ORCID

0009-0000-7775-6111

Keywords

Hydrodynamics, Sediment Transport, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

Subject Categories

Marine Biology | Oceanography

Abstract

Seagrasses protect coasts by altering local hydrodynamics and sediment transport. Canopy characteristics drive flow-canopy interactions; however, traits vary seasonally and in response to disturbance. A one-year field investigation was undertaken in Mosquito Lagoon, FL to examine flow and sediment transport response to seasonal change in a Halodule wrightii meadow. Waves and suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) were observed in H. wrightii canopy and bare sediment areas throughout a growth season, where mean percent cover increased from 43.2% to 63.6% and mean canopy height rose from 11.7 cm to 21.4 cm. During seagrass establishment, mean wave energy and SSC were similar in seagrass and bare sediment (0.47 vs 0.43 J/m2; 29.44 vs 31.85 mg/L)but were 17% and 44.3% lower in seagrass after canopy growth. Late in the growing season, offshore wave energy was amplified over seagrass by up to 40.8%, indicating shoaling, particularly when submergence was over 4.3. During senescence, there was no relationship between incident and seagrass wave energy. As canopy evolved through the late growth season, median SSC in seagrass became higher than bare sediment (167.94 mg/L vs 12.94 mg/L). However, seagrass SSC was not well predicted by bed shear stress or turbulence. Mean turbulence observed within seagrass was 1.84x10-4 m2/s2 with 55.7% of the total attributed to stem-generated turbulence. Submergence was influential to seagrass SSC. When Sr< 3.5, median SSC was 58.6 mg/L, ~51% greater than median SSC recorded when Sr>3.5 (28.6 mg/L). By quantifying seasonal variation of hydrodynamics and sediment transport, findings inform restoration and natural infrastructure design.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Kibler, Kelly

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil Environmental and Construction Engineering

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Release Date

8-15-2027

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Available for download on Sunday, August 15, 2027

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