Abstract:
Counts of Karenia brevis from the eastern Gulf of Mexico between 1953 and 1998, binned by months and converted to
presence/absence and duration, were analyzed for cross-correlation with rainfall and riverine flow. The region was divided
into three sub-areas for analysis to accommodate geographic variation in potential forcing factors. The duration of the
presence of K. brevis in northern Florida waters was not significantly related to either rainfall or flows. The central Florida
region recorded significant correlations of K. brevis durations with a number of central Florida rainfall stations and with
flows of most central and southern rivers examined. Lags were short (less than two months), if any, indicating relatively
direct linkages. Relationships of K. brevis in southern Florida waters to rainfall, while similar to the central region, were
significantly correlated for only a few south Florida rainfall stations and primarily with flows from the Peace River in
south central Florida. Cross-correlations of K. brevis duration with departures of flow or rainfall from seasonal means
were generally not significant.
Description:
pdf 4 p., black and white images, charts, graphs.
