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Submitted by KennyCarmola_I on January 27, 2017 - 10:51am
Mangroves are one of Florida's true natives. They thrive in salty environments because they can obtain freshwater from saltwater. Some secrete excess salt through their leaves, while others block absorption of salt at their roots.
Water quality monitoring has become an important part of the aquatic preserve's role in understanding the bay's natural processes. Monitoring water quality allows researchers to document short-term variability and long-term changes in the status of the bay's health, and facilitates in implementing appropriate protection for waterways. The collected data can be used to gain a better understanding of how water quality is impacted and will help us understand the important role we play in water conservation.
Seagrass communities are an integral part of St. Joseph Bay and an important natural resource. They provide nurseries, nutrition and shelter for a wide variety of commercial and recreational fish and invertebrate species, and their extensive root systems stabilize sediments on the bay bottom, helping to improve water quality and clarity, which helps keep the bay healthy. The health and status of many commercially and recreationally important seafood species such as shrimp, crabs, scallops, redfish, trout and mullet are directly proportional to the health and acreage of seagrass habitat.
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