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Thesis
Effects of Complexity on Primary Production and Epibenthic Communities of Artificial Reef Systems in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2023
Abstract
Artificial reefs are designed to mimic the function of natural coral reefs, creating a diverse ecosystem for all trophic levels of the marine environment. An understudied concept is the role of complexity on primary producers and epibenthic invertebrates on artificial reefs. The goal of this study was to examine complexity and how it affects primary production and to better understand food web relationships. This study included six artificial reef sites off Pensacola, Florida in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico, where the sites included three simple reefs (one singular structure) and three complex reefs (multiple structures together). Environmental parameters, water quality, oxygen concentrations, and invertebrate abundance were measured for this study. Temperature increased over the summer while salinity declined following substantial rain events. Due to the periods of severe weather, a crate with sample rocks and attached sensors was lost at AR4, and only sample rocks were also lost at RFRA5 and AR6. Diurnal changes in dissolved oxygen occurred on the reefs along with declines after the rain events. Complex reefs had higher gross production and respiration than simple reefs while respiration was higher than gross production at every site, indicating that the reefs were net heterotrophic. Both reef types had a similar benthic invertebrate community composition that was dominated by bivalves and crustaceans. There was a seasonal difference in δ15N where it was higher in the fall versus the spring. Carbon and nitrogen isotope values of different benthic invertebrate taxa did not show any consistent differences between simple and complex reefs.
Details
- Title
- Effects of Complexity on Primary Production and Epibenthic Communities of Artificial Reef Systems in the Northeast Gulf of Mexico
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Jane M Caffrey (Advisor)Alexis Janosik (Committee Member)Christopher Pomory (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 57
- 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
- 99380178696506600
- 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