Date of Award
Fall 11-24-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
November 2025
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Stephen Kajiura
Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair
Christopher Malinowski
Abstract
Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are vital marine predators, yet many populations are declining from overfishing and habitat loss. Marine protected areas like the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) can support recovery, but knowledge gaps remain in habitat-specific community structure and survey effectiveness. I surveyed inshore (seagrass, hardbottom) and offshore (patch reef, bank reef) habitats in the Upper Florida Keys using longlines, drumlines, baited remote underwater video (BRUVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Inshore assemblages showed strong habitat-driven patterns, with Ginglymostoma cirratum dominating seagrass sites, whereas offshore reefs were more homogeneous. UAVs captured the highest inshore richness, and drumlines outperformed BRUVs offshore, highlighting complementary strengths of multi-method approaches. These findings provide critical baselines and emphasize the need for long-term, spatially extensive monitoring that incorporates seasonal dynamics and the movement ecology of large, threatened elasmobranchs.
Recommended Citation
Dewald, Ethan L., "SAMPLING GEAR PERFORMANCE AND ELASMOBRANCH DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE UPPER FLORIDA KEYS" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 186.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/186