Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

The Effect Of A Phytoplankton Maximum On The Trophic Food Chain Of The Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) In North Inlet, South Carolina., Lindsay Michael Stang

Honors Theses

Jones Creek, part of North Inlet-Winyah Bay, South Carolina, is known to have a chlorophyll a maximum that exists during low tide. The goal of this study was to determine if an increase in phytoplankton, demonstrated by chlorophyll a levels, would lead to an increase in zooplankton, fish, and bottlenose dolphins in the area. Sampling for chlorophyll a concentrations, zooplankton and dolphin densities occurred in fall of 2008. Based on the samples obtained, as chlorophyll a concentrations increased at low tide, zooplankton densities decreased. Dolphin density plots showed an increased density in Jones Creek during low tide for spring, summer, …