RECOVER MAP 3.3.4.1 Reconnaissnce Study of Caloosahatchee

The objectives of the collaborative CRE program are to describe present-dayconditions of the study area, and to determine and empirically evaluate causal relationships of river flow to the distribution, abundance, and/or condition of selected valued ecosystem components. Specific issues to be evaluated by the CRE Cooperative Research Plan include the following: · Role of hydrology (discharge) relative to red tide events · Effects of salinity fluctuations on SAV beds, oysters, and juvenile fish populations and densities · Ecological significance of SAV beds and oyster bars and the potential to reestablish these communities · The effect of the presence and intensity of red tide blooms on juvenile fish and manatee health (as assessed through immune function ) within the estuary · Effects of manatee use of SAV on SAV productivity in the Caloosahatchee River and nearby waters · The effect of loss or reduction of SAV in the estuary on manatee health · Immunological or other biomarkers that indicate serious exposure and potential compromises of manatee health Studies began in 2001-2002, on the subjects of red tide, SAV, SAV-dependent fish communities, manatee distribution and abundance, manatee immunology, oyster growth and condition, oyster disease, and oyster-dependent fish communities.本合作式CRE项目的目标为：阐明研究区域的当前现状，并确定并实证评估河流径流与选定的受关注生态系统组分的分布、丰度及/或健康状况之间的因果关系。本CRE合作研究计划需评估的具体问题如下： · 水文（流量）状况与赤潮事件的关联作用 · 盐度波动对沉水植物（Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, SAV）床体、牡蛎以及幼鱼种群与密度的影响 · 沉水植物床体与牡蛎礁的生态意义，以及恢复此类群落的可行性 · 赤潮藻华的发生情况与强度对河口内幼鱼及海牛健康（通过免疫功能进行评估）的影响 · 海牛取食沉水植物对卡洛萨哈奇河（Caloosahatchee River）及邻近水域沉水植物生产力的影响 · 河口内沉水植物消失或减少对海牛健康的影响 · 可反映海牛严重暴露于有害因素及健康潜在受损状况的免疫相关或其他生物标志物 本研究于2001-2002年启动，研究主题涵盖赤潮、沉水植物、依赖沉水植物的鱼类群落、海牛的分布与丰度、海牛免疫学、牡蛎生长与健康状况、牡蛎病害以及依赖牡蛎的鱼类群落。