Accumulation of epiphytes on Halodule Wrightii in response to nutrient enrichment in East Flats, Corpus Christi Bay and Nighthawk Bay, Upper Laguna Madre, Texas

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dc.contributor.advisorCammarata, Kirk
dc.contributor.authorSweatman, Jennifer L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberSmee, Lee
dc.contributor.committeeMemberShirley, Thomas
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWithers, Kim
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMott, Joanna
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPezold, Frank
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-30T22:23:27Z
dc.date.available2024-01-30T22:23:27Z
dc.date.issued2010-08
dc.descriptionA Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE, The Graduate Biology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
dc.description.abstractIncreased epiphyte abundance on seagrasses is often associated with anthropogenic eutrophication of estuarine ecosystems, but the quantitative relationships are complex and not fully understood. A nutrient enrichment experiment was conducted at two sites during three seasons to measure epiphyte accumulation on Halodule wrightii and artificial seagrass substrates. A novel fluorescence imaging technique, based on excitation of phycobilin and fucoxanthin accessory pigments, was used to quantify epiphyte abundance. For natural seagrasses, significant dose-dependent increases in epiphyte accumulation occurred due to the introduction of nutrients at East Flats, during early summer and fall sampling seasons. Significant nutrient responses were also detected during late summer at East Flats, and during early summer and fall only at a hypersaline lagoon site, Nighthawk Bay. Additionally, nutrient enrichment caused significant decreases in combined seagrass and epiphyte biomass across all seasons at Nighthawk Bay, and during late summer at East Flats. At East Flats, biomass increased with increasing nutrient treatments during early summer and fall seasons. Artificial substrates failed to corroborate results of the natural seagrass experiment; however, a change in species composition was evident, but results were inconsistent across seasons and sites. These findings imply that epiphyte abundance is sensitive to nutrient enrichment under a wide range of ambient conditions, including different predominant grazer abundances, and is likely to increase with eutrophication.
dc.description.collegeCollege of Science
dc.description.departmentLife Sciences
dc.format.extent69 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/97742
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.
dc.subjectseagrass
dc.subjecthalodule
dc.subjectepiphyte
dc.subjectfluorescence imaging
dc.subjectimage analysis
dc.subjectnutrient enrichment
dc.subjecteutrophication
dc.subjectLaguna Madre
dc.subjectCorpus Christi Bay
dc.subjectbiomass
dc.titleAccumulation of epiphytes on Halodule Wrightii in response to nutrient enrichment in East Flats, Corpus Christi Bay and Nighthawk Bay, Upper Laguna Madre, Texas
dc.typeText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christi
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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