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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Role Of Sediment Resuspension In Estuarine Inorganic Nutrient Cycling, Kirsten Jo Ayres Dec 2019

The Role Of Sediment Resuspension In Estuarine Inorganic Nutrient Cycling, Kirsten Jo Ayres

Theses and Dissertations

Time-scaling of estuarine inorganic nitrogen cycling contains many assumptions due to biogeochemical interactions. Nitrogen, often a limiting factor for primary production, is transformed and utilized by many estuarine organisms. Inorganic nitrogen is especially high in porewater. High nutrient pore water, contained within the interstitial spaces of sediment, has been assumed to influx high concentrations of inorganic nutrients into surface waters during resuspension events. These short-term resuspension events rapidly introducing high concentration of nutrients into the water column. In order to determine the internal time scale of inorganic nitrogen cycling, a box-model nutrient budget, horizontal in situ transects, and vertical nutrient …


Identifying The N Sources For Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans) In A South Texas Mangrove Forest, Ashley Elizabeth Murphy Dec 2019

Identifying The N Sources For Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans) In A South Texas Mangrove Forest, Ashley Elizabeth Murphy

Theses and Dissertations

Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) in south Texas provide ecosystem services and benefits to humans including: habitat for wildlife, prevention of coastline erosion, and mitigation of natural disasters. One step to preserve their ecological functions is to identify and protect the source of their nitrogen (N). Nitrogen stable isotopes were sampled for one year beginning August 2018 and used as tracers to identify how mangroves obtain N. Total N in (A. germinans) and associated (Batis maritima) (plants) (2.1%) was more abundant than in cyanobacteria (0.6%) and sediment (0.1%). Plant d15N signatures (5.52‰) were more similar to sediment (5.21‰) than cyanobacteria (1.98‰), …


Reconstructing Geographic And Trophic Histories Of Fish Using Bulk And Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes From Eye Lenses, Amy A. Wallace Nov 2019

Reconstructing Geographic And Trophic Histories Of Fish Using Bulk And Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes From Eye Lenses, Amy A. Wallace

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present research examined the viability and utility of eye lenses as a source of lifetime stable-isotope records in fish. It is presented in three sections. The first section compared bulk isotopic variation (bulk analysis) within fish eye-lenses at two temporal resolutions and compared patterns obtained from left and right eyes. The first temporal resolution was lower in an attempt to expose broad-scale isotopic changes during life while reducing effort and cost. This approach did reveal lifetime patterns, but tended to miss certain life events, particularly during early life. The second resolution was higher and provided detail that was missed …


Life History Through The Eyes Of A Hogfish: Evidence Of Trophic Growth And Differential Juvenile Habitat Use, Meaghan E. Faletti Oct 2019

Life History Through The Eyes Of A Hogfish: Evidence Of Trophic Growth And Differential Juvenile Habitat Use, Meaghan E. Faletti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding ontogenetic linkages among fish habitats is critical for conservation of fish populations and the ecosystems on which they rely. Natural tags such as stable isotopes are an effective tool commonly used to investigate ecological questions regarding fish movement and habitat use. Here, I analyzed stable isotopes from the sequentially deposited laminae of Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) eye lenses from the eastern Gulf of Mexico (eGOM) to investigate trophic and geographic changes across individual life histories. I documented evidence of entire-life scale trophic growth through increases in δ15N. I also observed depth separation at the juvenile stage, evidenced by variation in …


Improved Estimates Of Tributary Nitrogen Load To Casco Bay, Maine, Whitley J. Gray Aug 2019

Improved Estimates Of Tributary Nitrogen Load To Casco Bay, Maine, Whitley J. Gray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, total nitrogen (TN) concentrations have increased in Casco Bay (CBEP 2015). The sources of the increased nitrogen are poorly understood but occur with simultaneous population growth and land use changes. The total riverine nitrogen load to Casco Bay was previously estimated by Liebman and Milstead (2012) using the United States Geologic Survey’s (USGS) SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model. The SPARROW model uses watershed characteristics, regional monitoring data and nitrogen source data to estimate nitrogen loading but was not validated using measurements of nitrogen in the Casco Bay watershed. This study attempts to …


Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Dynamics In Swash Zone Sands Of Long Bay, Sc, Alexis F. Echols Apr 2019

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Dynamics In Swash Zone Sands Of Long Bay, Sc, Alexis F. Echols

Honors Theses

A key component affecting the biogeochemistry of the sedimentary environment is pore water between grains of sediments. Sedimentary microorganisms are constantly modifying chemical compounds as part of their life functions which are then exchanged between the sediment column and the overlying water column. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, a major element for life, takes on several forms including nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium which vary in concentration throughout the sediment and with respect to each other. The relative concentrations of these nitrogen species have been previously briefly explored in sandy columns, where redox gradients that control their relative concentrations can be fairly deep …