MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
SUBJECT: Ecological structure and function of intertidal and subtidal habitats of Matagorda Bay, TX
ADVISOR: Dr. Jennifer Pollack
ABSTRACT
Estuaries are composed of a variety of intertidal and subtidal habitats connected by flows of energy and organic matter. The different resources produced in these habitats are necessary for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Although the importance of resources and community diversity have been studied individually, few studies combine food web interactions with population dynamics. By joining these two types of analyses, we can reveal changes in ecosystem function by observing niche overlap, functional trophic guilds, and how resource quantity and quality may affect consumer preferences. Together these analyses can help determine how differences in resource acquisition plays a role in ecosystem function of different habitats.
The goal of this dissertation is to establish a better understanding of the ecological structure and function of intertidal and subtidal habitats in Matagorda Bay at the habitat scale (Chapter 1), between-habitat scale (Chapter 2), and bay system scale (Chapter 3), using an integrated approach that combines traditional community metrics (e.g., abundance, biomass, diversity) with food web analyses (e.g. stable isotope composition of food sources and consumers). Understanding the ecological structure and function of estuarine habitats can support resource management and species conservation decisions.
To view this seminar:
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Monday, Apr 19, 2021 11:00 am | 3 hours | (UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada)
Meeting number: 133 693 5143
Password: MARB2021 (62722021 from phones)
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