Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Drivers Of Extracellular Polysaccharide Production By A Mat-Forming Diatom, Kaitlin A. Stansbury

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Microbial biofilms are held together by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which can be secreted by many organisms. EPS production can facilitate intercellular communication and inter-guild microbial mutualisms, intraspecific gamete exchange, nutrient sequestration, and desiccation resistance. Benthic microbial mats (periphyton) of the Florida Everglades and other karstic wetlands contain abundant EPS generated by mat-producing filamentous blue-green algae and many other species of mat-dwelling algae, cyanobacteria, and bacteria, including the most abundant Everglades diatom, Mastagloia calcarea. The benthic diatom genus Mastogloia is characterized by several morphological and physiological features that foster production of a ‘halo’ of EPS around the frustule, but the …

Comparison Of Modern And Mid-Holocene Benthic Foraminifera To Assess Recent Environmental Change In Almirante Bay, Caribbean Panama, Maria N. Gudnitz

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study used the diversity and distribution of benthic foraminiferal assemblages of Almirante Bay, Caribbean Panama, as environmental proxies to compare modern coral, seagrass and mangrove habitats to mid-Holocene coral reef facies on the island of Isla Colón, to investigate both natural and human-influenced changes.

The modern study associated species and assemblage characteristics with environmental conditions related to degraded water quality. Assemblages were fairly similar among neighboring habitats but differed in species proportions, while several stress-tolerant taxa might indicate eutrophic conditions. Diversity appeared to be regionally controlled by freshwater input irrespective of habitat type, was generally lower near the mainland …

The Effect Of Microbial Growth On The Spectral Induced Polarization Response In Hanford Vadose Zone Sediment In The Presence Of Autunite, Alejandro Garcia

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Uranium contamination of the subsurface remains a significant problem at the Department of Energy Hanford site. A series of column experiments were conducted on Hanford sediment saturated with simulated groundwater to study the effects of aqueous bicarbonate and microbial growth on the mobility of Uranium. Spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements in the columns were conducted concurrently with pore water sampling in order to monitor changes occurring inside the sediment after the initiation of microbial growth induced by glucose injection. The microbial growth caused significant increases in the real component of the complex conductivity and is the result of ion release …

The Cyclodextrin-Perfluorinated Surfactant Host-Guest Complex: Fundamental Studies For Potential Environmental Remediation And Therapeutic Applications, Mary J. Errico

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are contaminants of emerging concern, and have been detected in drinking water, wildlife, humans, and the environment. Cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic sugars composed of glucose monomers, are proposed as a potential remediation strategy. CDs can form host-guest complexes with hydrophobic molecules; this complexation could be capitalized on for PFAS removal and sequestration. These dissertation projects aim to study the fundamental host-guest interactions between a variety of PFASs and CDs for eventual applications in environmental and biological remediation. 1D and 2D Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods were employed to determine the strength, dynamics, and structure of the CD:PFAS …

Potential Effects Of Chemical Contamination On South Florida Bonefish Albula Vulpes, Christine P. Beck

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An ecological risk assessment was conducted on the risk to fish of chemical contaminants detected in the habitat of Albula vulpes in South Florida, to evaluate whether contaminants may be a driver of declines in the recreational bonefish fishery. All available contaminant detection data from Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, and the Florida Keys were compared to federal and state guidelines for aquatic health to identify Contaminants of Potential Ecological Concern (COPECS). For these COPECs, species sensitivity distributions were constructed and compared with recent detections at the 90^th centile of exposure. Copper in Biscayne Bay was identified as the highest …

A Spatial And Temporal Analysis Of Land Use And Water Quality In Southern Miami Dade County, Mario Londono

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis research employs a multi-pronged analysis approach to contribute to the existing knowledge regarding land use and water quality in southern Miami Dade County. Nutrient concentrations for TP, NOx-N, and NH3-N were evaluated for water quality monitoring stations across seven canals for two time periods: 1990-2003 and 2009-2014. Overall, the sites did not surpass the mandated TP threshold but a number of sites exceeded the NOx-N and NH3-N criteria set by multiple government agencies. Statistical tests demonstrated that the sites had differing distributions, not sharing similar median concentrations. Land use classifications were derived for the area interest for the …

Evaluation Of Crop Seed Powders As Amendments For Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus Rotundus) Control Compared To The Traditional Herbicide, Roundup, Eric Taylor Betancourt

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus) is a troublesome weed that outcompetes crops and contributes to poor yields. In the past, agriculturalists controlled purple nutsedge by fumigating soil with methyl bromide but the fumigant has since been classified as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol. This study evaluated the effectiveness of several alternative purple nutsedge control techniques and compared them with results obtained from the application of Roundup. Concentration treatment effects for the allelopathic seed powders of watercress and turnip were tested in a field trial while seed powders of yellow mustard and sunflower were tested in a potted …

Changes Of Soil Biogeochemistry Under Native And Exotic Plants Species, Yujie Hua

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive plant species are major threats to the biodiversity and ecosystem stability. The purpose of this study is to understand the impacts of invasive plants on soil nutrient cycling and ecological functions. Soil samples were collected from rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of both native and exotic plants from three genera, Lantana, Ficus and Schinus, at Tree Tops Park in South Florida, USA. Experimental results showed that the cultivable bacterial population in the soil under Brazilian pepper (invasive Schinus) was approximately ten times greater than all other plants. Also, Brazilian pepper lived under conditions of significantly lower available phosphorus …

Recreational Angler Perspectives Of Nonnative Fish Species And Mercury Advisories, Christopher J. Edwards

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The central Everglades serve as a Wildlife Management Area and as a Water Conservation Area for the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area. It is also home to over 22 nonnative freshwater fish species and carries restrictive fish consumption guidelines for Mercury. In my study, boat anglers and canal bank anglers were personally interviewed in the field, to research their awareness and perspectives of these potential environmental and health threats. The study found 78% of anglers were aware of the presence of nonnative fish species, but favored native fish species, and that 69% were aware of mercury advisories, but did not eat …

2011 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (Sefcri), Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño, Jeff Absten, David Gilliam, Dick Dodge

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2010 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2010 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Summary), Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2009 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Annual Summary Quality Assessment Report For The Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network, Ruth Justiniano, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2007 Cumulative Annual Report For The Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network (Agreement 4600000352), Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2008 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2007 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

South Florida Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network Fy2006 Cumulative Report To The South Florida Water Management District (Contract No. C-15397 And 4600000352), Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2006 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

South Florida Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network Fy2005 Cumulative Report To The South Florida Water Management District (Contract No. C-15397), Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Fy2005 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Henry O. Briceño

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Benthic Community Monitoring For The Little Venice Sewage Collection And Treatment Project In Marathon, Florida, Joseph N. Boyer, Danielle Mir-Gonzalez, Ronald Jones

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

South Florida Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Network Fy2004 Cumulative Report To The South Florida Water Management District (Contract No. C-15397), Joseph N. Boyer

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Fy2004 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Fy2003 Annual Report Of The Water Quality Monitoring Project For The Water Quality Protection Program Of The South Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Joseph N. Boyer, Ronald Jones

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

The State Of Florida Bay Water Quality (1989-2001), Joseph N. Boyer, Ronald Jones

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Long Term Trends In The Water Quality Of Florida Bay (1989-2000), Joseph N. Boyer, Ronald Jones

SERC Research Reports

No abstract provided.