Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Biology
First Advisor's Name
Evelyn Gaiser
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee chair
Second Advisor's Name
Todd Crowl
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Committee member
Third Advisor's Name
Jennifer Rehage
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee member
Keywords
networks, diatoms, nutrient limitation, periphyton, phosphorus, Everglades
Date of Defense
6-25-2019
Abstract
Ecological network analysis helps identify how relationships among species differ over time and across sets of species. Microbial assemblages are ideal for evaluating changes in species interactions due to environmental changes because they are speciose and respond at multiple scales. To determine how phosphorus limitation influences diatom network structure, I analyzed relationships among 257 species of diatoms from benthic microbial (periphyton) mats from 10 years of annual samples from 136 sites. Expected evidence of changes in network structure in response to periphyton TP were not found, likely due to species replacement with increased TP. Analysis of species connection distributions and the effects of species removal on connections found abundance increases with TP for 32 species with significant roles in network structure, variable abundance for 11 species, and a single species consistently decreased in abundance. This study brings a new methodology of study to the field of ecosystem restoration studies.
Identifier
FIDC007798
Recommended Citation
Massa, Eric M., "Effects of Phosphorus on Benthic Diatom Assemblage Network Structure" (2019). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4235.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4235
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