Date of Award
Summer 7-22-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
August 2026
Department
Biological Sciences
College Granting Degree
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department Granting Degree
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Matthew J. Ajemian
Abstract
Florida’s shellfish aquaculture industry faces persistent hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) losses from predation and fauna-related gear damage. However, interactions with mobile marine fauna remain understudied. To address this knowledge gap, seasonal surveys were conducted at an active clam lease in the central Indian River Lagoon, FL, using underwater time-lapse cameras and gillnet sampling to characterize mobile fauna, document gear interactions, and identify environmental drivers of occurrence. Across four seasonal deployments, cameras recorded 12,117 observations representing 42 taxa. Teleosts dominated observations, while rays, sharks, invertebrates, and sea turtles were rarer although documented year-round. Relative abundance and community composition varied seasonally. Generalized additive mixed models indicated that stingray (Hypanus spp.) occurrence was associated with water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Molluscivorous teleost occurrence was associated with dissolved oxygen and tidal state, whereas environmental covariates explained little variation in sea turtle occurrence. Gillnetting yielded 23 captures and complemented occurrence trends observed by cameras.
Recommended Citation
Steinfeld, Adam, "MOBILE MARINE FAUNA DYNAMICS IN COMMERCIAL HARD CLAM (MERCENARIA MERCENARIA) GROW-OUT SITES OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 389.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/389