Metrics
26 File views/ downloads
49 Record Views
Thesis
CHARACTERIZATION OF FISH COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL DUNE LAKES USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA METABARCODING
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2018
Abstract
Coastal Dune Lakes (CDL) are rare aquatic habitats worldwide. Northwest Florida Coastal Dune Lakes (NWFLCDL) are even more rare and unique habitats due to their characteristic intermittent connection to the Gulf of Mexico. These intermittent connections can cause temporary estuarine environments. While there are policies in place to help protect and preserve the lakes and their surrounding area, little is known about the fish communities of NWFCDL. As traditional sampling to monitor fish communities can be costly and timeintensive, this project aimed to characterize and monitor the fish communities of the NWFLCDL using environmental DNA from water samples and metabarcoding. Metabarcoding involves using generalist molecular markers to describe diversity within a specific taxonomic group. Seventy-two samples across 19 lakes were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. Bar charts were used to display composition of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spatially and temporally. Nutrient (phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll concentration) and water quality data (specific conductance, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, salinity) from previous studies and measurements taken in the field were used to describe how abiotic factors relate to the fish communities in the NWFLCDL. This project provides a baseline of information necessary to stress the importance of preserving unique habitats.
Details
- Title
- CHARACTERIZATION OF FISH COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA COASTAL DUNE LAKES USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA METABARCODING
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Copyright
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Identifiers
- 99380090842406600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida