Assessing the Biological Performance of Living Docks—A Citizen Science Initiative to Improve Coastal Water Quality through Benthic Recruitment within the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Like many estuaries worldwide, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), has seen a decline in resources and overall water quality due to human activities. One method help restore benthic habitats is construct deploy oyster restoration mats on dock pilings, known as Living Docks program. This community-driven program was founded promote growth of filter-feeding organisms improve local quality. The purpose this study assess performance at four Dock locations provide feedback citizens who were involved initial process deployments. Four docks biologically assessed for temporal changes during three-time points throughout year, denoted by temperature October, February, June. back each mat also analyzed organism cementation piling. presence found vary both spatially temporally, especially eastern (Crassostrea virginica), encrusting bryozoan (Schizobrachiella verrilli), sponges (Demospongiae), barnacles (Amphibalanus amphitrite, Amphibalanus eburneus). A greater diversity sessile flora fauna June sampling period. Cementation pilings combination sponge growth. observed increase from October decrease all but one results demonstrate project be successful promoting organisms, while providing understanding into seasonal trends amongst species. Hopefully, positive output will encourage more community members citizen scientists participate ongoing effort IRL.