Date of Award
Spring 5-4-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Department
Marine Science
College
College of Science
First Advisor
Angelos Hannides
Abstract/Description
Tidal creeks in the Grand Strand of South Carolina are small but numerous connectors between land and ocean. One of these creeks, White Point Swash, exhibits a seasonal switch between planktonic and benthic photosynthesizers. As plankton become less abundant in fall, benthic macroalgae bloom, aided by lower water levels due to fall-winter dredging of the main channel, until late Spring. This study builds on previous findings and examines sedimentary conditions at this site further. Sedimentary chlorophyll a (in microphytobenthos) and pore water nutrient concentrations are confirmed to be higher than water-column concentrations. Sedimentary nutrient fluxes to the sediment-water interface, calculated using Fick’s First Law, are high and are presumed to drive the observed abundant microphytobenthos and benthic macroalgae. Considering the eutrophication risks posed by blooms of phytoplankton and macroalgae, this study provides further insight into the ecological function of this and other urbanized tidal creeks in the region.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Corbin, Jack B., "Sedimentary Conditions at a Tidal Creek that Exhibits Seasonal Pelagic-Benthic Variations" (2024). Honors Theses. 487.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/honors-theses/487