Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Oberle, Brad
Area of Concentration
Environmental Studies
Abstract
Urbanization of watersheds causes more runoff to be discharged into surrounding estuaries. Some studies have connected increased discharge to decreased salinity in the estuaries. Salinity is a very important characteristic of these ecosystems, because it can influence biotic distribution. The Sarasota Bay watershed is highly urbanized and stormwater runoff is an established consequence of development. In this study, I looked at the impact of urbanization on salinity in Sarasota Bay, Florida. To detect variation through space and through time, I used spatial data that indicates percent imperviousness, salinity data collected at the mouths of each tidal creek, and time series data downloaded from the Sarasota County Water Atlas. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between urbanization and salinity in the tidal creeks, the exact opposite of what was expected. This urged me to explore other potential factors that affect salinity. Future studies should use higher resolution data and explore causal mechanisms for changes in salinity.
Recommended Citation
Vila, Claudia, "Impact of Urbanization on Salinity of Sarasota Bay Tidal Creeks" (2018). Theses & ETDs. 5620.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5620