Water Depth of Seagrass Meadows in Tampa Bay

Water Depth of Seagrass Meadows in Tampa Bay - Results3

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Gulf of Mexico Estuaries Integrated Science

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Tampa Bay Pilot Study 2002 Poster Series

Geology & Geomorphology

Water & Sediment

Wetlands

Seagrass

Determination of Water Depth at the Deep Edge of Seagrass Meadows in Tampa Bay Using GPS Carrier Phase Processing

J.O.R. Johansson, K.B. Hennenfent and J.J. Pacowta. (City of Tampa, Bay Study Group)

Transact Profiles

Most of the depth profile information collected to date using the Aon-the-fly@ benthic sled technique has not yet been fully analyzed. Two examples of profiles are shown below: the Kitchen and Wolf Branch areas in Hillsborough Bay and Middle Tampa Bay, respectively.

Kitchen

Oct. 26, 1999: Depth distribution of the main H. wrightii meadow along the transect located in the Kitchen in Hillsborough Bay.

Line graph of depth distribution of the main H. wrightii meadow along the transect located in the Kitchen in Hillsborough Bay.

The transect located in the Kitchen ranges from shore to 1350m offshore. The section of the transect from approximately 200 to 620m contains the main H. wrightii meadow. The majority of the seagrass on this transect is, therefore, found between -0.25 and -0.50mMTL depths. The elevation of the deep edge of the meadow (-0.50mMTL) agrees with the earlier elevation studies conducted using the static technique (see Johansson 2000).

Wolf Branch

Dec. 8, 1999: Depth distribution of the main H. wrightii meadow along the transect located at Wolf Branch in Middle Tampa Bay.

Line graph of depth distribution of the main H. wrightii meadow along the transect located at Wolf Branch in Middle Tampa Bay

The Wolf Branch transect ranges from shore to approximately 1200m offshore. The 100 to 360m section of the transect contains the main H. wrightii meadow. On this transect the main seagrass meadow is found between -0.25 and -0.55mMTL depths, which is almost identical to the Kitchen meadow.