INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBMARINE GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE AND SEAGRASS IN FLORIDA BAY, USA

Florida Bay is a shallow, ecologically valuable estuary. It is comprised of a network of basins that are separated by extensive shallow mudbanks and mangrove islands. Seagrasses dominate the bay’s benthic habitat, forming mixed meadows and multistory canopies. Recurring hypersalinity, bottom-water anoxia, and long water residence times have triggered seagrass die-off. Although extensive research has been conducted on seagrasses in Florida Bay, any link between die-off or recovery and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) remains insufficiently understood. This study uses radon-222 and continuous electrical resistivity profiling to identify SGD locations and explores its connection to the bay’s seagrasses. Preliminary findings suggest that SGD affects seagrass species differently, highlighting the need for targeted conservation strategies. These strategies could include locating SGD, identifying vulnerable seagrass species, pinpointing areas at risk for die-off, and understanding how SGD may influence seagrass die-off and recovery.