| This project involves quarterly monitoring of the species and biomass of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), including filamentous algae in Kings Bay. Data are used to develop a time series of maps of Kings Bay's submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to evaluate seasonal and annual changes in aquatic plant coverage. The maps will be used in conjunction with the District's water quality evaluation (W454) to better understand factors driving the fluctuating abundances and distributions of aquatic plants within the bay. Following completion of the Crystal River/Kings Bay
Vegetation Evaluation, subsequent (every five years) mapping efforts are proposed to track changes in SAV in response to management activities, increased development and natural processes.
Kings Bay is an important refuge to the endangered West Indian Manatee,
which forage heavily on the SAV within the bay. Reported declines in the abundance of SAV is a management issue identified in the 2000 update of the Crystal River/Kings Bay SWIM Plan. In 2001, the University of Florida evaluated and mapped the eight dominant species of submerged aquatic plants and algae, three of which were exotic nuisance species. The University also collected water clarity and chemistry samples to examine factors affecting water clarity in the bay. Results of the study indicated that water clarity in Kings Bay was better during periods of high aquatic plant biomass and reduced during periods of low aquatic plant biomass. Therefore, changes in aquatic plant biomass could, in part, be responsible for fluctuations in water clarity. Submitted with the final report were vegetative coverage maps that will be used as baseline data in assessing trends and changes in aquatic vegetation coverage. |
