Distribution of Diatoms and Development of Diatom-Based Models for Inferring Salinity and Nutrient Concentrations in Florida Bay and Adjacent Coastal Wetlands of South Florida (USA) |
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Authors: | Anna Wachnicka Evelyn Gaiser Laurel Collins Thomas Frankovich Joseph Boyer |
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Institution: | (1) Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, University Park, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL OE 148, USA;(2) Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA;(3) Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA |
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Abstract: | The composition and distribution of diatom algae inhabiting estuaries and coasts of the subtropical Americas are poorly documented,
especially relative to the central role diatoms play in coastal food webs and to their potential utility as sentinels of environmental
change in these threatened ecosystems. Here, we document the distribution of diatoms among the diverse habitat types and long
environmental gradients represented by the shallow topographic relief of the South Florida, USA, coastline. A total of 592
species were encountered from 38 freshwater, mangrove, and marine locations in the Everglades wetland and Florida Bay during
two seasonal collections, with the highest diversity occurring at sites of high salinity and low water column organic carbon
concentration (WTOC). Freshwater, mangrove, and estuarine assemblages were compositionally distinct, but seasonal differences
were only detected in mangrove and estuarine sites where solute concentration differed greatly between wet and dry seasons.
Epiphytic, planktonic, and sediment assemblages were compositionally similar, implying a high degree of mixing along the shallow,
tidal, and storm-prone coast. The relationships between diatom taxa and salinity, water total phosphorus (WTP), water total
nitrogen (WTN), and WTOC concentrations were determined and incorporated into weighted averaging partial least squares regression
models. Salinity was the most influential variable, resulting in a highly predictive model (r
apparent2 = 0.97, r
jackknife2 = 0.95) that can be used in the future to infer changes in coastal freshwater delivery or sea-level rise in South Florida
and compositionally similar environments. Models predicting WTN (r
apparent2 = 0.75, r
jackknife2 = 0.46), WTP (r
apparent2 = 0.75, r
jackknife2 = 0.49), and WTOC (r
apparent2 = 0.79, r
jackknife2 = 0.57) were also strong, suggesting that diatoms can provide reliable inferences of changes in solute delivery to the coastal
ecosystem. |
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Keywords: | |
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