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- Title
- Factors Influencing the Distribution and Abundance of Sphaeroma terebrans in Florida’s Red Mangroves.
- Creator
- Huff, Sarah, Devlin, Donna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
In Palm Beach County, S. terebrans burrows into grounded roots and trunks of R. mangle causing collapse. This is contrary to previous studies suggesting this species burrows only into free-hanging roots. Nutrients and C. virginica cover may affect S. terebrans abundance and distribution. Surveys show burrowing significantly varies among sites, but not between free-hanging and grounded roots. Nutrients vary by site, but neither N nor P was correlated with burrowing. Nutrient treated roots...
Show moreIn Palm Beach County, S. terebrans burrows into grounded roots and trunks of R. mangle causing collapse. This is contrary to previous studies suggesting this species burrows only into free-hanging roots. Nutrients and C. virginica cover may affect S. terebrans abundance and distribution. Surveys show burrowing significantly varies among sites, but not between free-hanging and grounded roots. Nutrients vary by site, but neither N nor P was correlated with burrowing. Nutrient treated roots showed no colonization pattern associated with N or P. Lignin varied among sites, but didn’t affect burrowing. Finally, C. virginica limited colonization in the portion of R. mangle tissue it covered. The location of C. virginica on the seaward/landward side was not predictive of burrowing. R. mangle height and leaves were not negatively affected by cover treatment or burrowing. Results highlight the need for additional research to determine the influence of environmental factors on this species interaction.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013048
- Subject Headings
- Sphaeroma, Rhizophora mangle, Red mangrove
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The invasion of Sphaeroma terebrans, a marine isopod, on pond apple (Annona glabra) trees in a tidally influenced freshwater forested wetland.
- Creator
- Taylor, Molly Kathleen., Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Saltwater intrusion is threatening coastal wetlands through alteration of the natural communities leading to native species loss. In southern Florida, the Pond Apple Slough is experiencing tidally driven saltwater intrusion, which is thought to be responsible for the invasion of a marine isopod, Sphaeroma terebrans, into the native, dominant pond apple trees. The isopod appears to be responsible for the death of pond apple trees in the site. The isopod's distribution on trees within the...
Show moreSaltwater intrusion is threatening coastal wetlands through alteration of the natural communities leading to native species loss. In southern Florida, the Pond Apple Slough is experiencing tidally driven saltwater intrusion, which is thought to be responsible for the invasion of a marine isopod, Sphaeroma terebrans, into the native, dominant pond apple trees. The isopod appears to be responsible for the death of pond apple trees in the site. The isopod's distribution on trees within the slough appears to be controlled by the period of inundation and distance from the source of saltwater. Restriction of tidal water entering the site may limit the isopod's distribution on the pond apple trees.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2001
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12818
- Subject Headings
- Sphaeroma, Annona, Saltwater encroachment, Wetland ecology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- INFLUENCES OF WATER QUALITY AND HABITAT RELATIONSHIPS ON THE BURROW DENSITY OF SPHAEROMA TEREBRANS.
- Creator
- Powell, Krystyna, Frazier, Evelyn, Proffitt, C. Edward, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Sphaeroma terebrans, is an ecological engineer that can significantly modify the habitat of free-hanging aerial prop roots of Rhizophora mangle. The wood-boring isopod extensively burrows into red mangrove aerial prop roots for habitat and protection from desiccation and access to phytoplankton. However, the burrows created have major consequences on the mangrove habitat and aerial root inhabitants. It has been suggested that sessile species residing in aerial root communities can either...
Show moreSphaeroma terebrans, is an ecological engineer that can significantly modify the habitat of free-hanging aerial prop roots of Rhizophora mangle. The wood-boring isopod extensively burrows into red mangrove aerial prop roots for habitat and protection from desiccation and access to phytoplankton. However, the burrows created have major consequences on the mangrove habitat and aerial root inhabitants. It has been suggested that sessile species residing in aerial root communities can either encourage or discourage colonization by S. terebrans. Abiotic factors can affect the distribution and abundance of mangrove forest and are the same factors which determine the composition and abundance of organisms living on the roots. Surveys indicated that burrowing damage was found predominately in the first 20 cm of the root tip. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test multivariate hypothesized models looking at habitat relationships with S. terebrans in aerial root communities. Temperature and dissolved oxygen were shown to be important drivers in affecting submerged root length of aerial roots. Ultimately, the indirect effects between these parameters proved to be stronger in influencing the barnacle – isopod association, which causes direct negative effects on submerged root length. Colonial tunicates showed weak effects in masking aerial roots from the damaging barnacle – isopod association. Chlorophyll a was used as a proxy for phytoplankton biomass and proved to be less influential than habitat protection for S. terebrans. Results highlight the need for experimentation in addition to modeling in order to determine the mechanisms influencing aerial root community inhabitants and further effects on the habitat.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013544
- Subject Headings
- Sphaeroma, Isopoda, Rhizophora mangle, Red mangrove--Ecology, Prop roots, Habitats
- Format
- Document (PDF)
