The summary presented here is based on preliminary results derived from a few months of study during the demonstration project and serves as a guide for future, more comprehensive studies in the bay.
- An area of minimal historical influence in wetlands (Moses Hole) signals increased input of organic material derived from upland regions during population growth around Tampa Bay.
- Pollen and microfaunal analyses of sediment from Moses Hole indicate that a large influx of sand occurred in the Mariposa Point area during the last century, possibly recording a major storm event.
- Increased algal, zooplankton, and sewer input in Hillsborough Bay coincides with the development of anaerobic water conditions in youngest sediment.
- Changes in sources of ground water and surface water supply to Tampa Bay are evident from prehistorical to historical times (Links to other Tampa Bay Research).
The prehistoric environment of Tampa Bay is of value to those projects analyzing modern and historic levels of contaminants in sediments and in the water column. In addition, the data are valuable in determining the age of the ponds (sinkholes) being studied by the biologists. In some cases, the salinity of pore water in sediment cores are used to ground truth resistivity studies conducted on land.
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