Predation by fishes and trophic ecology in eelgrass beds (funded by the Port of San Diego; PADI Foundation; Southern California Academy of Sciences; SDSU Master's Program in Ecology)

Levi Lewis's thesis project --

Predators strongly influence community structure and the functioning of ecosystems. The strength of such top-down effects have been investigated in several marine ecosystems. For my research, I am exploring the effects of carnivorous fishes on lower trophic levels in eelgrass ecosystems within San Diego Bay. Specifically, I am manipulating the abundance fishes as predators in determining their effects on their invertebrate prey and their indirect effects on epiphytic algae and eelgrass (Zostera marina) performance.

Results conducted in summer 2007 suggest that fishes have a positive effect on seagrass growth by removing invertebrates that may reduce the photosynthetic potential of eelgrass. This experiment is being repeated during spring 2008 to determine whether expected greater nutrient loads may provide different results in interactions between fishes, invertebrates, and epiphytes.

This page was last modified on May 19, 2008.

SDSU Fish Ecology Lab

For technical problems contact the webmaster: webmaster@rohan.sdsu.edu

The statements found on the Fish Ecology Lab home page are for informational purposes only. Although every effort is made to ensure that this information is up to date and accurate, official information can be found in the University publications http://www.sdsu.edu.