The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) stretches 251 kilometers along Florida’s east coast and is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Mosquito Lagoon, the northernmost portion of the IRL, is home to mangroves and intertidal oyster reefs that provide numerous ecosystem services. These two habitats are overlapping as climate change drives mangroves poleward. Scientists have documented mangrove expansion and the transition of oyster reef habitat to mangrove islands. Past studies have shown large, adult mangrove stands drive soil acidification. The goal of this study was to understand if stand-alone, or pioneer, Rhizophora mangle (red mangroves) and Avicennia germinans (black mangroves) acidify intertidal Crassostrea virginica (eastern oyster) reef sediment. We collected porewater (i.e., water within sediment) and measured pH with a portable pH meter. Porewater pH was sampled from 0 to 1 meter away from pioneer mangroves in 20 cm increments. Closest to the mangrove trunk, reef sediment pH was significantly more acidic (mean pH of 7.18 for R. mangle and 7.02 for A. germinans) compared to oyster reef-only control areas with a mean pH of 7.44 (p-value < 0.001 for both mangrove species). By 1 meter away from the mangrove trunk, the pH for both mangrove species was no longer significantly different from the control areas (p-value = 1.0), indicating mangrove-driven acidification has a localized effect on oyster reef sediments. Acidification weakens oyster shells, and by understanding the extent of mangroves’ acidic effects on oyster reefs, resource managers can use this information to protect declining oyster reef habitat.
About the Author
Cindy Whitten graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and certificate in GIS. During her time at UCF she was a research assistant and lab technician for the University of Central Florida’s Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Laboratory, for Dr. Linda Walters. Her interests include ecosystem services species, ecosystem restoration, conservation biology, and studying anthropogenic factors on the environment.
Andres Alatorre is a student at the University of Central Florida obtaining a B.S. in Molecular Microbiology. He works as a leader in science communication and environmental education, as well as working on marine restoration. His interests include coral genetic engineering, red lionfish population management, and HIV epidemiology.
Nicole Campbell is a student at the University of Central Florida obtaining a B.S in Biology with emphasis on Marine and Aquatic Biology and a minor in Anthropological Archaeology. She is a dedicated member of the Burnett Honors College, and strives to be a leader in science education. Her interests include animal care, rehabilitation, and environmental education with youth and the general public.
Savanna Freeman is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in general biology with a marine science focus at the University of Central Florida. She is an undergraduate researcher under Professor Anna Savage in the Savage lab at the University of Central Florida, studying amphibian diseases. Her interests include coral reef ecology, how human activities affect the ocean from a global perspective, and diseases in marine flora.
Sydney Henderson is a first-generation student at the University of Central Florida obtaining a B.S. in Biology with emphasis on Marine and Aquatic Biology and a minor in Geosciences. She works as an undergraduate researcher under Dr. Kristy Lewis in the Lewis Lab of Applied Coastal Ecology at the University of Central Florida. Her interests include marine rehabilitation, trophic ecology, and marine conservation and education.
Kate McLendon graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. She is currently working on her M.S. in Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida where her research focuses on quantifying the prey field response to coral branches through the use of high-speed cameras. Connor Wright is a student at the University of Central Florida obtaining a B.S in Biology with emphasis on Marine and Aquatic Biology. He is an avid supporter and volunteer in marine and coastal environmental protection and restoration as well as the education of others on the topic. His interests include the studying and protection of reef shark species and public outreach.
June Davison is a student at the University of Central Florida obtaining a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. She works as a leader at the UCF Arboretum with a focus on pollinators and their ecosystems. Her interests include conservation of marine ecosystems, the relationship between flora and fauna, and marine reptiles.
Madison Ganci graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Biology with emphasis on Marine and Aquatic Biology. She works at Florida International University Center for Aquatic Chemistry and Environment Nutrient Analysis Lab. Her interests include marine predator ecology and conservation.
Katherine Harris is a Ph.D. student at the University of Central Florida studying coastal ecology and science communication. Her ecology research focuses on understanding processes that contribute to habitat shifts driven by climate change, particularly the shift between oyster reefs and mangrove forests. Additionally, Katherine is studying the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as a method of science communication to assess if VR can positively impact attitude and increase awareness for threatened coastal habitats.
Recommended Citation
Whitten, Cindy; Alatorre, Andres; Campbell, Nicole; Freeman, Savanna; Henderson, Sydney; McLendon, Kate; Wright, Connor; Davison, June; Ganci, Madison; and Harris, Katherine
(2023)
"Determining the Extent of Pioneer Mangrove Acidification on Intertidal Oyster Reefs,"
The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 15:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol15/iss1/5
