development pressure and is subsequently challenged by typical problems, although little historical change was detected using this 30-year dataset. However, data suggested that there was evidence of localized impairment to the benthic community. Finally, areas with submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) demonstrated higher richness and diversity than comparable bare areas, underscoring the importance of SAV to the health and productivity of the river.
DE: 4804 Benthic processes/benthos
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly