SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION OF MARINE BACTERIOPLANKTON IN FLORIDA BAY, USA

Physical, chemical and biological parameters of the water column of Fl orida Bay were examined at seven study sites over an 18-month period. At the time, Florida Bay was experiencing a seagrass die-off. The data collected indicated that the presence of seagrass significantly affec ted the overlying water column, especially with respect to biological parameters such as, heterotrophic activity and bacterial numbers. Micr obial activity and numbers were also significantly higher over areas o f dying seagrass than over healthy or dead areas. The exact nature of the relationship between seagrass and bacterioplankton is not known. C orrelation analyses yielded significant associations (P < 0.05) betwee n the biological parameters (heterotrophic activity and bacterial numb ers) and dissolved organic matter, chlorophyll, primary productivity, and ammonium. The possibility that other variables might have compound ed and added to this effect is discussed.