Linda Fitzhugh

Graduate Student

Chemical/Biological Oceanography
Major Professors: Dr. Jeff Chanton and Dr. Richard Iverson

Department of Oceanography
Rm 303, OSB (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4320

Research

I am interested in seagrass habitat and water quality issues. Based on aerial surveys, seagrass coverage in St. Andrew Bay, Florida, has declined at least 17% over the past 30-40 years. In some areas of the bay, this decline represents almost 50% of the seagrass habitat. In severely impacted areas like West Bay, I am looking at the effect of treated wastewater effluent on phytoplankton biomass and epiphyte growth. Both phytoplankton in the water column and epiphytic growth on the seagrass blades decrease the amount of light available for photosynthesis. In the summer of 2003, less than 15% of the light hitting the water's surface reached the seagrass canopy. This is not enough light to support seagrass growth. Using stable isotopes of nitrogen, it appears that nitrogen from a wastewater treatment plant is being incorporated into the tissues of the epiphytes and the seagrasses. Yet in other parts of St. Andrew Bay where treated wastewater effluent is discharged, seagrass coverage has not declined significantly. Why is West Bay different from other parts of St. Andrew Bay? Therefore the question remains: what other factors besides wastewater effluent may be affecting seagrass coverage in West Bay?