Author Type

Undergraduate Student

Date of Award

Spring 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

March 2026

College Granting Degree

Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Jon Moore

Additional Committee Member 1

Andia Chaves Fonnegra

Additional Committee Member 2

Justin Perry

Abstract

Seagrass meadows are crucial ecosystems for countless marine fauna and flora. With the decline of these ecosystems globally, understanding the threats they face represents the first step in mitigating further destruction and establishing effective restoration efforts. The purpose of this thesis was to provide a preliminary assessment of the scale and intensity of boat-generated wakes on a severely reduced shallow-water seagrass meadow located in the southernmost portion of the Indian River Lagoon along a high-traffic recreational boating area. Wake intensity and seagrass structure (species composition, distribution, and abundance) was measured within Coral Cove Park, Jupiter, Florida. Results showed that the meadow is subjected to high intensities of boat-generated wakes actively altering physical and ecological structures with the remnants of a dead oyster reef found to shield seagrasses within the southern portion of the meadow, enabling an array of less wake-tolerant species of seagrasses to persist in otherwise inhospitable areas.

Download

Share

COinS