Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Louda, J. William

Abstract

Seagrass meadows in Florida Bay have rapidly declined due to synergistic stresses. The microalgal communities present on the leaves of Thalssia testudinum were studied in the Snake Bight and Whipray Basin areas of Florida Bay. These areas have been the sites of recurrent phytoplankton blooms and this study was aimed at exploring similar effects within the microalgal epiphytic communities. Epiphytometers, or surrogate seagrass, were used to provide a time zero (T0) point which is impossible in natural samples. Epiphyte samples were analyzed using HPLC/PDA which provided measurements of standing crop and community structure (>90% diatom). Epiphytometers were found to be excellent tool for monitoring epiphyte productivity on Thalassia. The monitoring of productivity, standing crop and community structure should allow insight into positive and negative effects of water supply changes.

Extent

82 p.

Comments

FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2003.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Identifier

FADT13066

Format

pdf

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