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Title: The multiple stress gradient hypothesis: expansion of the revised stress gradient hypothesis using a mangrove and salt marsh study system.
Creator: Coldren, Glenn A., Proffitt, C. Edward, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Plant interactions (e.g., competition, facilitation) are critical drivers in community development and structure. The Stress Gradient Hypothesis (SGH) provides a predictive framework for how plant species interactions vary inversely across an environmental stress gradient, predicting that facilitation is stronger with increasing levels of stress. The SGH has been supported in numerous ecosystems and across a variety of stress gradients, but recent research has demonstrated contradictory...
Show morePlant interactions (e.g., competition, facilitation) are critical drivers in community development and structure. The Stress Gradient Hypothesis (SGH) provides a predictive framework for how plant species interactions vary inversely across an environmental stress gradient, predicting that facilitation is stronger with increasing levels of stress. The SGH has been supported in numerous ecosystems and across a variety of stress gradients, but recent research has demonstrated contradictory results. These discrepancies have led to SGH revisions that expand its conceptual framework by incorporating additional factors, such as other stressor types and variations in species life history strategies. In this dissertation, I examine a further modification of the SGH by proposing and testing a Multiple Stress Gradient Hypothesis (MSGH) that considers how plant interactions vary along a continuous gradient of two co-occurring stressors using mangrove and salt marsh communities as a case study. In Chapter 1, I outline the predictive framework of a MSGH, by creating a series of predictions of species interactions. The components of the MSGH predict that stressors of similar types (e.g., resource and nonresource) will have similar effects and be additive. On the other hand, varying species life history strategies and life stages will lead to extremes of plant interactions. In Chapter 2, I performed a series of experiments to test the various components of the MSGH. In Chapter 3, I performed a large-scale observational study to test whether multiple co-occurring stressors altered the cumulative effects on plant interactions, and if these stressors should be grouped (e.g., resource and non-resource, abiotic and biotic, etc.) to enhance predictability. From a series of studies conducted herein, I concluded that co-occurring stressors are important factors that control complex species interactions as shown in my MSGH modeling approach. Further, future theories need to incorporate species-specific and stressor specific grouping when modeling how species interactions shape communities.
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Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004011
Subject Headings: Coastal ecology, Ecophysiology, Mangrove ecology, Plant ecology, Salt marsh ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: An evaluation of the microbiological quality of sandy beaches: A novel approach.
Creator: Mohammed, Renuka Lisa, Florida Atlantic University, Esiobu, Nwadiuto
Abstract/Description: A novel, 'near-real' time technique; peptide nucleic acid chemilumiscent in situ hybridization (PNA CISH), was developed and validated for detecting, enumerating and identifying potential indicators (Staphyloccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of beach quality. To understand the dynamics of bacterial indicators a plethora of physical, chemical and biological parameters were tested under field and lab conditions. Escherichia coli tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) was used to...
Show moreA novel, 'near-real' time technique; peptide nucleic acid chemilumiscent in situ hybridization (PNA CISH), was developed and validated for detecting, enumerating and identifying potential indicators (Staphyloccus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) of beach quality. To understand the dynamics of bacterial indicators a plethora of physical, chemical and biological parameters were tested under field and lab conditions. Escherichia coli tagged with green fluorescence protein (GFP) was used to assess the impact of wave energy and rainfall on seawater counts. PNA CISH and plate counts correlated strongly (r = 0.94 to r = 0.86). Temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and predation significantly influenced the survival of indicators. Rainfall and wave energy affected the re-suspension of bacteria from sand onto overlying water. Overall PNA CISH provides a reliable rapid method for beach monitoring. The implications of beach topography and sampling time on the numbers of Clostridium perfringens and other potential indicators are discussed. Data suggest a revision of policy for tropical sandy beaches.
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Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13117
Subject Headings: Coastal zone management, Coastal ecology, Sand dune ecology, Beaches
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Molecular characterization of the injected venom of Conus ermineus.
Creator: Rivera-Ortiz, Jose A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Abstract/Description: Cone snails are predatory marine animals that rely on their venom components to immobilize and capture their prey. According to the type of prey preference, cone snails can be divided into three groups: vermivorous, molluscivorous and piscivorous. Conus ermineus had been identified as the only piscivorous snail of the Atlantic Ocean. Cone snail venom is a complex and rich sources of natural toxins. The majority of the components of the venom are peptidic in nature, and they act over different...
Show moreCone snails are predatory marine animals that rely on their venom components to immobilize and capture their prey. According to the type of prey preference, cone snails can be divided into three groups: vermivorous, molluscivorous and piscivorous. Conus ermineus had been identified as the only piscivorous snail of the Atlantic Ocean. Cone snail venom is a complex and rich sources of natural toxins. The majority of the components of the venom are peptidic in nature, and they act over different ionic channels and membrane receptors. Initial studies using mixture of venom collected from dissected venom ducts concluded that the venom from the same species do not exhibit unusual peptide polymorphism [Olivera, Hillyard, et al., 1995] and that the only major difference between individuals of the same species are different concentrations of the venom components [Vianna, et al., 2005]. For this study, peptides in the injected venom were collected from individual snails and characterized usin g analytical RP-HPLC for a maximum of three years. The different fractions collected were processed through capillary HPLC coupled with Q-TOF ESI-MS, and compared with analytical RP-HPLC fractions processed with MALDI-TOF MS. This study demonstrates that there is an animal-to-animal variation in the peptide components of the injected venom. The injected venom remains relatively constant over time for specific specimens in captivity. Finally, there are some peptides that had been found in all specimens both by MALDI-TOF MS and by ESI-MS. In this study, these peptides are called "molecular fingerprint" peptides. Based on matches of their derived masses to those predicted by published cDNA sequences, nine novel peptides were putatively identified. This study establishes that variations due to enzymatic posttranslational modification are omitted when we consider only information extrapolated from cDNA., The results of this study support the idea of the existence of a novel regulatory mechaism to expressed specific venom peptides for injection into the prey.
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Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3333310
Subject Headings: Gastropoda, Venom, Peptides, Structure, Coastal ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mapping the Fresh-Saltwater Transition Zone Across the Beach Environment Using Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR).
Creator: Becker, Joseph Michael, Roberts Briggs, Tiffany, Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: As sea level rises, saltwater migration can threaten coastal ecosystems and beach-dune environments, which negatively impacts coastal flora. This study uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of saltwater migration in the near shore at high lateral resolution (i.e. cm) by using daily micro tidal cycles as analogs to infer saltwater migration. Time-lapse GPR profiles were collected at low and high tide capturing phase lags of the tidal flux through...
Show moreAs sea level rises, saltwater migration can threaten coastal ecosystems and beach-dune environments, which negatively impacts coastal flora. This study uses ground penetrating radar (GPR) to evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of saltwater migration in the near shore at high lateral resolution (i.e. cm) by using daily micro tidal cycles as analogs to infer saltwater migration. Time-lapse GPR profiles were collected at low and high tide capturing phase lags of the tidal flux through different substrates. GPR measurements were collected at two sites in Miami with contrasting lithologies: a) Crandon Park, composed of unconsolidated sand; and b) the Barnacle Historic State Park, composed of the Miami Limestone Formation. Laboratory-scale GPR measurements were collected over samples mimicking field conditions. The results may be helpful to identify regions vulnerable to saltwater migration in the near shore based on lithological variability, and to mitigate negative impacts for flora in beach-dune habitats during sea level rise.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013183
Subject Headings: Ground penetrating radar, Saltwaters, Seashore ecology, Coastal ecology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The effect of sea level rise on Juncus Roemerianus in a high nutrient environment.
Creator: Abbott, Cara J., Berry, Leonard, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
Abstract/Description: As sea levels continue to rise, the projected damage that will ensue presents a great challenge for conservation and management of coastal ecosystems in Florida. Since Juncus roemerianus is a common marsh plant throughout Florida with unique growing characteristics that make it a popular restoration plant, this study implemented a 20 week greenhouse split plot experiment to examine the effects of sea level rise on J. roemerianus and ultimately determine its tolerance ranges to salinity and...
Show moreAs sea levels continue to rise, the projected damage that will ensue presents a great challenge for conservation and management of coastal ecosystems in Florida. Since Juncus roemerianus is a common marsh plant throughout Florida with unique growing characteristics that make it a popular restoration plant, this study implemented a 20 week greenhouse split plot experiment to examine the effects of sea level rise on J. roemerianus and ultimately determine its tolerance ranges to salinity and inundation in a high nutrient environment. Overall, salinity level and the interaction effect of salinity level and water level had the greatest effects on measured growth parameters including average mature height, maximum height, density, basal area, root length, and biomass. An inverse relationship between increasing salinity and the measured growth variables was observed with the greatest growth and survivability in 0 ppt water, survivability and reduced growth in 20 ppt water, survivability and little growth in 30 ppt water, and nearly complete senesce in 40 ppt water. This was the first laboratory study to determine the effect of 40 ppt water on J. roemerianus. Elevated water levels resulted in higher growth variables in the 20 ppt, 30 ppt, and 40 ppt treatments while inundated water levels produced higher growth variables in the 0 ppt treatment despite previous research finding inundation to have completely adverse effects on J. roemerianus. It is likely that the high nutrient environment provided for this study is the cause for this anomaly. The results of this study have major implications for the future of coastal ecosystems that are dominated by stands of J. roemerianus in South Florida and can be used in conjunction with studies on bordering marsh plants to predict shifts in the ecosystems of Florida that are responding to sea level rise scenarios.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004426
Subject Headings: Coastal ecology, Coastal zone management, Jucus roemerianus, Plant ecophysiology, Salt marsh ecology, Sea level
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Comments on “Trophic structure and productivity of a windward coral reef community on Eniwetok Atoll” [Ecological Monographs 25 (3) (1955) 291–320].
Creator: Barile, Peter J., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/2848322
Subject Headings: Food chains (Ecology), Coral reef ecology, Coral reefs and islands, Coastal ecology, Benthos
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Tidal and low-frequency net displacement in a coastal lagoon.
Creator: Smith, Ned P.
Date Issued: 1983
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3174010
Subject Headings: Lagoons, Tides, Bays, Coastal ecology, Time-series analysis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Allelopathy at the land/sea interface: microalgae and Brazilian pepper.
Creator: Hargraves, Paul E.
Date Issued: 2008
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/1925502
Subject Headings: Algae --Biotechnology, Coastal ecology --Florida, Allelopathy, Plant invasions --Florida, Mangrove ecology --Florida, Algae --Growth
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Benthic Foraminiferal Assemblages from Pulau Karangmadjat, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia.
Creator: Garcia, Christine N., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Globally, coral reefs are in severe decline (Jackson et al., 2001) and face potential extinction of 1/3 of reef species by 2050 (Veron, 2011). This decline is the result of the inability of coral communities to recover after disturbance events, often resulting in a shift from coral- to macro-algal dominated regimes. Reef resources managers are in need of tools to assess the condition of these ecosystems prior to, during, and post disturbance, especially in regions of the world where coral...
Show moreGlobally, coral reefs are in severe decline (Jackson et al., 2001) and face potential extinction of 1/3 of reef species by 2050 (Veron, 2011). This decline is the result of the inability of coral communities to recover after disturbance events, often resulting in a shift from coral- to macro-algal dominated regimes. Reef resources managers are in need of tools to assess the condition of these ecosystems prior to, during, and post disturbance, especially in regions of the world where coral cover and diversity are high, yet management resources are scarce. Foraminifera have been widely utilized as bioindicators in both modern and paleoenvironments for more than a century due to their abundance, diverse functional morphology, rapid generation time, global distribution, and rich geologic record (Sen Gupta, 1999; Hallock et al., 2003). The FoRAM Index (FI) was developed as a single metric indicator to assess whether water quality supports coral recruitment and reproduction in Caribbean and Western Atlantic coral reefs (Hallock et al., 2003), yet the FI has not been widely applied to Indo-Pacific coral reefs. This study reports benthic foraminiferal assemblages from Pulau Karangmadjat, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia, and is the first to provide in situ foraminiferal assemblages for the Mentawai region. Results revealed overall low Shannon’s H’ and Fisher’s alpha, and low Buzas and Gibson’s evenness values across 13 sample sites selected from a variety of reef habitat zones. Values for the FI were also calculated and were extremely high across all sites due to the dominance of symbiont-bearing calcarinid taxa, suggesting favorable water quality conditions. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis revealed 4 clusters, only one of which corresponded in its entirety to a well defined benthic habitat zone. Overall, a high degree of similarity between foraminiferal assemblages was present for most sites sampled due to the dominance of calcarinids, suggesting prevalence of a macro-algal substrate, and potentially a shift from a coral- to macro-algal dominated regime for this study area. Utilization of indices like the FI, when used in conjunction with non-FI analysis of foraminiferal assemblages, may aid managers in deducing drivers of regime shifts on Indonesian coral reefs, which may ultimately facilitate solutions for reef conservation and recovery following natural and anthropogenic disturbance. Further testing of the applicability of the FI on Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific reefs is needed to in order to test this hypothesis.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004790
Subject Headings: Foraminifera--Ecology--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands., Coral reef ecology--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands., Coastal zone management--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The Associations of Little Blue Heron Prey and Vegetation Communities in Two Subtropical Coastal Ecosystems.
Creator: Kohler, Emilie R., Gawlik, Dale E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Shallow water availability coupled with anthropogenic degradation of seagrass beds limits wading bird food resources in dynamic coastal ecosystems. Identifying prey species critical to wading bird reproductive success and the environmental drivers of key prey species abundance is important for understanding how environmental stressors influence prey and change the quality of foraging patches. Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) are reportedly generalists eating insects, crustaceans, and...
Show moreShallow water availability coupled with anthropogenic degradation of seagrass beds limits wading bird food resources in dynamic coastal ecosystems. Identifying prey species critical to wading bird reproductive success and the environmental drivers of key prey species abundance is important for understanding how environmental stressors influence prey and change the quality of foraging patches. Little Blue Herons (Egretta caerulea) are reportedly generalists eating insects, crustaceans, and fish; however, the proportions of prey items in the diet may shift spatially and temporally from freshwater to marine systems during breeding and non-breeding periods. I investigated prey selection by Little Blue Herons in Florida at the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge and the western Florida Bay, during 2016 and 2017 breeding seasons by investigating prey availability at low-tide locations along mudflats compared to stomach regurgitate samples collected from Little Blue Heron chicks 1 to 4 weeks old. Little Blue Herons selected Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) and prawns (Farfantepenaeus spp.) from the estuarine environment, but also consumed terrestrial prey (e.g. tree crabs) suggesting Little Blue Heron foraging habitat is not restricted to tidal flats. Additionally, these results support the characterization of Little Blue Herons as a generalist. After identifying important prey species, I modeled the associations of selected prey species with submerged aquatic vegetation density and abiotic variables to better understand habitat preferences and important habitat characteristics that drive prey density. Models support total seagrass density and algal density as having the greatest effect on prey selected by Little Blue Herons. Prawn density has a strong positive association with seagrass density. Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) and prawns (Farfantepenaeus spp.) had strong positive association with algae while pipefish (Syngnathidae) had a strong negative association with algae suggesting algae density in seagrass meadows should be considered when assessing the quality of seagrass meadows for Little Blue Heron prey and habitat suitability. My results varied from previous studies where prawns and gulf toadfish were associated with specific seagrass species. Therefore, some Little Blue Heron prey species in south Florida may not be affected by changes in submerged aquatic vegetation community composition if submerged aquatic vegetation densities remain constant. Studies are needed that clarify the complex interactions between prey and specific habitat metrics to validate the strength of landscape scale drivers of wading bird prey densities in dynamic coastal ecosystems and to determine how these communities will respond to anthropogenic environmental change.
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013156
Subject Headings: Herons--Ecology, Egretta, Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge (Fla), Florida Bay (Fla), Coastal ecology--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Biotic phase-shifts in Florida Bayand fore reef communities of the Florida Keys: linkages with historical freshwater flows and nitrogenloading from Everglades runoff.
Creator: Lapointe, Brian E., Matzie, William R., Barile, Peter J.
Date Issued: 2002
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007397
Subject Headings: Florida Bay (Fla.), Florida Keys (Fla.), Reefs--Florida, Eutrophication, Coastal ecology, Everglades (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Increasing Integrity in Sea-Level Rise Impact Assessment on Florida’s Coastal Everglades.
Creator: Cooper, Hannah M., Zhang, Caiyun, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Over drainage due to water management practices, abundance of native and rare species, and low-lying topography makes the coastal Everglades especially vulnerable to Sea-Level Rise (SLR). Water depths have shown to have a significant relationship to vegetation community composition and organization while also playing a crucial role in vegetation health throughout the Everglades. Modeling potential habitat change and loss caused by increased water depths due to SLR requires better vertical...
Show moreOver drainage due to water management practices, abundance of native and rare species, and low-lying topography makes the coastal Everglades especially vulnerable to Sea-Level Rise (SLR). Water depths have shown to have a significant relationship to vegetation community composition and organization while also playing a crucial role in vegetation health throughout the Everglades. Modeling potential habitat change and loss caused by increased water depths due to SLR requires better vertical Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Water Table Elevation Models (WTEMs). In this study, an object-based machine learning approach was developed to correct LiDAR elevation data by integrating LiDAR point data, aerial imagery, Real Time Kinematic (RTK)-Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and total station survey data. Four machine learning modeling techniques were compared with the commonly used bias-corrected technique, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The k-NN and RF models produced the best predictions for the Nine Mile and Flamingo study areas (RMSE = 0.08 m and 0.10 m, respectively). This study also examined four interpolation-based methods along with the RF, SVM and k-NN machine learning techniques for generating WTEMs. The RF models achieved the best results for the dry season (RMSE = 0.06 m) and the wet season (RMSE = 0.07 m) WTEMs. Previous research in Water Depth Model (WDM) generation in the Everglades focused on a conventional-based approach where a DEM is subtracted from a WTEM. This study extends the conventional-based WDM approach to a rigorous-based WDM technique where Monte Carlo simulation is used to propagate probability distributions through the proposed SLR depth model using uncertainties in the RF-based LiDAR DEM and WTEMs, vertical datums and transformations, regional SLR and soil accretion rates. It is concluded that a more rigorous-based WDM technique increases the integrity of derived products used to support and guide coastal restoration managers and planners concerned with habitat change under the challenge of SLR. Future research will be dedicated to the extension of this technique to model both increased water depths and saltwater intrusion due to SLR (saltwater inundation).
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Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005991
Subject Headings: Everglades (Fla.), Sea level rise, Coastal ecology--Florida, Everglades (Fla)--Environmental conditions, Impact assessment
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Modeling Study on The Effects of Seagrass Beds on the Hydrodynamics in the Indian River Lagoon.
Creator: Habib, MD Ahsan, Jiang, Mingshun, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: Seagrass is a key stone component for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) ecosystem, and therefore it is an important topic for many studies in the lagoon. This study focuses on the effects of seagrass beds on the hydrodynamics in the IRL. A hydrodynamic model based on the Delft3D modeling system has been developed for the southern IRL including the St. Lucie estuary, Ft. Pierce and St. Lucie Inlets, and adjacent coastal waters. The model is driven by freshwater inputs from the watershed, tides,...
Show moreSeagrass is a key stone component for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) ecosystem, and therefore it is an important topic for many studies in the lagoon. This study focuses on the effects of seagrass beds on the hydrodynamics in the IRL. A hydrodynamic model based on the Delft3D modeling system has been developed for the southern IRL including the St. Lucie estuary, Ft. Pierce and St. Lucie Inlets, and adjacent coastal waters. The model is driven by freshwater inputs from the watershed, tides, meteorological forcing, and oceanic boundary forcing. The model has been systematically calibrated through a series of numerical experiments for key parameters, particularly the bottom roughness, and configuration including heat flux formulation and bottom bathymetry. The model skills were evaluated with quantitative metrics (point-to-point correlation, root-mean-square difference, and mean bias) to gauge the agreements between model and data for key variables including temperature, salinity, and currents. A three-year (2013-2015) simulation has been performed, and the results have been validated with available data including observations at HBOI Land-Ocean Biogeochemistry Observatory (LOBO) stations and in situ measurements from various sources. The validated model is then used to investigate the effects of 1) model vertical resolution (total number of model vertical layers), 2) spatial variability of surface winds, and 3) seagrass beds on the simulated hydrodynamics. The study focuses on the vicinity of Ft. Pierce Inlet, where significant seagrass coverage can be found. A series of numerical experiments were performed with a combination of different configurations. Overall, the experiment with 2-dimensional (2-D) winds, ten vertical layers and incorporating seagrass provided the most satisfactory outcomes. Overall, both vertical resolution and spatial variability of surface winds affect significantly the model results. In particular, increasing vertical resolution improves model prediction of temperature, salinity and currents. Similarly, the model with 2-D winds yields more realistic results than the model forced by 0-D winds. The seagrass beds have significant effects on the model results, particularly the tidal and sub-tidal currents. In general, model results show that both tidal and sub-tidal currents are much weaker due to increase bottom friction from seagrass. For tidal currents, the strongest impacts lie in the main channel (inter-coastal waterway) and western part of the lagoon, where strong tidal currents can be found. Inclusion of seagrass in the model also improves the simulation of sub-tidal currents. Seagrass beds also affect model temperature and salinity including strengthening vertical stratification. In general, seagrass effects vary over time, particularly tidal cycle with stronger effects seen in flood and ebb tides, and seasonal cycle with stronger effects in the summer than in winter.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004774, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004774
Subject Headings: Turtle grass--Environmental aspects., Seagrasses--Ecology., Grassed waterways., Wave resistance (Hydrodynamics), Wetland ecology., Estuarine ecology., Estuarine restoration., Coastal zone management.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Seagrass and Water Column Fractions in Florida Bay.
Creator: Kletou, Demetris, Koch, Marguerite, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Few phosphorus (P) depleted coastal marine ecosystems have been examined for their capacity to hydrolyze phosphomonoesters (PMEs). The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal APA partitioning between water column fractions (phytoplankton, bacteria and freely dissolved) and benthic autotrophs in Florida Bay, a P limited shallow estuary using low fluorescent substrate (MUF-P) concentrations (≤2.0 μm). APA was higher at the western and northcentral (751 and 695 nmol L^-1 h^-1) sites and...
Show moreFew phosphorus (P) depleted coastal marine ecosystems have been examined for their capacity to hydrolyze phosphomonoesters (PMEs). The purpose of this study was to examine seasonal APA partitioning between water column fractions (phytoplankton, bacteria and freely dissolved) and benthic autotrophs in Florida Bay, a P limited shallow estuary using low fluorescent substrate (MUF-P) concentrations (≤2.0 μm). APA was higher at the western and northcentral (751 and 695 nmol L^-1 h^-1) sites and driven by cyanobacterial blooms, compared to the P limited northeastern (359 nmol L^-1 h^-1) site The free dissolved fraction (<0.2 μm) accounted for the most APA (~50%), followed by the phytoplankton (>1 μm; 30%) and bacteria fraction (<0.2-> 1.2 μm; 8%). Thaiassia testudinum leaves with their associated epiphytes contributed modestly to water column APA (14 and 20%), and only during non-bloom conditions. Rapid hydrolysis of PMEs (undetected in most samplings) in Florida Bay is probably driven by high concentration of organic substrates for microbial and cyanobacterial activity which results from the close association of the shallow water column with the underlying seagrass community and adjacent Everglades wetlands.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000780
Subject Headings: Coastal ecology--Florida, Coastal zone management--Florida, Estuarine sediments--Florida--Florida Bay, Aquaculture--Environmental aspects--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Fish, macrocrustacean and avian population dynamics and cohabitation in tidally influenced impounded subtropical wetlands.
Creator: Gilmore, R. G., Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Date Issued: 1986
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3183731
Subject Headings: Symposium on Waterfowl and Wetlands Management in the Coastal Zone of the Atlantic Flyway (1986 : Wilmington, Del.), Wetland management, Salt marsh ecology--Florida, Mangrove ecology--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mangrove Morphological Change Across an Environmental Gradients: Implications for Competitive Ability in a Changing Climate.
Creator: Standish, Hilary, Proffitt, C. Edward, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: In Florida, mangroves have responded to climate change by slowly migrating northward into traditional salt marsh habitat. However, little is understood about the relationships among mangrove growth form plasticity and environmental conditions. In addition, the effects of the mangrove northward expansion on pre-existing salt marsh communities are unknown, especially any influences of differences in tree morphology. The size, canopy structure, and root structure of the three mangrove species...
Show moreIn Florida, mangroves have responded to climate change by slowly migrating northward into traditional salt marsh habitat. However, little is understood about the relationships among mangrove growth form plasticity and environmental conditions. In addition, the effects of the mangrove northward expansion on pre-existing salt marsh communities are unknown, especially any influences of differences in tree morphology. The size, canopy structure, and root structure of the three mangrove species Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia germinans, and Laguncularia racemosa were measured at six sites along the east coast of Florida. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the multivariate relationships between environmental and biotic variables. Mangrove growth form varied widely with environmental variables. The results of this study suggest that R. mangle expansion into salt marsh may rely on interactions with salt marsh and shading as well as on climatic variables, which has implications for future mangrove expansion northward in Florida.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004759, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004759
Subject Headings: Mangrove forests--Florida., Mangrove management., Mangrove ecology., Mangrove conservation., Marine ecosystem management--Florida., Coastal zone management--Florida., Forest ecology., Climatic changes--Florida.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Distribution and Diversity of Benthic Foraminifera Within the Nearshore Ridge Complex off Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida.
Creator: Hanley, Caitlin, Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Benthic foraminifera are exceptional organisms with distinctive features that allow for interpretation of both past and present environmental conditions. Some benthic foraminifera are widely distributed while some are restricted to specific environments due to their way of life. Foraminiferal assemblages south of Biscayne Bay and north of Cape Canaveral have previously been investigated; however, a gap exists in data covering a transitional zone along the Florida coast between the tropical...
Show moreBenthic foraminifera are exceptional organisms with distinctive features that allow for interpretation of both past and present environmental conditions. Some benthic foraminifera are widely distributed while some are restricted to specific environments due to their way of life. Foraminiferal assemblages south of Biscayne Bay and north of Cape Canaveral have previously been investigated; however, a gap exists in data covering a transitional zone along the Florida coast between the tropical waters of the western Atlantic and the cooler coastal waters along the North American coast. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline data on the benthic foraminifera of the small marine environment off of Pompano Beach that falls within this zone. This environment has a very particular relict reef system that includes a near-shore ridge complex, the unique foraminiferal assemblage of which has not been documented. Thirteen rubble samples were collected from this near shore ridge complex between October 2013 and April 2015 from depths of 2.5m – 9m. Abundances and diversity indices were calculated, and multivariate analysis and SHEBI analysis carried out to summarize baseline data for the area. Substrate types and seasonal collections were compared with foraminiferal abundances to determine if benthic foraminifera diversity varied between the four substrate types found on the near-shore ridge and between wet and dry seasons in Florida. Results revealed a variation in abundances for both substrates and seasons with the dominant genera being Quinqueloculina, Laevipeneroplis, and Archaias. Multivariate analysis displayed dissimilarities between substrates colonized by corals and those that were uncolonized. Comparison of studies from surrounding areas revealed fewer, however similar, species and different dominant genera. Overall, this area has proven to be a different environment compared to surrounding coastal areas and merits further investigation.
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Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004601
Subject Headings: Pompano Beach (Fla.)--Environmental aspects., Foraminifera--Ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach., Paleoecology--Florida--Pompano Beach., Coastal zone ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach., Coral reef ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Perceived risk versus actual risk to sea-level rise: a case study in Broward County, Florida.
Creator: Bolter, Keren P., Hindle, Tobin, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Global climate change stressors downscale to specific local vulnerabilities, requiring customized adaptation strategies. Southeast Florida has a high likelihood of sealevel rise impact to due to the low-lying porous limestone geology. High risk is coupled with high exposure due to high-valued coastal properties, productive ecosystems, and dense populations. Coastal populations are particularly at risk due to erosion, inundation and storm surge, but interior populations are also susceptible to...
Show moreGlobal climate change stressors downscale to specific local vulnerabilities, requiring customized adaptation strategies. Southeast Florida has a high likelihood of sealevel rise impact to due to the low-lying porous limestone geology. High risk is coupled with high exposure due to high-valued coastal properties, productive ecosystems, and dense populations. Coastal populations are particularly at risk due to erosion, inundation and storm surge, but interior populations are also susceptible to rising water tables and extended periods of inundation. All of these impacts are amplified by sea-level rise. Robust sea-level rise adaptation options require significant economic costs. If perceived risk does not adequately line up with actual risk, lack of funds and preparation will prevent implementation of the most effective strategies.
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Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004268, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004268
Subject Headings: Climatic changes -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies, Coastal ecology -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies, Coastal zone management -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies, Hazardous geographic environments -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies, Sea level -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Mechanisms Controlling Distribution of Cosmopolitan Submerged Aquatic Vegetation: A Model Study of Ruppia maritima L. (widgeongrass) at the Everglades-Florida Bay Ecotone.
Creator: Strazisar, Theresa, Koch, Marguerite, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
Abstract/Description: Aquatic plants and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are some of the most wide-ranging species and create important habitat for fish and wildlife in many ecosystems, including highly variable coastal ecotones. Mechanistically understanding factors controlling current distributions of these species is critical to project future distribution and abundance under increasing variability and climate change. I used a population-based approach to quantify the effects of spatial and temporal...
Show moreAquatic plants and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) are some of the most wide-ranging species and create important habitat for fish and wildlife in many ecosystems, including highly variable coastal ecotones. Mechanistically understanding factors controlling current distributions of these species is critical to project future distribution and abundance under increasing variability and climate change. I used a population-based approach to quantify the effects of spatial and temporal variability on life history transitions of the SAV Ruppia maritima L. (widgeongrass) in the highly dynamic Everglades-Florida Bay ecotone as a model to (1) examine which life history stages were most constrained by these conditions and (2) determine how management can promote life history development to enhance its distribution, an Everglades restoration target. Ruppia maritima life history transitions were quantified in a series of laboratory and field experiments encompassing a ra nge of abiotic and biotic factors known to affect seagrass and SAV (salinity, salinity variability, temperature, light and nutrients and seed bank recruitment and competition). These studies revealed that R. maritima life history varied east to west across the Everglades ecotone, driven by multiple gradients in abiotic factors that constrained different life history transitions in distinct ways. Based on this examination, persistence of SAV populations from dynamic coastal environments is highly dependent on large reproductive events that produce high propagule densities for recruitment. Large productive meadows of SAV also depend on high rates of clonal reproduction where vegetation completely regenerates in a short amount of time. Therefore, in hydrologically variable systems, maintenance or increases in SAV reproduction is required for population persistence through recruitment. However, SAV communities that do not experience high rates of sexual reproduction are dependent on successful seed germination, seedling and adult survival and clonal reproduction for biomass production and maintenance. Seedling survival and to a lesser extent, adult survival, are bottlenecks that can limit life history transitions under highly variable hydrological conditions. To ensure long-term survival in these communities, management activities that increase survival and successful life history development through these critical stages will be beneficial. If not, SAV populations may become highly reduced and ephemeral, providing less productive habitat.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004549, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004549
Subject Headings: Coastal zone management, Ruppia maritima -- Ecology -- Everglades National Park (Fla.), Ruppia maritima -- Ecology -- Florida Bay (Fla.), Seagrasses -- Everglades National Park (Fla.), Seagrasses -- Florida Bay (Fla.), Wetland ecology -- Everglades National Park (Fla.), Wetland ecology -- Florida Bay (Fla.)
Format: Document (PDF)

FAU Theses and Dissertations (14)	+ -
HBOI Faculty Contributions (5)	+ -

Coastal ecology (8)	+ -
Coastal ecology--Florida (3)	+ -
Coastal zone management (3)	+ -
Everglades (Fla.) (2)	+ -
Salt marsh ecology (2)	+ -

Algae --Biotechnology (1)	+ -
Algae --Growth (1)	+ -
Allelopathy (1)	+ -
Aquaculture--Environmental aspects--Florida (1)	+ -
Bays (1)	+ -
Beaches (1)	+ -
Benthos (1)	+ -
Climatic changes -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies (1)	+ -
Climatic changes--Florida. (1)	+ -
Coastal ecology -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies (1)	+ -
Coastal ecology --Florida (1)	+ -
Coastal zone ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach. (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management -- Florida -- Broward County -- Case studies (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Florida (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Florida. (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands. (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management. (1)	+ -
Coral reef ecology (1)	+ -
Coral reef ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach. (1)	+ -
Coral reef ecology--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands. (1)	+ -
Coral reefs and islands (1)	+ -
Ecophysiology (1)	+ -
Egretta (1)	+ -
Estuarine ecology. (1)	+ -
Estuarine restoration. (1)	+ -

Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (14)	+ -
article (5)	+ -

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (12)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (12)	+ -
Department of Biological Sciences (5)	+ -
Department of Geosciences (5)	+ -
Barile, Peter J. (2)	+ -

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