Coastal ecosystems provide essential services like food, water purification, and protection, yet these ecosystems are among the most threatened due to natural and human-driven disturbances. Managing and restoring these ecosystems is a challenge due to the many factors influencing their ecological condition over long periods. Most studies in marine ecology focus on short-term changes (< 50 years), often contributing to shifting baseline syndrome. To effectively restore these systems, managers must consider longer timescales. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has faced human-driven disturbances for centuries, likely leaving lasting impacts. My dissertation examined ecological changes across species, communities, and food webs over varying spatial and temporal scales. First, I explored how the loss of seagrass habitat affected predator-prey relationships in the IRL over a 23-year timespan. Then, I combined modern fisheries-independent data with historical ecological data to assess changes in fish communities and ecosystem condition between present-day and approximately 2,000 to 900 years ago. Key findings showed that ecosystem resilience and flexibility had decreased over time. While some fish species exhibited short-term adaptability, long-term changes revealed a decline in ecosystem resilience and potential shifts in fish communities. This research underscored the importance of considering longer timescales, various spatial dimensions, and multiple layers of ecological complexity when assessing ecosystem change. The findings also advocated for ecosystem-based management approaches, which offers a broader perspective than single-species management. Additionally, this work introduced a novel interdisciplinary method for integrating historical and contemporary data into food web models, providing valuable insight for resource management globally.
Michelle Shaffer
Co-Chairs: Dr. Kristy Lewis & Michelle Gaither
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