Date of Award

8-2025

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

Matthew Schuler

Committee Member

Colette Feehan

Abstract

Biofouling communities consist of both mobile and non-mobile species which settle and attach themselves to both natural and artificial substrata. With increased construction of lagoon communities and marinas in Barnegat Bay, NJ utilizing PVC material, it allows space for invasive and generalist species to recruit. This study examines the impacts of man-made structures and abiotic factors on the distribution of recruiting fouling organisms in coastal lagoon communities in Barnegat Bay, NJ. Polyvinyl chloride settling plates were deployed in late May of 2024. Settling plates were retrieved and replaced at one month intervals to assess monthly settlement patterns, while a second set of plates was deployed in May and retrieved in early October to assess how fouling communities developed during the peak recruitment season. Eight Sites contained settling plate arrays, varying in distance from freshwater inputs and exposure to the main bay. Environmental conditions varied among Sites, with northern locations exhibiting lower salinities (16–24 ppt) than southern ones (24–31 ppt), and temperature peaking in mid-summer. Epifaunal community assessments were examined by evaluating the abundance of solitary organisms or the percent cover for colonial organisms colonizing plates. A total of 49 taxa (19 mobile, 30 sessile) were identified. Tunicates, bryozoans, and polychaetes dominated samples including Molgula manhattensis, Hydroides sp., Polydora sp., Membranipora membranacea, and Botryllus schlosseri. Two species of interest were evaluated for their negative impacts on the system: the Atlantic Bay Nettle (Chrysaora chesapeakei)–a persistent and problematic jellyfish–and the invasive Orange-Striped Anemone (Diadumene lineata). Community analyses revealed significant differences in assemblage structure between most Sites, with central-Site clusters sharing dominant taxa like Molgula manhattensis, Polydora sp. and Hydroides sp., while two Sites (M8 and J2) supported more distinct communities. One unexpected result was the active recruitment of the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) at the southernmost sampling Site, as native populations have been decimated. Aquaculture and restoration of Eastern Oysters in the region may have played a role in their recruitment. By analyzing the impact of ongoing lagoon development on fouling community recruitment, a greater understanding can be gained to determine their effects on population and community dynamics for future conservation efforts, which can assist in identifying management strategies to combat invasive and nuisance species.

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