Does fishing pier footprint influence sea turtle occupancy and bycatch?

ResearchFaculty Mentor, Dr. Susan Piacenz

Comparing body size of Kemp’s Ridley, Loggerhead and Green sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico via stereo-video cameras

•A standard distribution of straight carapace lengths for each species of sea turtle doesn’t exist. •Using a stereo-video cameras (SVC) to create a 3D model of the turtles. •Body measurements and frequency at each reef can be determined from data collected

Analysis of environmental variables and their correlation to sea turtle occupancy and bycatch

Sea turtles utilize a variety habitats in nearshore environments and benefit from spatial protections (Barnette 2017). Little research has explored sea turtle usage of fishing piers as habitat (Lamont 2021) Sea turtle bycatch at Northwest Florida fishing piers is some of the highest in the state based on data from the Sea Turtles Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN). The effects of bycatch on increased mortality are largely unknown, since it has not been thoroughly investigated. This is a very expensive conservation activity, and it impacts fishing activity at the piers. The factors contributing to this increased bycatch are not well understood

Does fishing pier environmental footprint influence sea turtle occupancy and bycatch?

• Incidental sea turtle hookings at fishing piers in northwest Florida are a prevalent issue. • The greatest number of C. mydas observations and bycatch have occurred at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. • Through continued study of these variables and other environmental factors, sea turtle usage of piers as habitats will be better understood. • The results of this study will also be used to inform sea turtle bycatch mitigation measures at fishing piers

Molecular diversity time series database for northern Gulf of Mexico

While microorganisms are rather small, they encompass a large percentage of the biomass and diversity seen in marine environments. They are the building blocks that makeup the foundations of critical marine food webs. Cataloging and monitoring these organisms is important to understand their vital roles in food webs and nutrient cycling (Azam et al. 1983). It is crucial to establish baseline community dynamics in an aquatic system over an extended period. Once a baseline has been established. we can explore how or why microbial communities change. Through the continuation of this seasona study, we have collected water samples from the Pensacola Beach Pier for over six years, providing a wealth of experience and many molecular diversity samples to be processed

Continuation of Time Series Database for Pensacola Beach microbial ecology

The ocean has some of the most diverse and productive ecosystem communities In the world, specifically microbial communities. • Although quite small, microorganism play important ecological roles in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine environments • Understanding microbial diversity and how these communities change when faced with environmental stressors is important as humans continue to alter the environment. • Baseline datasets provide valuable opportunities to compare and understand the effects of anthropogenic activities on any given environment • By creating a time series database study for microbial communities at Pensacola Beach, seasonal changes in biogeochemical processes, diversity, and community structure could be easily detected and studied