Drifting between two worlds: identifying plankton diversity and abundance in packery channel, Texas

Packery Channel is a eutrophic environment in a small jetty system that allows plankton migration between Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Plankton are marine organisms that play a critical role as primary food sources for many animals, such as corals. Recently, corals have been found surviving in the dynamic conditions of Packery Channel. However, there has been limited research conducted on plankton abundance and diversity due the channel recently reopening. Therefore, this project aims to identify and quantify the abundance of plankton present in Packery Channel by collecting samples at various tides during the full moon cycle over a year-long period. Plankton nets were towed (phytoplankton = 63 m and zooplankton = 243 m) along a 50-meter transect alternating between the North and South sides of Packery Channel to encompass the whole channel. It is hypothesized that the highest abundance will occur during summer and night periods and the lowest abundance will occur during winter and daytime periods. This is due to the difference in light availability, tide flow, and temperature which has been found to make an impact on plankton. Results from this study indicate the corals within Packery Channel potentially have resources available when under stressful conditions such as limited sunlight. Understanding the seasonal dynamics of plankton within Packery Channel is necessary to expand research within estuarine systems and aid in understanding how corals survive in extreme conditions.