Habitat Mapping
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CLAM BAY NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA (NRPA) BENTHIC HABITAT ASSESSMENT FINAL REPORT FOR THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT Between PELICAN BAY PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION (PBPOA), PELICAN BAY FOUNDATION, INC. (PBF), and the MANGROVE ACTION GROUP (MAG) And the CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (CSWF) Prepared by: Kathy Worley and Jeffrey R. Schmid Environmental Science Division, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, FL 34102 E-mail: [email protected] & [email protected] Tel: 239-403-4223 May 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES...................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................... v LIST OF APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………..vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY …………………………………………………………………… vii INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 1 STUDY AREA………………………………………………………………………………….5 CLAM PASS …………………………………………………………………………...7 LOWER CLAM BAY…….…………………………………………………………….8 INNER CLAM BAY……………………………………………………………………9 UPPER CLAM BAY……………………………………………………………………9 MATERIALS AND METHODS................................................................................................ 12 Benthic Habitat Characterization..................................................................................... 12 Mangrove Fringe Assessment.......................................................................................... 15 RESULTS.................................................................................................................................... 15 Benthic Habitat Characterization..................................................................................... 15 Benthic Substrates………………………………………………………………16 Seagrasses……………………………………………………………………… 17 Macroalgae…………………………………………………………...………… 17 Polychaetes…………………………………………………………………..… 18 Mulluscs…………………………………………………………………...…… 19 Echinoderms…………………………………………………………………… 20 Benthic Biota Associated with Red Mangrove Prop Roots............................................. 20 Incidental Species Collected and Observed during Sampling........................................ 22 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................. 22 Historic Benthic Comparison…………………….......................................................... 22 Benthic Substrate Composition……………….............................................................. 27 Benthic Habitat Characterization and Composition........................................................ 28 Benthic Macrofauna…..................................................................................................... 31 Benthic Macro Flora and Fauna that Reside on Mangrove Prop Roots……………..… 33 CONCLUDING REMARKS………………………………………………………………..… 36 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................................... 38 LITERATURE CITED................................................................................................................ 39 iii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Percent composition of benthic substrates in portions of the Clam Bay complex. Secondary substrates include mud with high sand content (sandy mud) and sand with high mud content (muddy sand). Dominant substrates are indicated in bold…...... 48 2 Percent composition of the biological assemblage components for assemblage sites in each portion of the Clam Bay complex……….......................................................... 49 3 Percent composition of the biological components for study area sites in each portion of the Clam Bay complex …........................................................................................... 50 4 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates for components of the seagrass assemblage in each portion of the Clam Bay complex................................................... 51 5 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates for the components of the green and red algae assemblages in each portion of the Clam Bay complex............................ 52 6 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates for components of the tubiculous polychaete assemblage in each portion of the Clam Bay complex.................53 7 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates for components of the bivalve mullusc assemblage in each portion of the Clam Bay complex. .................................... 54 8 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates for components of the gastropod mullusc assemblage in each portion of the Clam Bay complex...................................... 55 9 Percent composition of secondary benthic substrates of components of the echinoderm assemblage in each portion of the Clam Bay complex................................................... 56 10 Percent biological assemblages on mangrove prop roots for study area sites and assemblage sites in the Clam Bay complex…………………………............................ 57 11 Incidental species sampled or observed during sampling in Clam Bay……….............. 58 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Map of the Clam Bay estuarine complex in eastern Collier County, Florida. The green polygons and lines delineate the benthic habitat study area.................................. 59 2 Sampling Sites ………………………………………………………………………… 60 3 Habitat map of primary benthic substrates in the Clam Bay estuarine complex............ 61 4 Habitat map of benthic substrates in the Clam Bay complex including secondary substrates of sandy mud (mud with 30-40% sand content) and muddy sand (sand with 30-40% mud content)……………………………................................................. 62 5 Distribution of sample sites with high organic content (i.e. detritus and/or mangrove leaf litter) in the Clam Bay study area............................................................................ 63 6 Distribution of shoal grass (Halodule beaudetti syn. Halodule wrightii), and paddle grass (Halophila decipens) in the Clam Bay study area….............................................. 64 7 Distribution of filamentous green algae, Acetabularia crenulata, and Caulerpa sertularoides in the Clam Bay study area........................................................................ 65 8 Distribution of unidentified species of red algae and Acanthophora spicifera in the Clam Bay study area…………………………………………........................................ 66 9 Distribution of unidentified polychaete worm tubes and mud tubes in the Clam Bay study area........................................................................................................................ 67 10 Distribution of shell-encrusted polychaete tubes and trumpet worm (Pectinaria gouldi) tubes in the Clam Bay study area.................................................................................... 68 11 Distribution of American oyster (Crassostrea virginica), pointed venus clam (Anomalocardia auberiana) and stout razor clam (Tagelus plebeius) in the Clam Bay study area…………........................................................................................................ 69 12 Distribution of Florida crown conch (Melongena corona) and grass cerith (Bittiolum varium) in the Clam Bay study area……………………………………………........... 70 13 Distribution of heart urchin (Moira atropos) and brittlestar (Ophiophragmus filograneus) in the Clam Bay study area………………………………………….….....71 14 Distribution of unidentified species of mussel and American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) on mangrove prop roots in the Clam Bay study area..................................... 72 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 15 Distribution of mangrove periwinkle (Littoraria angulifera) on mangrove prop roots in the Clam Bay study area …........................................................................................ 73 16 Distribution of filamentous green algae and unidentified species of red algae on mangrove prop roots in the Clam Bay study area........................................................... 74 17 Distribution of unidentified species of barnacle and mangrove crab on mangrove prop roots in the Clam Bay study area............................................................................. 75 18 Turrell, Hall and Associates, Inc. (THA) Seagrass results overtime............................... 76 19 Clam Bay seagrass mapping over the years 1992 - 1999................................................ 77 20 Clam Bay seagrass mapping over the years 2007 – 2010................................................ 78 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page 1 Documented Species……………………………………................................................ 79 2. Definitions …………………………………………………………………………….. 118 vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mangrove and seagrass habitats provide different resources for a diverse community of benthic organisms that live in mangrove mud, seagrass, and/or bottom substrates. These communities are a vital component of the estuarine food web, providing key linkages between primary producers and higher trophic levels. Some are important economically, while others improve water quality by filtering the water or mediating nutrient remineralization within the sediment. Clam Bay Natural Resource Protection Area (NRPA) is located on the shoreline of southwest Florida and consists