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INVESTIGATING THE ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY OF SEAGRASS BEDS IN TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA USING BAITED REMOTE UNDERWATER VIDEO (BRUV)**

Abstract

Seagrass beds are one of the most highly productive ecosystems on the planet and provide many ecosystem services. They are being threatened worldwide by anthropogenic activities which include trawling, urbanization, and eutrophication. In this study we focused on the seagrass ecosystems in Tampa Bay, Florida to understand species’ ecology using baited remote underwater video (BRUV) as non-destructive sampling method. The study’s goal is to identify species richness along with inter- and intra-species interaction within Tampa Bay in relation to the depth, water chemistry, season, proximity to seagrass beds, and proximity to anthropogenic activities. Each month between February 2022 and January 2023, we deployed 15 BRUV units equally divided into a shallow depth (1.8 to 3m) group, a mid-depth (3 to 4.8m) group, and a deep depth (4.8 to 6.7 m) group. All three groups paralleled a shallow seagrass bed as well as a deep boating channel and were deployed in a latitudinal gradient. Extensive sampling with 15 BRUVS per depth group was done in February and October 2022. At each deployment site, we collected water quality including turbidity, pH, nitrite, phosphate, salinity, and up to 1.5 hours of video footage. Preliminary results indicate species richness differed among depth groups, with 11 species observed at shallow depths, 13 species observed at mid-depths, and 16 different species observed at deep depths. Identified species varied with depth and species were found across all three depths with the most common being the Hardhead Catfish (Ariopsis felis). Ongoing research is being conducted to identify the inter- and intra-species interactions. We will then test species richness and interactions for any environmental, temporal, and spatial relationships. With this study, we hope to better understand seagrass ecosystems and surrounding habitats by using non-destructive methods to survey coastal communities and identify mobile organisms.

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