View All Items

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.
Show less
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: Deep-Water Biogenic Sediment off the Coast of Florida.
Creator: Zuccarelli, Claudio L., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: Biogenic “oozes” are pelagic sediments that are composed of > 30% carbonate microfossils and are estimated to cover about 50% of the ocean floor, which accounts for about 67% of calcium carbonate in oceanic surface sediments worldwide. These deposits exhibit diverse assemblages of planktonic microfossils and contribute significantly to the overall sediment supply and function of Florida’s deep-water regions. However, the composition and distribution of biogenic sediment deposits along these...
Show moreBiogenic “oozes” are pelagic sediments that are composed of > 30% carbonate microfossils and are estimated to cover about 50% of the ocean floor, which accounts for about 67% of calcium carbonate in oceanic surface sediments worldwide. These deposits exhibit diverse assemblages of planktonic microfossils and contribute significantly to the overall sediment supply and function of Florida’s deep-water regions. However, the composition and distribution of biogenic sediment deposits along these regions remains poorly documented. Seafloor surface sediments have been collected in situ via Johnson- Sea-Link I submersible along four of Florida’s deep-water regions during a joint research cruise between Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Sedimentological analyses of the taxonomy, species diversity, and sedimentation dynamics reveal a complex interconnected development system of Florida’s deep-water habitats. Results disclose characteristic microfossil assemblages of planktonic foraminiferal ooze off the South West Florida Shelf, a foraminiferal-pteropod ooze through the Straits of Florida, and pteropod ooze deposits off Florida’s east coast. The distribution of the biogenic ooze deposits is attributed to factors such as oceanographic surface production, surface and bottom currents, off-bank transport, and deep-water sediment drifts. The application of micropaleontology, sedimentology, and oceanography facilitate in characterizing the sediment supply to Florida’s deep-water regions.
Show less
Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004857
Subject Headings: Marine sediments., Sediment transport., Deep-sea ecology., Ecosystem management., Micropaleontology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Sequence stratigraphy of the arcadia formation, Southeast Florida: an integrated approach.
Creator: Wright, Caroline Marie, Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
Abstract/Description: The Arcadia Formation is a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic rock unit that existed as a shallow carbonate ramp to platform environment during the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene Epoch. It can be divided into two distinct, informal sections based on lithological properties: the upper Arcadia Formation and lower Arcadia Formation. The sections are part of a major, third-order sequence that can be further divided into four higher-frequency, lower magnitude sequences: ARS1, ARS2, ARS3, and ARS4. The...
Show moreThe Arcadia Formation is a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic rock unit that existed as a shallow carbonate ramp to platform environment during the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene Epoch. It can be divided into two distinct, informal sections based on lithological properties: the upper Arcadia Formation and lower Arcadia Formation. The sections are part of a major, third-order sequence that can be further divided into four higher-frequency, lower magnitude sequences: ARS1, ARS2, ARS3, and ARS4. The sequence boundary separating ARS2 and ARS3 represents a drastic change in the depositional regime from a high-energy, inner ramp/platform to a lower-energy, deep outer ramp environment. ARS3 represents the period of maximum flooding and constitutes a major portion of the regressive system tract (RST) of the third order depositional sequence. In certain sections, the Arcadia Formation is heavily bioturbated including ichnotaxa from the glossifungites, cruziana, and scolithos inchofacies. Thalassinoides sp. burrows of the glossifungites ichnofacies were found to be commonly associated with firmground substrates and breaks in sedimentation. The lithofacies associations were grouped into paleodepositional environments that ranged from restricted marine to deep outer ramp with lithology ranging from grainstone to wackestone to mudstone with variable amounts of siliciclastic and phosphatic constituents. Each sequence boundary extends regionally south from Broward County to southern Miami-Dade County utilizing gamma-ray geophysical signatures unique to each sequence.
Show less
Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004239
Subject Headings: Geology, Stratigraphic, Sedimentation and deposition -- Florida -- Arcadia Formation, Sequence stratigraphy
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DETERMINATION OF BACKGROUND GROUNDWATER LEVEL TRENDS AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE SURFICIAL, INTERMEDIATE, AND FLORIDAN AQUIFER SYSTEMS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA.
Creator: Geddes, Elizabeth Tara, Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Groundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells...
Show moreGroundwater is a valuable resource essential for residential, agricultural, commercial, and environmental water supply needs in Florida. Understanding drivers of groundwater level trends and time series forecasting in vulnerable areas provides water managers with timely information for effective resource protection. This study evaluates groundwater level trends in the surficial, intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems in Central and South Florida at 106 unconfined and confined aquifer wells using 15 to 27 years of data through 2019. Wells were clustered into relatively homogenous groups based on spatial characteristics using the k mean clustering method. Land surface and top of aquifer elevations as well as groundwater level ranges were key factors. Distance to the coast was also important for surficial aquifer clustering, while proximity to water supply wells influenced Mid-Hawthorn aquifer (MHA) results. Principal component analyses (PCAs) were performed using rainfall, temperature, actual evapotranspiration, El Niño Southern Oscillation, and population data and regressed against average monthly groundwater levels for each cluster. This study is the first of its kind PCA using variables impacting groundwater levels in South Florida. Sandstone aquifer PCAs correlated well with groundwater levels. When compared with multiple linear regression, PCA results had similar correlation. However, the drivers of groundwater level trends identified by each method for the MHA and Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) differed. Seasonal Kendall trend tests indicated 12 surficial aquifer wells had trends related to changes in land use and decreased usage. MHA trends were related to exploitation or a shift in water source usage. A regional increasing trend exists in the UFA in South Florida.
Show less
Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014060
Subject Headings: Aquifers--Florida, Groundwater--Florida
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: EXPANDED CORAL-REEF DEVELOPMENT OFF SOUTHEAST FLORIDA DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE.
Creator: Modys, Alexander B., Oleinik, Anton E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Coral reefs around the globe have undergone widespread degradation due to a myriad of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Climate warming, in particular, has emerged as an especially pressing threat, reshaping not only the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems worldwide, but also undermining the vital ecosystem services they provide. Yet amidst this decline, there is growing evidence that many coral species are expanding their ranges poleward into historically cooler subtropical and...
Show moreCoral reefs around the globe have undergone widespread degradation due to a myriad of natural and anthropogenic stressors. Climate warming, in particular, has emerged as an especially pressing threat, reshaping not only the biodiversity of coral-reef ecosystems worldwide, but also undermining the vital ecosystem services they provide. Yet amidst this decline, there is growing evidence that many coral species are expanding their ranges poleward into historically cooler subtropical and temperate marine environments thereby establishing critical refugia in response to climate warming. However, understanding the long-term viability and potential of these emerging refugia under ongoing climate change remains an area of active research, constrained by the temporal limitations of modern ecological studies. In addressing these challenges, this dissertation explores insights from a newly discovered late Holocene record of coral community development off southeast Florida, shedding light on historical coral range expansions, and providing critical context for assessing the future response of reef-building coral communities to continued climate warming. Using a combination of high-precision uranium-thorium dating and detailed paleoecological analysis of well-preserved subfossil coral skeletons, we provide new evidence that diverse coral communities dominated by Acropora spp. expanded to the nearshore hardbottom habitats off northern Broward County during a period of warming in the subtropical western Atlantic between 3500 and 1800 years before present. However, despite this historical precedent of range expansion in response to regional warming, modern comparisons reveal a significant shift towards low diversity coral assemblages dominated by stress-tolerant coral taxa, suggesting that ongoing range expansions may be constrained by new challenges that were absent during the late Holocene. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive conservation strategies informed by historical baselines to navigate the complex dynamics of coral reefs in the face of climate change.
Show less
Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014271
Subject Headings: Coral reefs and islands--Florida, Holocene Epoch, Climate change, Anthropogenic Effects
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: COMBINING TRADITIONAL AND IMAGE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR UNCONSOLIDATED EXPOSED TERRIGENOUS BEACH SAND CHARACTERIZATION.
Creator: Smith, Molly Elizabeth, Zhang, Caiyun, Oleinik, Anton, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Traditional sand analysis is labor and cost-intensive, entailing specialized equipment and operators trained in geological analysis. Even a small step to automate part of the traditional geological methods could substantially improve the speed of such research while removing chances of human error. Digital image analysis techniques and computer vision have been well developed and applied in various fields but rarely explored for sand analysis. This research explores capabilities of remote...
Show moreTraditional sand analysis is labor and cost-intensive, entailing specialized equipment and operators trained in geological analysis. Even a small step to automate part of the traditional geological methods could substantially improve the speed of such research while removing chances of human error. Digital image analysis techniques and computer vision have been well developed and applied in various fields but rarely explored for sand analysis. This research explores capabilities of remote sensing digital image analysis techniques, such as object-based image analysis (OBIA), machine learning, digital image analysis, and photogrammetry to automate or semi-automate the traditional sand analysis procedure. Here presented is a framework combining OBIA and machine learning classification of microscope imagery for use with unconsolidated terrigenous beach sand samples. Five machine learning classifiers (RF, DT, SVM, k-NN, and ANN) are used to model mineral composition from images of ten terrigenous beach sand samples. Digital image analysis and photogrammetric techniques are applied and evaluated for use to characterize sand grain size and grain circularity (given as a digital proxy for traditional grain sphericity). A new segmentation process is also introduced, where pixel-level SLICO superpixel segmentation is followed by spectral difference segmentation and further levels of superpixel segmentation at the object-level. Previous methods of multi-resolution and superpixel segmentation at the object level do not provide the level of detail necessary to yield optimal sand grain-sized segments. In this proposed framework, the DT and RF classifiers provide the best estimations of mineral content of all classifiers tested compared to traditional compositional analysis. Average grain size approximated from photogrammetric procedures is comparable to traditional sieving methods, having an RMSE below 0.05%. The framework proposed here reduces the number of trained personnel needed to perform sand-related research. It requires minimal sand sample preparation and minimizes user-error that is typically introduced during traditional sand analysis.
Show less
Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013517
Subject Headings: Sand, Image analysis, Remote sensing, Photogrammetry--Digital techniques, Machine learning
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: DISTRIBUTION AND VARIATIBILITY OF ARSENIC IN GROUNDWATER AND SEDIMENTS ON A CLOSED GOLF COURSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.
Creator: Temple, Ryan J., Oleinik, Anton, Root, Tara, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The legacy of monosodium methanearsenate (MSMA) application to golf courses is often arsenic concentrations above the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 10 μg/L for drinking water and the FDEP soil cleanup target level of 2.1 mg/kg for residential areas. These concentrations pose a health risk and must be remediated for residential development. The objective of this study was to determine how arsenic concentrations vary spatially at a closed golf course poised for residential development....
Show moreThe legacy of monosodium methanearsenate (MSMA) application to golf courses is often arsenic concentrations above the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of 10 μg/L for drinking water and the FDEP soil cleanup target level of 2.1 mg/kg for residential areas. These concentrations pose a health risk and must be remediated for residential development. The objective of this study was to determine how arsenic concentrations vary spatially at a closed golf course poised for residential development. Groundwater and sediment arsenic concentrations were quantified and the controls on arsenic (As) mobility were characterized. The presence of nitrates and iron-(hydr)oxides at the studied golf course largely influenced putting greens having the least As in groundwater whereas roughs contained the most.
Show less
Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013706
Subject Headings: Arsenic, Golf courses, Florida, South
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: FAU Climate Change Initiative Priority Theme: Research, Engineering, and Adaption to a Change Climate.
Creator: Berry, Leonard, Koch, Marguerite, Center for Environmental Studies, Benscoter, Brian, Comas, Xavier, Devlin, Donna, Fadiman, Maria, Gerstein, E., Herzing, Denise L., Hindle, Tobin, Milton, Sarah L., Oleinik, Anton E., Proffitt, C. Edward, Restrepo, Jorge I., Root, Tara L., Wyneken, Jeanette, Xie, Zhixiao, Zhang, Xing-Hai, Esnard, Ann-Margaret, Mitsova, Diana, Murley, J., Vos, J., Escaleras, Monica, Mehallis, M., Shaw, Eric H., Hardman, Guillermo [John], Lambert, Julie, Thomas, G., Arockiasamy, Madasamy, Bloetscher, Frederick, Carvalho, G., Dhanak, Manhar R., Frisk, George V., Kaisar, Evangelos I., Kalva, Hari, Meeroff, Daniel E., Rodriguez, Jarice, Scarlatos, Panagiotis (Pete) D., Shankar, Ravi, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, Brown, Clifford T., McAfee, Francis, Widener, Patricia, Dalgleish, Fraser R., Hanisak, M. Dennis, McMulloch, S., O'Corry-Crowe, Gregory, Pomponi, Shirley A., Reed, John K., Scarpa, John, Voss, Joshua, Heimlich, Barry N., Alvarez, R., Jolley, J., Edwards, A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, College of Business, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003457
Format: Citation

FAU Theses and Dissertations (18)	+ -
FAU College Collections (7)	+ -
FAU Graduate Student Research (3)	+ -

Biogeography--North Pacific Ocean (3)	+ -
Geology, Stratigraphic (3)	+ -
Geology, Stratigraphic--Oligocene (2)	+ -
Geology--North Pacific Ocean (2)	+ -
Mollusks--Geographical distribution (2)	+ -

Acropora palmata (1)	+ -
Anthropogenic Effects (1)	+ -
Aquifers--Florida (1)	+ -
Arsenic (1)	+ -
Astartidae (1)	+ -
Beach erosion. (1)	+ -
Beaufort Sea--Environmental conditions (1)	+ -
Biogeography (1)	+ -
Bivalves (1)	+ -
Bivalves -- Alaska -- Camden Bay -- Geographical distribution (1)	+ -
Climate change (1)	+ -
Climatic changes (1)	+ -
Climatic changes--North Pacific Ocean (1)	+ -
Coast changes--Analysis. (1)	+ -
Coastal zone ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach. (1)	+ -
Coastal zone management--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands. (1)	+ -
Coral colonies (1)	+ -
Coral reef ecology--Florida--Pompano Beach. (1)	+ -
Coral reef ecology--Indonesia--Mentawai Islands. (1)	+ -
Coral reefs and islands--Florida (1)	+ -
Corals (1)	+ -
Deep-sea ecology. (1)	+ -
Deep-sea temperature--Mathematical models (1)	+ -
Diamondback terrapin--Ecology--United States (1)	+ -
Diatoms, Fossil--North Pacific Region (1)	+ -

Electronic Thesis or Dissertation (18)	+ -
article (6)	+ -
abstract (2)	+ -
poster (1)	+ -
report (1)	+ -

Oleinik, Anton E. (23)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (17)	+ -
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science (15)	+ -
Department of Geosciences (14)	+ -
Oleinik, Anton (5)	+ -

Search In

Pages

Pages

Sort Results By:

Narrow results by:

Collection

Topical Subject

Geographic Subject

Genre

Type of Resource

Language

Creator

Format

Owner