Metrics
5 File views/ downloads
185 Record Views
Poster
Halodule wrightii and sediment biogeochemistry response to bioturbation
University of West Florida Libraries
Student Scholar Symposium & Faculty Research Showcase (University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, 2021)
2021
Abstract
Seagrasses are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world performing important ecological functions and providing nursery habitats for many marine organisms. Seagrass productivity and sustainable growth depend on sediment porewaters as a primary nutrient source. In nutrient-filled conditions, microbial processes taking place within seagrass sediments can provide an additional nutrient source. Nutrient availability, seagrass structure, and beneficial microbes present within vegetated sediments are susceptible to change as sediments become disturbed. Large bioturbators such as stingrays use seagrass nurseries as prime foraging locations. They excavate sediments forming pits both in and outside seagrass beds. We examine how organic matter, porewater nutrients, and microbial presence in H. wrightii beds in the Pensacola Bay System are impacted by stingray bioturbation. As rhizomes, roots, and sediments are excavated or exposed, we anticipated that ray pits would have lower nutrient concentrations than the surrounding bed. However, preliminary results have shown higher NH₄⁺ concentrations in ray pits than surrounding seagrass beds. Future sampling will examine seasonal difference between the ray pits and surrounding bed.
Details
- Title
- Halodule wrightii and sediment biogeochemistry response to bioturbation
- Resource Type
- Poster
- Event
- Student Scholar Symposium & Faculty Research Showcase (University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, 2021)
- Contributors
- Dr. Jane Caffrey (Faculty Mentor)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries; Argo Scholar Commons
- Format
- pdf
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries to digitize and/or display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380090875606600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation ; Office of Undergraduate Research; 2021 Student Scholars Symposium and Faculty Research Showcase; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English