Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gardiner, Jayne

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are influential parts of the ecosystems in which they reside. If there is a drastic drop or shift in their population it can affect not only them, but other species as well. Knowing which areas certain species are using as nursery areas is important from a conservation and management standpoint. In order to classify an area as a nursery site for a species, certain criteria must be met. If an area is being used as a nursery site for one species, often times other species are using it as a nursery ground as well. Terra Ceia Bay is a known blacktip shark nursery. In this study, gillnetting was done spatially throughout Terra Ceia Bay from April to October in order to assess elasmobranch diversity, and abundance. Environmental parameters were also recorded during this time, and then all of this was compared with data from Mote Marine gillnet survey data conducted from 1992 to 2003. This was done in order to determine if shark populations have shifted from then until this field season. It was found that the number of different shark species present changed.

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