Soft-Sediment Communities of the Northern Indian River Lagoon, FL, United States

Understanding the structure and function of infaunal communities is useful in determining biodiversity ecosystem shallow estuaries. We conducted a survey within three separate water basins [Mosquito Lagoon (ML), Indian River (IR), Banana (BR)] larger Northern Lagoon, FL, United States to establish database community function. Twenty-seven sites were sampled quarterly from 2014 2016. Analysis all samples determined that basin, season, sediment composition primary drivers macrobenthic composition. Diversity was highest ML, lower spring compared other seasons. The occurrence brown tide ( Aureoumbra lagunensis ) 2016 allowed comparison winter before (2015) during (2016) bloom event. Community diversity at BR most affected by event with lowest abundances bloom. IR also bloom, while ML unaffected Species feeding groups found groups. In addition, determine overall trophic communities, we collected organisms two for isotope analyses. Values δ 13 C 15 N tissue those potential food sources each site. Substantial interspecific variation values site suggests presence diverse nutritional modes include suspension deposit predation. Together, these data suggest contribute benthic pelagic coupling nutrient cycling estuarine but may be tightly linked their species