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Assessment of a nearshore and an offshore queen conch (Strombus gigas) habitat in the Florida Keys using field and laboratory techniques

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
Queen conch in the Florida Keys are slowly recovering from overfishing. This study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.
Title: Assessment of a nearshore and an offshore queen conch (Strombus gigas) habitat in the Florida Keys using field and laboratory techniques.
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Name(s): Kowalik, Gretchen A.
Davis, Megan, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Biological Sciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 43 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Queen conch in the Florida Keys are slowly recovering from overfishing. This study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.
Identifier: FA00000783 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Fisheries--Environmental aspects
Fish habitat improvement--Florida Keys
Conservation biology--Research
Gastropoda--Habitat--Florida Keys
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000783
Sublocation: Digital Library
Restrictions on Access: All rights reserved by the source institution
Restrictions on Access: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Restrictions on Access: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.