Bella Shuler

Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Toro-Farmer, Gerardo

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Seagrass is important to marine ecosystems because of its immense oxygen production, protection provided for and from other organisms, and influence on water quality. Humans have the ability to impact the important marine plant seagrass in several ways. One of the damaging ways that have widespread effects is through propeller scars formed by boats. South of Tampa Bay, the smaller Sarasota Bay has experienced several seagrass restoration projects over the past decades as a result of propeller scarring. This study aimed to determine the number of scars, as well as the hot and cold spots of scarring, and visually analyze the resulting data through the use of GIS. Aerial images obtained from Sarasota County showing seagrass beds in Sarasota Bay from December 2020 through March 2021 were utilized within GIS, and field data collected in March 2022 were applied to complete the analyses and determine several sights in Sarasota Bay that are experiencing severe propeller scarring in seagrass beds. The areas of most severe scarring were identified to be south Sarasota Bay and North Lido Key. The maps created for this project are important as they highlight areas of the bay that are experiencing the longest, and highest amount of propeller scars, that may need further restoration work.

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