Increased temperature effects on fish-mediated nutrient cycling in an East Texas stream

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorHargrave, Chad W.
dc.creatorMcWilliams, Jessica Lynn
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-29T15:31:24Z
dc.date.available2017-11-29T15:31:24Z
dc.date.created2017-12
dc.date.issued2017-11-07
dc.date.submittedDecember 2017
dc.date.updated2017-11-29T15:32:27Z
dc.description.abstractThe unprecedented rate of global warming is an inevitable outcome of anthropogenic CO2 release into the atmosphere and complex climatic feedbacks. In ectotherms, increasing temperature may increase metabolic rates, which could enhance the energy demands of individuals and should accelerate resource acquisition. Population size and fish biomass were measured seasonally in a small second order stream over a 10-year period to examine seasonal variation in these parameters. I examined effects of increased temperature on nitrogen and phosphorus excretion in the four most abundant fish in this stream system. These fishes represent three functional feeding guilds common to many temperate stream ecosystems and comprise approximately 80-90% of the fish community. I developed temperature dependent nitrogen and phosphorus excretion models for fishes and applied these models to daily average temperatures in the stream. I then simulated climate warming (+2, +4, & +6°C) to examine the potential effects of increased temperature on fish-mediated nutrient dynamics in a southern temperate stream ecosystem. I found that increased temperature does increase nutrient cycling and nutrient flux within aquatic ecosystems; however, these effects appear to be tied to population size, biomass in addition to seasonal temperature. With increased temperature effects in spring and autumn having the greatest effect, when temperatures are cool and fish abundance and biomass is also greatest.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11875/2319
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectGlobal warming
dc.subjectNutrient cycling
dc.subjectMetabolism
dc.subjectTemperature
dc.subjectExcretion
dc.subjectFish
dc.subjectNitrogen
dc.subjectPhosphorus
dc.titleIncreased temperature effects on fish-mediated nutrient cycling in an East Texas stream
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorSam Houston State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
MCWILLIAMS-THESIS-2017.PDF
Size:
335.58 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
1.86 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
PROQUEST_LICENSE.txt
Size:
5.85 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Electronic Theses and Dissertations