Lignin and cellulose data is based upon data from the 2nd and 3rd sampling

periods. Lignin values ranged from 7% to 43%. Decreases in lignin content occurred in

LNWR, WCA-2A, and ENP-TS with increasing distance from the canal. The lowest

lignin value was associated with the REF ENP-TS site as was the lowest cellulose

content. Lignin was correlated with TP, TN, TOC, and negatively correlated with Ca.

Cellulose content ranged from 8% to 21% with mixed relationships along the gradient.

Various hydrolytic enzyme activities were associated with the P gradients in each area.

Potential benthic BGL activities ranged from 0.11 to 1.07 (Table 4-1 & Table 4-2), and

were higher in the ENR sites. However, these differences were only significant in 3 of 12

cases. There was no change in BGL along a gradient observed in an earlier study in

WCA-2A (Wright and Reddy, 2001b). WCA-2A generally exhibited the lowest BGL

activities. BGL was correlated with TP, LEU, and PHE. Similarly, LEU significantly

decreased between the ENR and REF sites in only 1/3 of the cases, with the exception of

LNWR, and ranged from 1.51 to 8.13 moless g-1 AFDM h-1. The lowest LEU values

were also generally found in WCA-2A and were only significantly correlated with PHE.

PHO was significantly higher in the reference sites in 75% of the comparisons and ranged

from 2.32 to 61.33 moles MUF released g-1 AFDM h-1. The decrease in PHO with

increased proximity to the canal has been observed in other studies in the Everglades

(Wright and Reddy, 2001b) as well as with decreased phosphatase activities in

periphyton associated P loading. Significant correlations were found with TP, TN, TOC,

and lignin. The highest activities were associated with the ENP-TS sites, reflecting the

lowest benthic TP values.