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Comparison of diel pH changes in seagrass meadows and hard-bottom habitats
University Scholars Program
Summer 2025-Present
PI: Dr. Laura Reynolds
University of Florida
Department of Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences
My goal is to compare diel water pH fluctuations in neighboring hard-bottom and seagrass habitats. There may be a buffering capacity of hard-bottom habitats towards diel pH fluctuations in seagrass meadows.
Study area: Along the Gulf Coast of Florida, SMMAP consists of many habitats such as seagrass beds, hard-bottom habitats, and mangroves. Extensive seagrass beds intermixed with hard-bottoms provide a variety of organisms habitat, acting as a nursery for juveniles.
Methods: pH Sample collection: I will set up 3 paired sites — with a hard bottom and seagrass site separated by at least 100m in each pair. At each site, I will set out pH loggers. The loggers will collect data every 30 minutes. Each logger will be set out for 7 days to fully characterize the changing pH.
