Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Earth Sciences
Interactions Between Macroalgae And The Sediment Microbial Community: Nutrient Cycling Within Shallow Coastal Bays, Amber Kay Hardison
Interactions Between Macroalgae And The Sediment Microbial Community: Nutrient Cycling Within Shallow Coastal Bays, Amber Kay Hardison
Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects
Ephemeral macroalgal blooms are considered a symptom of eutrophication in shallow coastal lagoons, but their influence on nutrient cycling dynamics in these systems is not fully understood. From 2006-2008, I conducted a series of experiments to determine the influence of living and senescent macroalgae on sediment carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in coastal lagoons along the Delmarva Peninsula, USA. In particular, I focused on how macroalgae affect the microbial community at the sediment-water interface of shallow subtidal sediments because this complex consortium of autotrophic (e.g. benthic microalgae, BMA) and heterotrophic (e.g. bacteria) organisms plays a critical role in nutrient …