Caloosahatchee River and estuary collaborative research plan. Final report, 2002-2003 field study.

Abstract

This report describes the results of a collaborative program with goals to describe the present-day conditions of the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary study area. Objectives are also to determine and empirically evaluate causal relationships of River flow to the distribution, abundance, and/or condition of selected valued ecosystem components. Subjects included in relation to this study involve red tide, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), SAV-dependent fish communities, manatee distribution and abundance, manatee immunology, oyster growth and condition, oyster disease, and oyster-dependent fish communities. Results and findings of the research are described.