Carlson and Durako Die-Off Research 1988-1991

• Everglades National Park: Evaluation of seagrass die-off in Florida Bay
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service -Florida marine animal health and contamination assessment - Study III. Studies on seagrass die-back in Florida Bay
• Office of Coastal Zone Management: Investigations on the causes, extent, and characteristics of a seagrass die-back in Everglades National Park/Florida Bay (CM-257 & CM-283)

Summary of Results

• Sulfide levels along transects show lower levels in healthy beds a spike at the ecotone and high levels in recent die-off patches
• Sulfide levels higher in fall, may be a more stressful period (high water temps & decreasing daylengths)
• Structural parameters show abrupt spatial transition from healthy-to-fringe-die-off - sharp ecotone
• Die-off survivor shoots have shorter leaves, but greater number of leaves/shoot (up to 14)
• Die-off shoots exhibit lower shoot-specific productivity and shorter plastochrone intervals
• Short-shoot demography significantly affected by die-off
• Verified Koch's postulates regarding Labyrinthula's role in causing leaf lesions (in collaboration w/David Porter)