Marine Invertebrate Settlement Microtopography and Biodiversity
Faculty Mentor
Karin Melkonian and Kent Hatch (New College of Florida)
Area of Research
Marine Ecology
Major
Biology
Description
INTRODUCTION: Human impacts on the global marine ecosystem have been studied and recorded since the beginning of the early 20th century. Marine invertebrates give us great insight into how human or anthropogenic impacts and materials have caused these animals to adapt to new environmental cues and factors. Although many scientists have looked into the biochemical, genetic/evolutionary, and ecological cues and changes that have occurred within many populations of marine invertebrates, many have not looked into how they physically adapted to new anthropogenic environments and how it impacted their settlement preference on surfaces.
METHOD: Constructing plates made from ceramic and plexiglass, and using sandpaper to create a microtopographic texture that simulates the natural anthropogenic surfaces the invertebrates may adhere to when developing such as undersides of boats, wooden pier poles, and rocky surfaces.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: By retrieving the plates after sufficient time has passed, and examining the resulting abundance and diversity of marine organisms and their settlement preference, we can study their evolution in upcoming generations as human influence encroaches further and further into the ocean.
Marine Invertebrate Settlement Microtopography and Biodiversity
INTRODUCTION: Human impacts on the global marine ecosystem have been studied and recorded since the beginning of the early 20th century. Marine invertebrates give us great insight into how human or anthropogenic impacts and materials have caused these animals to adapt to new environmental cues and factors. Although many scientists have looked into the biochemical, genetic/evolutionary, and ecological cues and changes that have occurred within many populations of marine invertebrates, many have not looked into how they physically adapted to new anthropogenic environments and how it impacted their settlement preference on surfaces.
METHOD: Constructing plates made from ceramic and plexiglass, and using sandpaper to create a microtopographic texture that simulates the natural anthropogenic surfaces the invertebrates may adhere to when developing such as undersides of boats, wooden pier poles, and rocky surfaces.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: By retrieving the plates after sufficient time has passed, and examining the resulting abundance and diversity of marine organisms and their settlement preference, we can study their evolution in upcoming generations as human influence encroaches further and further into the ocean.