Data collected for the beach nourishment monitoring project, by the Molluscan Fisheries at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute: October 2005 - July 2007
Physical Attributes
Vertical Profiles of Beaches: Figures 1-6
Sediment Composition: Figures 7-9
Organic Matter Content: Figures 10-12
Air and Water Temperature: Figures 13
Biological Data
Ghost Crab Burrow Density and Size: Figure 14
Coquina Density and Size: Figure 15
Mole Crab Density and Size: Figures 16
Vertical Profiles of Beaches
Vertical profiles were measured using a surveyor's scope, stadia rod, and transect tapes. Five profiles were measured at random locations along a 300-meter transect, or specific area of study, laid parallel to the water line. Profiles extended from the upper boundary (a seawall, property line, three meters into the vegetation, or the base of a dune) to the lower boundary (below sea level and the swash zone). Profiles were measured monthly between October 2005 and July 2007. Measurements were not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Four months of data for each site, arranged from north to south, are presented below.
Figure 1: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-068 and R-069 at Belleair Shores (BAS). BAS was used as a control site because nourishment did not occur in this area.
Figure 2: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-072 and R-073 on the north end of Indian Rocks Beach (IRN). IRN was nourished in April 2006.
Figure 3: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-077 and R-078 on the south end of Indian Rocks Beach (IRS). IRS was nourished in May 2006.
Figure 4: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-091and R-092 on Indian Shores Beach (IDS). IDS was nourished between June and July 2006.
Figure 5: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-111 and R-112 at Redington Beach (RDB). RDB was used as a control site because nourishment did not occur in this area.
Figure 6: Five vertical profiles were measured monthly between R-monuments R-177 and R-178 along the west beach of Fort De Soto (FDW). FDW was used as a control site (for the Sand Key Renourishment Project) until October 2006 because nourishment did not occur in this area until then. FDW was nourished in November 2006 as part of a different construction project.
Downloadable PDF version of Vertical Profile Graphs (350KB)
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Sediment Composition
Sediment cores were collected from the upper beach, lower beach, and swash zone at five random locations along a 300-meter transect laid parallel to the water line. Sediment was dried and separated through sieves to determine percent composition by dry weight. Cores were not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Data for each area of the beach is presented below, with sites arranged from north to south: Belleair Shores (BAS), Indian Rocks Beach North (IRN), Indian Rocks Beach South (IRS), Indian Shores (IDS), Redington Beach (RDB), and Fort De Soto West (FDW).
Figure 7: Percent composition of sediment from the upper beach by grain size. Grain size has been categorized into very coarse to very fine sediment, based on the Wentworth particle size scale. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Figure 8: Percent composition of sediment from the lower beach by grain size. Grain size has been categorized into very coarse to very fine sediment, based on the Wentworth particle size scale. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Figure 9: Percent composition of sediment from the swash zone by grain size. Grain size has been categorized into very coarse to very fine sediment, based on the Wentworth particle size scale. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Downloadable PDF version of Sediment Composition Graphs (633KB)
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Organic Matter Content
Sediment cores were collected from the upper beach, lower beach, and swash zone at five random locations along a 300-meter transect laid parallel to the water line. Organic matter measured by loss of material after combustion in a muffle furnace. Cores were not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Data for each area of the beach is presented below, with sites arranged from north to south: Belleair Shores (BAS), Indian Rocks Beach North (IRN), Indian Rocks Beach South (IRS), Indian Shores (IDS), Redington Beach (RDB), and Fort De Soto West (FDW).
Figure 10: Percent organic matter of sediment from the upper beach. Error bars represent standard error. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Figure 11: Percent organic matter of sediment from the lower beach. Error bars represent standard error. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Figure 12: Percent organic matter of sediment from the swash zone. Error bars represent standard error. Construction was present during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Downloadable PDF version of Organic Matter Graphs (338KB)
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Air and Water Temperature
Air and water temperature of the swash zone was measured at five random locations along a 300-meter transect laid parallel to the water line. Data was not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Belleair Shores (BAS), Indian Rocks Beach North (IRN), Indian Rocks Beach South (IRS), Indian Shores (IDS), Redington Beach (RDB), and Fort De Soto West (FDW).
Figure 13: Air and water temperature at Pinellas County sites from October 2005 through July 2007. Construction occurred during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November). Temperature was not recorded at all sites during some sampling months due to equipment malfunction.
Downloadable PDF version of Temperature Graphs (133KB)
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Ghost Crab Burrow Density and Size
Ghost crab (Ocypode quadrata) were counted within five randomly selected areas along a 300-meter transect laid parallel to the water line. Each area was 15 meters wide along the 300-meter transect and the width of the beach was measured to determine area. Burrow diameter was measured to estimate size of ghost crabs. Data was not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Belleair Shores (BAS), Indian Rocks Beach North (IRN), Indian Rocks Beach South (IRS), Indian Shores (IDS), Redington Beach (RDB), and Fort De Soto West (FDW).
Figure 14: Density of Ocypode quadrata burrows m-2 (n=5), or the density of crab burrows per square meter, and burrow diameter plus the standard error at Pinellas County sites from October 2005 through July 2007. Construction occurred during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Downloadable PDF version of Ghost Crab Burrow Graphs (133KB)
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Swash Fauna Density and Size
Faunal samples were collected at 10 randomly selected points along a 300-meter transect laid parallel to the water line. At each location along the 300-meter transect, a metal scoop lined with 1 millimeter (mm) mesh was used to collect faunal, or animal life, samples from the high-, mid-, and low-swash. Samples were sorted for animals and coquina (Donax variabilis), mole crabs (Emerita talpoida), and polychaete worms (Scolepis spp.) were counted. Shell length of coquina and carapace length of mole crabs were measured from subsamples. Samples were not collected when nourishment construction was present at a site. Belleair Shores (BAS), Indian Rocks Beach North (IRN), Indian Rocks Beach South (IRS), Indian Shores (IDS), Redington Beach (RDB), and Fort De Soto West (FDW).
Figure 15: Density of Donax variabilis and shell length plus the standard error at Pinellas County sites from October 2005 through July 2007. Construction occurred during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Figure 16: Density of Emerita talpoida and carapace length ± standard error at Pinellas County sites from October 2005 through July 2007. Construction occurred during 2006 at IRN (April), IRS (May), IDS (June-July), and FDW (November).
Downloadable PDF version of Swash Faunal Graphs (198KB)
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