Artificial Reef Sediment Experiment:
Biological and Sediment Analysis
Grant Trier and Charles T. Lutz
St. Petersburg College, Biology program
St. Petersburg College, Biology program
Abstract:
Artificial reefs were established along the west coast of Florida with the goal of enhancing the area by increasing abundance and diversity of organisms. In order to test this idea, in terms of benthic infaunal composition, sediment samples were collected from local artificial reefs and natural ledges in Pinellas County, FL. These samples were collected from immediately adjacent to the reef and from a distance away from the reef to compare the effects of the presence of the reef on the composition of the sediments. Samples were preserved in formalin and ethanol and stained with Rose Bengal to reveal the organic material. Benthic infanuna was sorted into various taxa. Sediment was then sorted to obtain size fractions. The results showed that a higher percentage of coarse sediment is present in the reef-adjacent samples. Components of the coarse sediment of biological origin are being sorted and identified. Major components include gastropod and bivalve shells, echinoderm spines, calcareous polychaete tubes and hard coral fragments. This presentation is, in part, an update on the results that were presented previously at this meeting. Samples of the living component were further broken down into phyla and compared between sites. The final goal is to compare multiple aspects of the different reefs such as age of the reef, natural ledge vs. artificial structure, composition of the artificial reef structure and depth of reef.
Artificial reefs were established along the west coast of Florida with the goal of enhancing the area by increasing abundance and diversity of organisms. In order to test this idea, in terms of benthic infaunal composition, sediment samples were collected from local artificial reefs and natural ledges in Pinellas County, FL. These samples were collected from immediately adjacent to the reef and from a distance away from the reef to compare the effects of the presence of the reef on the composition of the sediments. Samples were preserved in formalin and ethanol and stained with Rose Bengal to reveal the organic material. Benthic infanuna was sorted into various taxa. Sediment was then sorted to obtain size fractions. The results showed that a higher percentage of coarse sediment is present in the reef-adjacent samples. Components of the coarse sediment of biological origin are being sorted and identified. Major components include gastropod and bivalve shells, echinoderm spines, calcareous polychaete tubes and hard coral fragments. This presentation is, in part, an update on the results that were presented previously at this meeting. Samples of the living component were further broken down into phyla and compared between sites. The final goal is to compare multiple aspects of the different reefs such as age of the reef, natural ledge vs. artificial structure, composition of the artificial reef structure and depth of reef.
