Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College/School
College of Science and Mathematics
Department/Program
Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Paul A. X. Bologna
Committee Member
Alexis Khursigara
Committee Member
Colette Feehan
Abstract
The value of seagrasses as essential fish habitat is well recognized, but limited data exist on the value of one particular species, Ruppia maritima (widgeon grass), as habitat for fish and invertebrates. During the summer of 2024, I evaluated R. maritima, Zostera marina (eelgrass) and mixed beds to assess their relative value as habitat in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Results from throw traps indicated significant monthly differences for pipefish, gobies, blue crabs, grass shrimp, and sand shrimp, driven by active recruitment events. When evaluating habitat type, we found no taxa that were significantly more abundant in Z. marina habitat as compared to R. maritima. However, blue crabs, grass shrimp, sand shrimp, and four-spined stickleback all had significantly greater species densities in R. maritima compared to Z. marina, with mixed beds in between. As climate change continues to alter temperature regimes, Z. marina is likely to diminish in many regions with R. maritima potentially filling the ecological void. As such, our findings demonstrate the importance of better understanding the ecology and habitat value of R. maritima as a coastal seagrass.
File Format
Recommended Citation
St. Pierre, Delaney, "Reevaluating the Role of Ruppia maritima: Recruitment Dynamics and Habitat Use by Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and Associated Benthic Fauna in a Mid-Atlantic Seagrass Community" (2025). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 1530.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/1530