Keywords
submerged aquatic vegetation, species interactions, competition, seaweed, estuary
Abstract
Seagrass restoration efforts have been motivated by global decreases in coverage associated with anthropogenic influences on the environment. In the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), FL, seagrass declined by 75% between 2011 and 2021. During this time, abundance of the macroalga Caulerpa prolifera increased substantially in the IRL. The macroalga is native to this estuary, however C. prolifera abundance has fluctuated widely in the past few decades. Being highly opportunistic, C. prolifera took advantage of areas formerly inhabited by seagrass. It is not known how dense, continuous beds of C. prolifera impact seagrass restoration projects or natural recovery of seagrass. Previous studies suggest that C. prolifera interacts negatively with Halodule wrightii, the IRL’s most abundant seagrass. We tested the effect of C. prolifera density on H. wrightii using mesocosms and a field experiment. Within mesocosms, growth of H. wrightii decreased (up to 80% from starting biomass) with increasing C. prolifera density, providing evidence for density-dependent competition between these species. In the field, no effect was found of C. prolifera density on H. wrightii, but average densities were lower than in mesocosms. Biomass removal of C. prolifera was tested to assess benefits to H. wrightii. This method did not improve planting outcomes of the seagrass. Overall, competitive effects of C. prolifera on H. wrightii are detectable when C. prolifera is present in high densities. Practitioners of seagrass restoration should consider C. prolifera abundance as an influential factor regarding restoration projects but may not be as consequential as other drivers of environmental change.
Completion Date
2026
Semester
Spring
Committee Chair
Walters, Linda
Degree
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Sciences
Department
Biology
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Identifier
DP0053271
STARS Citation
Banquero, Luciana M., "Investigating Effects of the Macroalga Caulerpa prolifera on Restoration of the Seagrass Halodule wrightii in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida" (2026). Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026. 24.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/gradstudies_etd_2026/24
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