Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
Queen conch in the Florida Keys are slowly recovering from overfishing. This
study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen
conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by
macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment
and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at
each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No
difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when
exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to
offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There
was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the
sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain
aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.
study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen
conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by
macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment
and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at
each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No
difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when
exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to
offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There
was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the
sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain
aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.
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