Thesis Defense Seminar - Tiffany Chin

Seminar
Starts
July 1, 2020
10:00 am
Ends
July 1, 2020
11:00 am
Venue
via WebEx
Highlight
Virtual presentation will be available via WebEx

Due to COVID-19 precautions, this seminar will only be available for viewing via WebEx.

MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI

SUBJECT: Comparison of Phytoplankton Biomass and Community Composition in Three Texas Estuaries Differing in Freshwater Inflow Regime

MAJOR ADVISOR: Dr. Michael Wetz

ABSTRACT

Phytoplankton are sensitive indicators of environmental change, including changes to freshwater inflow in estuaries. Because freshwater inflows to Texas estuaries are projected to decrease in the coming decades, understanding ecosystem-level responses to freshwater inflow variability is critical. This study examined phytoplankton community composition, biomass and relationships to environmental variables in three Texas estuaries with differing freshwater inflow regimes: San Antonio Bay (SA, highest inflow), Nueces-Corpus Christi Bay (NC, intermediate inflow), and Baffin Bay (BB, lowest inflow). We hypothesized that: 1) nutrients and phytoplankton biomass would be highest in SA, intermediate in NC, and lowest in BB, and 2) the phytoplankton community would be dominated by large or fast-growing taxa in SA, and small or slow-growing taxa in NC and BB. BB had the highest phytoplankton biovolume, followed by NC and SA. Dinoflagellates were the dominant functional group in SA, while diatoms were a large contributor to biovolume in BB. Inflow events to NC only affected nutrients and phytoplankton in the upper estuary, with no obvious influence downstream. Observed biovolume and community composition trends were contrary to our hypotheses, underscoring the importance of understanding system-specific drivers and ecological responses for effective coastal management.

TO VIEW:

https://tamucc.webex.com/tamucc/j.php?MTID=md4fa11058e0e085d1fed127da6247e03

By phone:
Meeting number (access code): 133 402 3165
Meeting password: gT3XZmtM826 (48399686 from phones)