HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Title
Segregation of Palaemonid Shrimp Along the Shark River Estuary: Implications for Trophic Function
Defense Date
8-2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. Marine Biology
Department
Oceanographic Center
First Advisor
Jennifer S. Rehage
Second Advisor
James D. Thomas
Third Advisor
William F. Loftus
Abstract
This study examined the abundance, distribution, and spatiotemporal variation of palaemonid shrimp species in relation to season and salinity in the Shark River Estuary, Everglades National Park (ENP), Florida, USA. Five palaemonid species occurred in the samples: Palaemonetes paludosus, P. pugio, P. intermedius, Palaemon floridanus, and Leander paulensis; L. paulensis was collected only during the wet season. Overall, shrimp catches in traps doubled in the dry season. Catches in the upper estuary were dominated by P. paludosus, particularly in the wet season, while catch per unit effort (CPUE) at the most downstream, highest salinity sites were dominated by Palaemon floridanus. At mid-estuary, several species co-occurred. To investigate spatiotemporal shifts in trophic position of the shrimp, stable-isotope analysis was used. δ15N analyses revealed most species filled similar roles in the community, with the exception of P. paludosus, which shifted from enrichment in the dry season to depletion in the wet season. Palaemonid δ13C values varied between sites and seasons, with shrimp in upstream sites being more depleted than downstream sites. These data suggest that changes in salinity regimes resulting from restoration may result in species replacement, with potential implications for trophic dynamics.
NSUWorks Citation
Lauren C. McCarthy. 2009. Segregation of Palaemonid Shrimp Along the Shark River Estuary: Implications for Trophic Function. Master's thesis. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Oceanographic Center. (232)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_stuetd/232.
Comments
Funding for this study was provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Work Order 12) under CERP-MAP, the South Florida Water Management District (4500021922) under MAP Activity GE 3.1.4.7, the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Grant No. DBI-0620409 and by NSU President's Faculty Research and Development Grant No. 335452.