DE Poster Slide V4

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Fernandez, C.| Montenegro, K. | Collado-Vides, L. | Florida International University Introduction Methods Conclusions Acknowledgements This project had help and contribution from Tiany Hernandez, Lowell Iporac, Christian Lopes, Madison Machado, and Ligia Collado-Vides. Work Cited- Juanes, J. A., Guinda, X., Puente, A., and Revilla, J.A. (2007) Macroalgae, a Suitable Indicator of the Ecological Status of Coastal Rocky Communities in the NE Atlantic. Lirman, D., Thyberg, T., Santos, R., Schopmeye, S., Drury, C., Collado-Vides, L., Bellmund, S., Serafy, J. (2014) SAV Communities of Western Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, USA: Human and Natural Drivers of Seagrass and Macroalgae Abundance and Distribution Along a Continuous Shoreline Lirman, D., Bellmund, S., Browder, J., Serafy, J. (2016) 4th Annual Report: IBBEAM – Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological Assessment and Monitoring Results Nutrient Analysis 15cm x 15cm Quadrat randomly placed at Site 7. Top and bottom photo were taken in January 2016 and April 2016, respectively. The construction of the Deering Estate Flow Way is a pilot study to evaluate the impact of pumping more fresh water into the bay in the Biscayne Bay coastal environment at Deering Estate in response to rising levels of salinity and marine conditions. Macroalgae and seagrasses can be effective tools to assess ecological quality based on community assemblages (Juanes et al. 2007) Seagrass and macroalgae assemblages will be able to represent changing ecological effects on the coastal environment near Deering due to the pulse flooding events from the Flow Way experiment. Dominance of Batophora, Acetabularia, Caulerpa, Laurencia, Halodule , and other brackish-tolerant species are characteristics of estuarine, brackish waters (D. Lirman et al. 2014). By comparing current findings to a similar study conducted before the construction, data will demonstrate the difference that salinity has on community assemblages and nutrient availability through tissue content. As freshwater is flooded, an increase in nutrients and a decrease in salinity is expected in our coastal sites. A shift from a combination of marine and brackish water species towards a dominance of brackish-water tolerant species is expected, and a signature with high nutrients compared with years before the flooding. The MMRL has a collection of data for the Deering Estate that serves as a reference to evaluate the impact of the flooding experiment conducted in Deering Estate. Each site (18 for 2009-2010 survey and 9 for 2015-2016 survey) was selected to represent different coastal habitats. 20 random pictures were taking at each site and the best 10 were analyzed for the diversity of algae present. Cluster analysis followed by a MDS (Multidimensional Similarity) were applied to the relative frequency data. Data was normalized to the number of sites. Macroalgae and seagrass samples were collected at each site for identification to the lowest taxon.. Salinity data was provided by Biscayne National Park. Seagrass and algae samples were collected, cleaned form epiphytes, dried, and ground. Tissue nutrient content was analyzed for N and δ15N‰ at the Isotope analysis lab at Florida International University. Information from this study is essential to determine the effectiveness and impact of freshwater pulse flooding tactic in sites close to shore in Biscayne Bay. ffffffffsjsjss Figure 1: Relative Frequencies of Seagrass Species. The dominant Thalassia testudinum shows a drop after the flooding Figure 3: Cluster analysis displaying hierarchal levels of similarity using relative frequencies of algal species per time sampled. 2009- 2010 sampling periods are separate from 2015-2016. Map of sites at Deering Estate. Site 5 (N 25° 36.650’, W 080° 18.417’) is located at the mouth of the C-100 Canal. Site 9 (N 25° 36.063’, W 080°18.087’) is located at the mouth of Cutler Creek. represent sites in region used by previous study. Figure 4: MDS of relative frequencies of algal species, comparing algal composition across time. All seasons from 2009-2010 form another group. November 2015 is isolated. Figure 5: Average Salinity on site D62 (BNP). Simpson’s Diversity Index was calculated to measure diversity between the species found in the 2009-2010 time period and the 2015-2016 time period. The diversity values for the two periods were 0.925 and 0.918. Salinity did not change in the Deering Estate area. However, Lirman et al. (2016) show that the rest of sites along the coast of the Bay have suffered an increase in salinity due to a strong drought. The flooding kept salinity in brackish levels at Deering Estate. Sites before and after the flooding experiment were clearly clustered separately . The relative frequency of macroalgae and seagrass found suggest a community shift towards a greater dominance of estuarine species and a decline in marine species in the area. The overall pattern found for species values was maintained along the three seasons analyzed. Ulva ohnoi, or Ulva (Enteromorpha form) are the species with the highest values of δ 15N compared with the rest of the other species. Following seagrass data, site 7 localized at the exit of the rehydration creek show the highest values δ 15N in the tissue of both Thalassia and Halodule. The values are extremely high compared with other sites using the same species. Site 7 has a clear input of nutrients with a strong anthropogenic signature. As more data is collected, nutrient content will be compared to data in previous study. Based on this study, Ulva species nutrient content should be gathered as it is potential massive growing alga and can be used as an indicator for high nutrient discharge. Monitoring Algal and Seagrass Species Diversity Changes in a Freshwater-Flooded, Coastal Wetland Figure 2: Relative Frequencies of Seagrass Species. Halimeda incrassata shows a drop after the flooding Figure 6 Seasonal Variability of Nutrient Content. N and δ15N% values are high, particularly for species such as Ulva ohnoi. Figure 7: Spatial Variability of Nutrient Content

Transcript of DE Poster Slide V4

Page 1: DE Poster Slide V4

Fernandez, C.| Montenegro, K. | Collado-Vides, L. | Florida International University

Introduction

Methods

Conclusions

AcknowledgementsThis project had help and contribution from Tiany Hernandez, Lowell Iporac, Christian Lopes, Madison Machado, and Ligia Collado-Vides.

Work Cited-Juanes, J. A., Guinda, X., Puente, A., and Revilla, J.A. (2007) Macroalgae, a Suitable Indicator of the Ecological Status of Coastal Rocky Communities in the NE

Atlantic. Lirman, D., Thyberg, T., Santos, R., Schopmeye, S., Drury, C., Collado-Vides, L., Bellmund, S., Serafy, J. (2014) SAV Communities of Western Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, USA: Human and Natural Drivers of Seagrass and Macroalgae Abundance and Distribution Along a Continuous ShorelineLirman, D., Bellmund, S., Browder, J., Serafy, J. (2016) 4th Annual Report: IBBEAM – Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological Assessment and Monitoring

Results

Nutrient Analysis

15cm x 15cm Quadrat randomly placed at Site 7. Top and bottom photo were taken in January 2016 and April 2016, respectively.

• The construction of the Deering Estate Flow Way is a pilot study to evaluate the impact of pumping more fresh water into the bay in the Biscayne Bay coastal environment at Deering Estate in response to rising levels of salinity and marine conditions.

• Macroalgae and seagrasses can be effective tools to assess ecological quality based on community assemblages (Juanes et al. 2007)

• Seagrass and macroalgae assemblages will be able to represent changing ecological effects on the coastal environment near Deering due to the pulse flooding events from the Flow Way experiment.

• Dominance of Batophora, Acetabularia, Caulerpa, Laurencia, Halodule, and other brackish-tolerant species are characteristics of estuarine, brackish waters (D. Lirman et al. 2014).

• By comparing current findings to a similar study conducted before the construction, data will demonstrate the difference that salinity has on community assemblages and nutrient availability through tissue content.

• As freshwater is flooded, an increase in nutrients and a decrease in salinity is expected in our coastal sites. A shift from a combination of marine and brackish water species towards a dominance of brackish-water tolerant species is expected, and a signature with high nutrients compared with years before the flooding.

• The MMRL has a collection of data for the Deering Estate that serves as a reference to evaluate the impact of the flooding experiment conducted in Deering Estate.

• Each site (18 for 2009-2010 survey and 9 for 2015-2016 survey) was selected to represent different coastal habitats.

• 20 random pictures were taking at each site and the best 10 were analyzed for the diversity of algae present.

• Cluster analysis followed by a MDS (Multidimensional Similarity) were applied to the relative frequency data.

• Data was normalized to the number of sites.

• Macroalgae and seagrass samples were collected at each site for identification to the lowest taxon..

• Salinity data was provided by Biscayne National Park.

• Seagrass and algae samples were collected, cleaned form epiphytes, dried, and ground. Tissue nutrient content was analyzed for N and δ15N‰ at the Isotope analysis lab at Florida International University.

• Information from this study is essential to determine the effectiveness and impact of freshwater pulse flooding tactic in sites close to shore in Biscayne Bay.

ffffffffsjsjss

Figure 1: Relative Frequencies of Seagrass Species. The dominant Thalassia testudinum shows a drop after the flooding

Figure 3: Cluster analysis displaying hierarchal levels of similarity using relative frequencies of algal species per time sampled. 2009-

2010 sampling periods are separate from 2015-2016.

Map of sites at Deering Estate. Site 5 (N 25° 36.650’, W 080° 18.417’) is located at the mouth of the C-100 Canal. Site 9 (N 25° 36.063’, W

080°18.087’) is located at the mouth of Cutler Creek. represent sites in region used by previous study.

Figure 4: MDS of relative frequencies of algal species, comparing algal composition across time. All seasons from 2009-2010 form another

group. November 2015 is isolated.

Figure 5: Average Salinity on site D62 (BNP).

Simpson’s Diversity Index was calculated to measure diversity between the species found in the 2009-2010 time period and

the 2015-2016 time period. The diversity values for the two periods were 0.925 and 0.918.

• Salinity did not change in the Deering Estate area. However, Lirman et al. (2016) show that the rest of sites along the coast of the Bay have suffered an increase in salinity due to a strong drought. The flooding kept salinity in brackish levels at Deering Estate.

• Sites before and after the flooding experiment were clearly clustered separately .

• The relative frequency of macroalgae and seagrass found suggest a community shift towards a greater dominance of estuarine species and a decline in marine species in the area.

• The overall pattern found for species values was maintained along the three seasons analyzed. Ulva ohnoi, or Ulva (Enteromorpha form) are the species with the highest values of δ 15N compared with the rest of the other species.

• Following seagrass data, site 7 localized at the exit of the rehydration creek show the highest values δ 15N in the tissue of both Thalassia and Halodule. The values are extremely high compared with other sites using the same species. Site 7 has a clear input of nutrients with a strong anthropogenic signature.

• As more data is collected, nutrient content will be compared to data in previous study. Based on this study, Ulva species nutrient content should be gathered as it is potential massive growing alga and can be used as an indicator for high nutrient discharge.

Monitoring Algal and Seagrass Species Diversity Changes in a Freshwater-Flooded, Coastal Wetland

Figure 2: Relative Frequencies of Seagrass Species. Halimeda incrassata shows a drop after the flooding

Figure 6 Seasonal Variability of Nutrient Content. N and δ15N% values are high, particularly for species such as Ulva ohnoi.

Figure 7: Spatial Variability of Nutrient Content