Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Davis, Megan

Abstract

Queen conch in the Florida Keys are slowly recovering from overfishing. This study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.

Extent

43 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00000783

Format

pdf

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