Current Search: Ecology (x)
Pages
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Title
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Land-based nutrient enrichment of the Buccoo Reef Complex and fringing coral reefs of Tobago, West Indies.
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Creator
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Lapointe, Brian E., Langton, Richard, Bedford, Bradley J., Potts, Arthur C., Day, Owen, Hu, Chuanmin
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Date Issued
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2010-03
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/1429256
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Subject Headings
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Coral reef ecology --West Indies, Coral reef ecology --Research, Eutrophication, Marine pollution
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Impacts of bottom trawling on a deep-water Oculina coral ecosystem off Florida.
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Creator
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Reed, John K., Koenig, Christopher C., Shepard, Andrew N.
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Date Issued
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2007
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/3172092
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Subject Headings
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Coral reef ecology, Coral reef ecology --Florida, Trawls and trawling --Environmental aspects, Fishing, Oceanographic submersibles
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Ecology and nutrition of invasive Caulerpa brachypus f. parvifolia blooms on coral reefs off southeast Florida, U.S.A.
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Creator
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Lapointe, Brian E., Bedford, Bradley J.
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Date Issued
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2010-01
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/1925499
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Subject Headings
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Coral reef ecology --Florida --Florida Keys, Coral reef ecology, Coral reef biology, Algal blooms, Algae Toxicology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Allelopathy at the land/sea interface: microalgae and Brazilian pepper.
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Creator
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Hargraves, Paul E.
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Date Issued
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2008
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FCLA/DT/1925502
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Subject Headings
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Algae --Biotechnology, Coastal ecology --Florida, Allelopathy, Plant invasions --Florida, Mangrove ecology --Florida, Algae --Growth
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Diatoms as a food source for Sorites dominicensis.
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Creator
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Gaston, Tiffany., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
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Abstract/Description
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Sorites dominicensis is a common Foraminifera living on Thalassia testudinum seagrass blades in the Indian River Lagoon. This locality is unique because epiphytic diatoms, characteristic of Caribbean and temperate environments, are expected to make up the biofilm community. Diatoms compose a large part of the Foraminiferan diet. It is important to understand the cause and effect relationship of population variation between S. dominicensis and its preferred food source, since both are valuable...
Show moreSorites dominicensis is a common Foraminifera living on Thalassia testudinum seagrass blades in the Indian River Lagoon. This locality is unique because epiphytic diatoms, characteristic of Caribbean and temperate environments, are expected to make up the biofilm community. Diatoms compose a large part of the Foraminiferan diet. It is important to understand the cause and effect relationship of population variation between S. dominicensis and its preferred food source, since both are valuable bioindicators. We examined the selective feeding of S. dominicensis by first, identifying the diatom assemblage. Second, we utilized scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to identifying the remains of diatoms entrapped in pseudopodial nets and in debris piles. We found that Mastogloia and Cocconeis were the most prominent genera in the overall diatom assemblage. The food preference of S. dominicensis included Amphora, Berkeleya rutilans,Cocconeis, Licmophora dalmatica, Mastogloia, Odontella rhombus, Plagiogramma pulchellum var. pygmaeum, and Skeletonema.
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Date Issued
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2008
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77667
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Subject Headings
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Diatoms, Identification, Wetland ecology, Stream ecology, Methodology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Declining coral health and fish diversity in the South Pacific.
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Creator
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McCurdy, Paul., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
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Abstract/Description
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Coral reefs harbor ~1-9 million species, including 30% of all marine fish species. Reef health worldwide is declining due to many factors: e.g. pollution, sedimentation, dynamite fishing, and global warming. Working with the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and the crew aboard the R/V Heraclitus, I examined coral health and fish diversity in the Solomon Islands, Melanesia. In 2006, I surveyed coral and fish on Sagharughombe reef, Solomon Islands using SCUBA and compared the results with...
Show moreCoral reefs harbor ~1-9 million species, including 30% of all marine fish species. Reef health worldwide is declining due to many factors: e.g. pollution, sedimentation, dynamite fishing, and global warming. Working with the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation and the crew aboard the R/V Heraclitus, I examined coral health and fish diversity in the Solomon Islands, Melanesia. In 2006, I surveyed coral and fish on Sagharughombe reef, Solomon Islands using SCUBA and compared the results with surveys done in 2000 and 2002. Coral surveys indicated a significant decline in health over the six-year period. Fish surveys found no clear trend in species abundances and species richness, but a significant decline in species diversity over the years. The decline in coral health we observed may have contributed to diminished fish diversity. To protect marine biodiversity, coral reefs must be better protected and declines in coral health must be halted.
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Date Issued
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2007
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/11615
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Subject Headings
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Coral reef ecology, Fishes, Ecology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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A Novel Interaction: The thin stripe hermit Crab, Clibanarius vittatus, kills the Florida crown conch, Melongena corona, for its shell.
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Creator
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Cutter, Jennifer, Devlin, Donna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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The hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be...
Show moreThe hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be classified as competition because there is no opportunity for Melongena to gain from the interaction. Therefore the term “lethal eviction” is hereby proposed for this interaction. The ability to kill a gastropod to obtain a superior shell gives Clibanarius vittatus an evolutionary advantage over other hermit crab species. It is not known if the outcome of this interaction is widespread where both species occur or if it is confined to the study area.
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Date Issued
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2017
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004925
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Subject Headings
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Crabs--Behavior., Crab culture., Predation (Biology), Adaptation (Physiology), Aquatic ecology., Intertidal ecology., Conservation biology.
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Characterization of Elasmobranch Community Dynamics in the Indian River Lagoon.
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Creator
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Roskar, Amelia Grace, Ajemian, Matthew, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Depament of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has experienced myriad anthropogenic impacts and knowledge on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) in the southern IRL is lacking. A fishery independent survey (longline/gillnet) was implemented to 1) assess the effects of bait type [striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) versus Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)] and mesh size (15.2 cm versus 20.3 cm stretch mesh) on elasmobranch species composition, catch-per-unit effort, and size distributions and 2) characterize...
Show moreFlorida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has experienced myriad anthropogenic impacts and knowledge on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) in the southern IRL is lacking. A fishery independent survey (longline/gillnet) was implemented to 1) assess the effects of bait type [striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) versus Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus)] and mesh size (15.2 cm versus 20.3 cm stretch mesh) on elasmobranch species composition, catch-per-unit effort, and size distributions and 2) characterize elasmobranch abundance and distribution. From 2016 - 2018, 630 individuals (16 species) were captured, more often in the gillnet than the longline. Catch-per-unit-effort was significantly higher with mullet than mackerel. Species composition differed among gears. Although dependent on gear, there was evidence of seasonal and spatial patterns in abundance and species composition. This study provides the first baseline abundance indices for many elasmobranchs in the IRL and develops the capacity to understand how elasmobranchs may respond to changes in this highly modified estuary.
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Date Issued
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2019
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013256
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Subject Headings
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Indian River (Fla : Lagoon)--Environmental conditions, Elasmobranchs, Sharks--Ecology, Rays (Fishes)--Ecology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Consumptive effects of predatory fish reduce wetland crayfish (Procambarus spp.) recruitment and drive species turnover.
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Creator
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Kellogg, Christopher M., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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Trade-offs in traits conferring success in permanent and ephemeral habitats are often at odds with few species being able to persist in both types of environments. I examined the effect of sunfish predators on two species of south Florida crayfish to establish the mechanism that limits one species, Procambarus alleni, to short-hydroperiod environments. The crayfish assemblage response to a gradient of sunfish predators and the effect of predation on P. fallax alone was examined. I also...
Show moreTrade-offs in traits conferring success in permanent and ephemeral habitats are often at odds with few species being able to persist in both types of environments. I examined the effect of sunfish predators on two species of south Florida crayfish to establish the mechanism that limits one species, Procambarus alleni, to short-hydroperiod environments. The crayfish assemblage response to a gradient of sunfish predators and the effect of predation on P. fallax alone was examined. I also examined the effects of sunfish on crayfish growth and quantified activity levels and risky behaviors of both crayfish species. P. alleni dominated at low sunfish densities but dominance shifted with increasing sunfish density. P. alleni was more active and likely to initiate risky behaviors, suggesting that sunfish predators remove the more active P. alleni, reducing their numbers disproportionally to those of P. fallax and allowing P. fallax to dominate crayfish assemblages in long-hydroperiod wetlands.
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Date Issued
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2011
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3171400
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Subject Headings
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Wetland ecology, Habitat selection, Marine ecosystem management, Predatory marine animals, Ecology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Diet variation and the consumptive effects of native centrarchids on benthic macroinvertebrates in wetlands.
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Creator
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Bransky, Jacob., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
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Abstract/Description
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Fish predation can have structuring effects in aquatic communities, but the most important fish predators are not always immediately obvious. Generalist fish predators often occupy similar habitats and consume similar prey making determination of their consumptive impacts difficult. Understanding these consumptive impacts is important for understanding complex wetland food webs. I collected warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), and dollar sunfish (Lepomis...
Show moreFish predation can have structuring effects in aquatic communities, but the most important fish predators are not always immediately obvious. Generalist fish predators often occupy similar habitats and consume similar prey making determination of their consumptive impacts difficult. Understanding these consumptive impacts is important for understanding complex wetland food webs. I collected warmouth (Lepomis gulosus), bluespotted sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus), and dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) in two seasons from sloughs for both diet and bioenergetics analysis. Macroinvertebrates dominated diets of the three species, and nonparametric analyses revealed evidence of diet ontogeny in warmouth and potential competition for prey items among gape-matched individuals. Bioenergetics modeling revealed high levels of macroinvertebrate comsumption by these species relative to macroinvertebrate reproductive output suggesting that when combined with other sources of mortality, consumptive pressures placed by sunfish on benthic macroinvertebrates may be quite large.
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Date Issued
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2012
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3356894
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Subject Headings
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Wetland ecology, Predatory marine animals, Ecology, Predation (Biology), Habitat selction, Marine ecosystem management
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Examining the relationship between urban green space and sustainable cities.
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Creator
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Bloise, Gillian., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
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Abstract/Description
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Urban green space plays a vital role in the stability of the environment. Green spaces are increasingly becoming an integral part of the efforts to promote sustainability because of the different areas of benefits they provide. Sustainable city ranking systems were used to identify the most sustainable urban extents within the US. Landsat TM 4-5 imagery and textural classification are used as techniques in identifying, classifying and analyzing urban green spaces within nineteen urban extents...
Show moreUrban green space plays a vital role in the stability of the environment. Green spaces are increasingly becoming an integral part of the efforts to promote sustainability because of the different areas of benefits they provide. Sustainable city ranking systems were used to identify the most sustainable urban extents within the US. Landsat TM 4-5 imagery and textural classification are used as techniques in identifying, classifying and analyzing urban green spaces within nineteen urban extents. Patch analyst was used to analyze the location, structure and fragmentation green spaces within each urban extent. The aim is to determine to what degree urban green spaces can be considered to be an integral part of the sustainability of sustainable urban extents across the US and ascertain whether or not more sustainable urban extents do have more urban green spaces. The results of the study have shown that urban extents that are ranked highly v on sustainable ranking systems do not necessarily have to have large proportion of green spaces. Results have also shown that urban extents that are ranked high on sustainable rankings will not necessarily be affected by increase in population or decrease in urban green space. Finally human modified green spaces have simple geometric shapes compared to natural unaltered green spaces that have more complex geometric shapes.
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Date Issued
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2013
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3360771
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Subject Headings
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City planning, Environmental aspects, Urbanization, Environmental aspects, Urban ecology (Sociology), Human ecology, Sustainable development, Urban beautification
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Development and application of a new comprehensive image-based classification scheme for coastal and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf.
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Creator
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Makowski, Christopher, Finkl, Charles W., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
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Abstract/Description
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The coastal (terrestrial) and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf show a unique biophysical succession of marine features from a highly urbanized, developed coastal region in the north (i.e. northern Miami-Dade County) to a protective marine sanctuary in the southeast (i.e. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary). However, the establishment of a standard bio-geomorphological classification scheme for this area of coastal and benthic environments is lacking. The...
Show moreThe coastal (terrestrial) and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf show a unique biophysical succession of marine features from a highly urbanized, developed coastal region in the north (i.e. northern Miami-Dade County) to a protective marine sanctuary in the southeast (i.e. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary). However, the establishment of a standard bio-geomorphological classification scheme for this area of coastal and benthic environments is lacking. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis and answer the research question of whether new parameters of integrating geomorphological components with dominant biological covers could be developed and applied across multiple remote sensing platforms for an innovative way to identify, interpret, and classify diverse coastal and benthic environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf. An ordered, manageable hierarchical classification scheme was developed to incorporate the categories of Physiographic Realm, Morphodynamic Zone, Geoform, Landform, Dominant Surface Sediment, and Dominant Biological Cover. Six different remote sensing platforms (i.e. five multi-spectral satellite image sensors and one high-resolution aerial orthoimagery) were acquired, delineated according to the new classification scheme, and compared to determine optimal formats for classifying the study area. Cognitive digital classification at a nominal scale of 1:6000 proved to be more accurate than autoclassification programs and therefore used to differentiate coastal marine environments based on spectral reflectance characteristics, such as color, tone, saturation, pattern, and texture of the seafloor topology. In addition, attribute tables were created in conjugation with interpretations to quantify and compare the spatial relationships between classificatory units. IKONOS-2 satellite imagery was determined to be the optimal platform for applying the hierarchical classification scheme. However, each remote sensing platform had beneficial properties depending on research goals, logistical restrictions, and financial support. This study concluded that a new hierarchical comprehensive classification scheme for identifying coastal marine environments along the southeast Florida continental shelf could be achieved by integrating geomorphological features with biological coverages. This newly developed scheme, which can be applied across multiple remote sensing platforms with GIS software, establishes an innovative classification protocol to be used in future research studies.
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Date Issued
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2014
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004135, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004135
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Subject Headings
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Benthos -- Habitat -- Maps, Environmental mapping, Marine ecology -- Florida, Marine ecology -- Florida, Ubiquitous computing
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Ecological correlates of the abundance of juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia Mydas) on nearshore reefs in southeast Florida.
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Creator
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Stadler, Melanie, Salmon, Michael, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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Juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance differs among nearshore reefs, but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. My study had two objectives: to quantify differences in abundance over time (one year) and to determine what ecological factors were correlated with those differences. I conducted quarterly surveys on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties and compared reef sites with respect to (i) water depth, (ii) algal abundance and composition, and (iii) changes in...
Show moreJuvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance differs among nearshore reefs, but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. My study had two objectives: to quantify differences in abundance over time (one year) and to determine what ecological factors were correlated with those differences. I conducted quarterly surveys on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties and compared reef sites with respect to (i) water depth, (ii) algal abundance and composition, and (iii) changes in reef area (caused by sand covering) through time (11 years). Turtles were most abundant on shallow reefs exposed to high light levels that remained stable (uncovered by sand) for long periods of time. These reefs had the highest diversity of algal species, in part because cropping by the turtles prevented any one species from becoming dominant. My results suggest that both physical and biological factors make some reefs more attractive to turtles than others
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Date Issued
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2013
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004064
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Subject Headings
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Conservation biology -- Florida, Ecology -- Statistical methods, Sea turtles -- Ecology -- Florida, Wildlife conservation -- Florida
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Genetic Connectivity and Phenotypic Plasticity of Shallow and Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Creator
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Studivan, Michael, Voss, Joshua, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems worldwide are facing increasing degradation due to disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change, particularly in the Tropical Western Atlantic. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been recently gaining attention through increased characterization as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths (>30 m). As MCEs appear to be sheltered from many stressors affecting shallow reefs, MCEs may act as a coral refuge and provide larvae to nearby shallow reefs. The Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis (DRRH) posits that shallow and mesophotic reefs may be genetically connected and that some coral species are equally compatible in both habitats. The research presented here addresses key questions that underlie this theory and advances our knowledge of coral connectivity and MCE ecology using the depth-generalist coral Montastraea cavernosa. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the DRRH, a description of MCEs in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and the framework of research questions within existing reef management infrastructure in the GOM. Through microsatellite genotyping, Chapter 2 identifies high connectivity among shallow and mesophotic reefs in the northwest GOM and evidence for relative isolation between depth zones in Belize and the southeast GOM. Historical migration and vertical connectivity models estimate Gulf-wide population panmixia. Chapter 3 focuses on population structure within the northwest GOM, identifying a lack of significant population structure. Dominant migration patterns estimate population panmixia, suggesting mesophotic populations currently considered for National Marine Sanctuary protection benefit the Flower Garden Banks. Chapter 4 quantifies the level of morphological variation between shallow and mesophotic M. cavernosa, revealing two distinct morphotypes possibly representing adaptive tradeoffs. Chapter 5 examines the transcriptomic mechanisms behind coral plasticity between depth zones, discovering a consistent response to mesophotic conditions across regions. Additionally, variable plasticity of mesophotic corals resulting from transplantation to shallow depths and potential differences in bleaching resilience between shallow and mesophotic corals are identified. The dissertation concludes with a synthesis of the results as they pertain to connectivity of shallow and mesophotic corals in the Gulf of Mexico and suggests future research that will aid in further understanding of MCE ecology and connectivity.
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Date Issued
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2018
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005961
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Subject Headings
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Coral reef ecology--Mexico, Gulf of, Phenotypic plasticity, Montastraea, Ecological genetics
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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The effect of sea level rise on Juncus Roemerianus in a high nutrient environment.
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Creator
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Abbott, Cara J., Berry, Leonard, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
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Abstract/Description
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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
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2015
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004426
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Subject Headings
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Coastal ecology, Coastal zone management, Jucus roemerianus, Plant ecophysiology, Salt marsh ecology, Sea level
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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The avian community characteristics of constructed treatment wetlands of South Florida.
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Creator
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Beck, Tyler J., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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This study compared the avian communities of treatment wetlands in South Florida called Stormwater Treatment Wetlands (STAs) to those in natural marshes and crop lands, and examined factors that influenced the size and structure of the avian communities within the STAs. The STAs contained a more abundant, rich and distinct avian community compared to reference land types. The STAs were dominated by wintering waterfowl, and therefore community patterns fluctuated more seasonally other land...
Show moreThis study compared the avian communities of treatment wetlands in South Florida called Stormwater Treatment Wetlands (STAs) to those in natural marshes and crop lands, and examined factors that influenced the size and structure of the avian communities within the STAs. The STAs contained a more abundant, rich and distinct avian community compared to reference land types. The STAs were dominated by wintering waterfowl, and therefore community patterns fluctuated more seasonally other land types. Within the STAs, density and richness in the fall and winter were much greater in the submerged aquatic vegetation than in the mixed emergent vegetation when waterfowl were present. The STAs maintain two vegetation treatments which enhanced their biodiversity value by supporting distinct avian communities with different migratory strategies This suggests the increase in treatment wetlands could partially offset the loss of natural wetlands, but avian communities in treatment wetlands are not surrogates for natural wetlands.
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Date Issued
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2013
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362327
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Subject Headings
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Constructed wetlands, Wetland hydrology, Watershed management, Habitat (Ecology), Birds, Ecology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Activity and Habitat Selection by Loggerhead (Caretta caretta L.) and Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas. L.) Hatchlings: A Laboratory and Field Study.
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Creator
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Smith, Morgan M., Salmon, Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
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Abstract/Description
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Loggerhead and green turtle neonates migrate from Florida's coast during a 24-36 h frenzy. Post-frenzy loggerheads are often found in flotsam (Sargassum), while postfrenzy green turtles "disappear." This study compared the frenzy and post-frenzy activity of each species, their response to flotsam (in the laboratory and field), and the role of experience in habitat selection. Both species were most active during day I; activity thereafter declined (especially in loggerheads). Inactive...
Show moreLoggerhead and green turtle neonates migrate from Florida's coast during a 24-36 h frenzy. Post-frenzy loggerheads are often found in flotsam (Sargassum), while postfrenzy green turtles "disappear." This study compared the frenzy and post-frenzy activity of each species, their response to flotsam (in the laboratory and field), and the role of experience in habitat selection. Both species were most active during day I; activity thereafter declined (especially in loggerheads). Inactive loggerheads occupied Sargassum and open water (day or night) whereas inactive green turtles occupied Sargassum by day and both habitats at night. Exposure to Sargassum had no effect on the later habitat choices ofloggerheads, while exposed green turtles preferred Sargassum over plastic plants. In the field, both species preferred flotsam to open water, but occupied distinct microhabitats. Loggerheads preferred the mat surface while green turtles hid within the mat. Differences in activity and habitat selection likely reflect species-specific migratory and anti-predator strategies.
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Date Issued
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2007
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000832
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Subject Headings
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Sea turtles--Ecology--Case studies, Wildlife conservation--Case studies, Habitat partitioning (Ecology), Adaptation (Biology)
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Limitations on macroinvertebrate populations in South Florida weltands.
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Creator
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Knorp, Natalie E., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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It can be difficult to disentangle the factors that determine population success in freshwater systems, particularly for organisms with disturbance-resistant life stages like aquatic invertebrates. Nevertheless, the effects of environmental variation and habitat structure on animal population success in wetlands are important for understanding both trophic interactions and biodiversity. I performed two experiments to determine the factors limiting crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and dragonfly ...
Show moreIt can be difficult to disentangle the factors that determine population success in freshwater systems, particularly for organisms with disturbance-resistant life stages like aquatic invertebrates. Nevertheless, the effects of environmental variation and habitat structure on animal population success in wetlands are important for understanding both trophic interactions and biodiversity. I performed two experiments to determine the factors limiting crayfish (Procambarus fallax) and dragonfly (Family: Libellulidae) populations in wetland environments. A simulation of a dry-disturbance and subsequent sunfish (Family: Centrarchidae) re-colonization revealed that crayfish populations are sensitive to sunfish, while dragonfly naiads seemed to be limited by other drying-related factors. A second manipulation revealed that small-bodied fishes and habitat structure (submerged vegetation) shaped dragonfly communities primarily through postcolonization processes.
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Date Issued
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2013
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362485
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Subject Headings
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Wetland ecology, Wildlife conservation, Freshwater invertebrates, Ecology, Predation (Biology), Marine ecosystem management
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Spatial and trophic ecology of the sawtooth eel, Serrivomer beanii, a biomass-dominant bathypelagic fish over the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
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Creator
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Geidner, Megan E., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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The role of Serrivomer beanii in bathypelagic food webs is poorly known, but abundance and biomass estimates from the 2004 G.O. Sars MAR-ECO Expedition suggest it to have a high level of importance. MAR-ECO, a Census of Marine Life field project, has allowed us to increase our knowledge of S. beanii through spatial analysis, including the congeneric species Serrivomer lanceolatoides, and trophic analysis. Serrivomer beanii abundance and biomass exhibited a decreasing trend along the northern...
Show moreThe role of Serrivomer beanii in bathypelagic food webs is poorly known, but abundance and biomass estimates from the 2004 G.O. Sars MAR-ECO Expedition suggest it to have a high level of importance. MAR-ECO, a Census of Marine Life field project, has allowed us to increase our knowledge of S. beanii through spatial analysis, including the congeneric species Serrivomer lanceolatoides, and trophic analysis. Serrivomer beanii abundance and biomass exhibited a decreasing trend along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge from north to south. In terms of size, S. beanii was found to increase as distance from the ridge decreased, suggesting a topographic aggregation strategy. The diet of S. beanii consisted of crustaceans, cephalopods, and teleosts. The trophic results of this study reveal a likely "alternative" trophic pathway in the deep mid-North Atlantic, and perhaps other, bathypelagic ecosystems: higher trophic-level predators are supported by micronektonic invertebrates as primary prey.
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Date Issued
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2008
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/165941
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Subject Headings
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Plankton, Ecology, Coral reef animals, Ecology, Deep sea biology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
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Title
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Snapping shrimp protect host anemones from predators.
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Creator
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McCammon, Amber., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
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Abstract/Description
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The sea anemone Bartholomea annulata, is an ecologically important member of Caribbean coral reefs. This anemone serves as symbiotic host to crustacean associates, some of which may control parasite loads by "cleaning" reef fishes. Associates may gain protection from predation by dwelling with anemones. B. annulata was the most abundant anemone documented on three reefs, with 52% host to crustacean symbionts. Of those occupied by multi-species groups, 92% included Alpheus armatus shrimp. A....
Show moreThe sea anemone Bartholomea annulata, is an ecologically important member of Caribbean coral reefs. This anemone serves as symbiotic host to crustacean associates, some of which may control parasite loads by "cleaning" reef fishes. Associates may gain protection from predation by dwelling with anemones. B. annulata was the most abundant anemone documented on three reefs, with 52% host to crustacean symbionts. Of those occupied by multi-species groups, 92% included Alpheus armatus shrimp. A. armatus is an important anemone associate providing protection to the anemone from predators such as Hermodice carunculata, in laboratory and field trials. H. carunculata can completely devour or severely damage prey anemones. Here I show that anemones hosting symbiotic alpheid shrimp are extremely less likely to sustain damage by predators than solitary anemones. The role of protector may be reciprocally provided by anemone and decapod associates.
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Date Issued
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2010
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PURL
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http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1930494
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Subject Headings
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Predation (Biology), Animal behavior, Coral reef ecology, Sea anemones, Marine ecology
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Format
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Document (PDF)
Pages