Synthesis of age data and chronology for Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay cores collected for ecosystem history of South Florida’s estuaries project

G. Lynn Wingard; J.W. Hudley; C. W. Holmes; Debra A. Willard; M. Marot

doi:10.3133/ofr20071203

Synthesis of Age Data and Chronology for Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay Cores Collected for Ecosystem History of South Florida’s Estuaries Projects

Open-File Report 2007-1203

By: G. Lynn Wingard, J.W. Hudley, C. W. Holmes, Debra A. Willard, and M. Marot

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20071203

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Document: Report (31.4 MB pdf)
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Abstract

²¹⁰Pb, ¹⁴C, and pollen biostratigraphic data have been compiled and synthesized to develop age models for cores collected from Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay. These cores are being used to interpret the ecosystem history of south Florida’s estuaries by examining the physical, chemical, and biological record preserved within the cores. The beginning of the 20th century, which marks an important turning point for the natural vs. anthropogenically influenced ecosystem, has been identified based on at least two data points in ten cores. ²¹⁰Pb data alone are presented for an additional 38 cores. Age models for older sediments have been developed for seven cores. Comparison of pre-1900 and post-1900 records allows researchers to compare natural ecosystem changes to anthropogenic change.

General patterns of sedimentation rates in Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay emerge from the data. Mid-bay mudbanks in both bays show more rapid rates of sedimentation, fewer signs of sediment disruption, and more internal consistency of sediments than cores located closer to shore. Nearshore cores indicate slower average rates of sedimentation, more disruption in the sedimentary sequences, and more indications of “old” carbon effects. Cores in close proximity to each other generally show very similar patterns of deposition, which indicates support for the age models.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Synthesis of age data and chronology for Florida Bay and Biscayne Bay cores collected for ecosystem history of South Florida’s estuaries project
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	2007-1203
DOI	10.3133/ofr20071203
Year Published	2007
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s)	Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center
Description	iii, 120 p.
Country	United States
Other Geospatial	Southern Florida
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page