Mapping 2015 seagrass die-off in Florida Bay using interdisciplinary methods

dc.contributorWeber, Joe
dc.contributorPatterson, Matt
dc.contributor.advisorSteinberg, Michael
dc.contributor.authorMcGinnis, Cynthia Jolene
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2018-06-04T14:57:40Z
dc.date.available2018-06-04T14:57:40Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractIn 2015-2016, Florida Bay, within Everglades National Park (ENP), experienced a significant seagrass die-off. The park has estimated over 16,000 hectares of the seagrass beds have been affected by the die-off (NPS fact sheet). In tropical estuaries seagrass beds are ecologically and economically critical resources. They are especially important as feeding and foraging areas for sportfish including Albula vulpes (bone fish), Megalops atlanticus (tarpon) and Trachinotus falcatus (permit). The sportfish supported by Florida Bay’s seagrass beds are all highly sought after by anglers, with the local fishing industry contributing more than $6 billion in revenue to the state of Florida each year (Johns et al., 2001). Worldwide seagrass beds are disappearing due to stress from land-use changes, improper anchoring and mooring practices, boat propeller scarring, global climate change, disease, invasive species and algal blooms. This project examined the extent of Florida Bay’s seagrass die-off using two complementary methods. First, we measured seagrass densities at 61 sample locations in Florida Bay basins during fieldwork campaigns in the summers of 2016 and 2017. Nearest neighbor analysis conducted in a geographic information system (GIS) was used to extrapolate these in situ observations to larger basin-wide spatial scales. Second, we mapped and calculated the perceived extent of the die-off using citizen science, consulting local knowledge keepers through the Key Largo Fishing Guides Association and Florida Keys Fishing Guide Association. These two methods allow us to gain a better understanding of the impacts of the die-off, and develop data sets that will inform future assessments of change and recovery in these important habitats.en_US
dc.format.extent66 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0002868
dc.identifier.otherMcGinnis_alatus_0004M_13338
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/3544
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectGeography
dc.subjectGeographic information science and geodesy
dc.titleMapping 2015 seagrass die-off in Florida Bay using interdisciplinary methodsen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Geography
etdms.degree.disciplineGeography
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.S.
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