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Thesis
Evaluating Wooden Dowel Rods for Seagrass Restoration: Effects on Seagrass, Sediment, and Bioturbation in Northwest Florida
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2026
Abstract
Seagrasses are experiencing global declines from a combination of anthropogenic and environmental stressors, and restoration efforts often fail to achieve recovery success. In West Bay, St. Andrew Bay, Florida, USA, extensive losses of seagrass have occurred over the last century, but there are promising signs of natural recovery and active restoration efforts are underway. In this study, biodegradable birch (Betula sp.) dowel rods were tested at different densities within Halodule wrightii plantings. Experimental sites were monitored throughout the seagrass growing season (May–October) for changes in H. wrightii seagrass percent frequency, planting unit survival, sediment elevation, infauna burrow densities, and stingray (Hypanus spp.) abundance, size, and disturbance intensity. Results indicate that dowels at these densities did not provide measurable benefits to seagrass plantings, mitigate sediment dynamics, or deter infaunal communities or stingray activity. However, the highest dowel density appeared to stabilize stingray abundance, while infauna densities may have been affected by the seagrass plantings themselves. These findings indicate that while dowels do not enhance seagrass restoration success, design modifications to dowel density could still be considered. Results also confirm that spring plantings of H. wrightii using the staple method achieve high success, independent of dowel treatment, in this system. Further research on sediment dynamics, including hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and sediment source assessments, will be necessary to understand the magnitude of this stressor in West Bay.
Details
- Title
- Evaluating Wooden Dowel Rods for Seagrass Restoration
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Christopher M. Pomory (Committee Chair)Alexis M. Janosik (Committee Member)Bradley T. Furman (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 65
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries by the author to digitize and/or display this information 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
- 99381761451306600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida