Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Levell, Samantha

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Seagrass beds are critical habitats that support diverse marine life, and food availability within these ecosystems plays a crucial role in the survival and reproductive success of fish species. In Sarasota Bay, several Syngnathids, including three species of pipefish and two species of seahorses, inhabit these seagrass beds. The Gulf pipefish, Syngnathus scovelli, is one of the most common pipefish species. Our monthly census efforts have revealed a female-biased sex ratio in the natural population. Syngnathus pipefish primarily feed on small crustaceans, including amphipods, copepods, and mysid shrimp. This study investigated potential sex differences in feeding habits between male and female S. scovelli, motivated by observations of females consuming more food than males in captivity. Additionally, there was a difference in prey availability between the wet and dry season in Sarasota Bay, so this study also investigated whether or not that has an impact on the amount and diversity of prey items S. scovelli consumed. Gulf pipefish, along with zooplankton and abiotic data, were collected monthly, between January 2024 and December 2024 to explore how seasonal variations and prey availability within seagrass beds influence their diet. Based on the data that was collected, there were differences found between the sexes and between the seasons. Specifically, the females consumed more, and there were more prey items in the gut samples during the wet season. However, this data was proved to not be statistically significant, meaning further analysis would need to be done to confirm the trends displayed. This data can be used to further research into the gut content and prey preference studies for Syngnathus species and contribute evidence to an overall understanding of the feeding ecology and functional trophic level of this species. Given the role of seahorses and pipefish as flagship species in seagrass beds, this work can provide an assessment of the health of the seagrass ecosystem.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

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