Tracing the Source of Nutrients Entering North Central Florida Bay: A Stable Isotope Approach

Authors

Joshua O. Linenfelser, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Jennifer Rehage

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Rolando Santos

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Co-Chair

Third Advisor's Name

René Price

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Fourth Advisor's Name

James Neslon

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Stable isotope, Nutrients, Everglades, Algae, Hydrology, Florida Bay

Date of Defense

11-10-2022

Abstract

Global impacts of coastal nutrient pollution have been recorded as the primary cause of changes in estuaries worldwide. The inability to identify non-point source inputs of nutrients often hinders practical management and mitigation of these nutrient loads. Using stable isotope ecology, this study was carried out to determine the primary sources of nutrients influencing the coastal Everglades ecosystem, specifically in the North-Central Florida Bay region. δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, and δ³⁴S of algae grown at sites throughout this region provided a natural tracer of nutrient loads between hydrologic seasons (wet and dry of 2021-2022) and across an estuarine gradient. Mean δ¹⁵N values (+2 to +3‰), consistent across both space and time, provided evidence that new allochthonous N primarily drives the nutrient regime of this region. Further mixing model analysis identified seasonal shifts in nutrient loads derived from upstream marsh and downstream bay sourced nutrients that followed a north-south spatial gradient.

Identifier

FIDC010958

Recommended Citation

Linenfelser, Joshua O., "Tracing the Source of Nutrients Entering North Central Florida Bay: A Stable Isotope Approach" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5156.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5156