Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Oberle, Brad
Area of Concentration
Political Science and Environmental Studies
Abstract
Mangroves are coastal wetlands that are critical to the global carbon cycle. Mangroves account for about 10-15% of the carbon sequestered by forests while only occupying 0.5% of the total forested area on the planet. Many mangrove ecosystems in the state of Florida suffer from the historic impacts of ditches that were created to reduce viable breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Unfortunately, the full effects of these ditches on rates of carbon sequestration have yet to be investigated or understood. This thesis presents an exploration of the policies that lead to mosquito ditching in Florida; provides an assessment of the impacts of these ditches on the carbon cycle; and offers a series of recommendations for future policy based on the finding that the ecosystem disturbances caused by mosquito ditches decrease the ability of mangrove ecosystems to sequester carbon.
Recommended Citation
Stryker, Race, "THE EFFECT OF MOSQUITO DITCHING ON CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN MANGROVE ECOSYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS" (2018). Theses & ETDs. 5613.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5613