BIO

I am a Chemical Engineering student from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; interested in researching the fields of biodegradable polymers, ocean acidification, and clean energy. Researching stable isotopes in Southern Sting Rays allowed me to explore my passion for marine biology, as I find the intricacies of ecosystems fascinating. This project has allowed me to be involved in research relating to the marine environments I hope to preserve through my engineering endeavors.

A Comparison of Stable Isotope Dynamics in Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata) and Southern Stingrays (Hypanus americanus)

Abstract

Stable-isotope analysis (SIA) measures the amount of non-radioactive isotopes which can be used in determining the flow of nutrients throughout food webs, and among the trophic levels. The goals of this experiment were to 1) identify the time taken for a change in trophic level to be reflected in the tissues of elasmobranchs using nitrogen- and carbon-based SIA and 2) compare isotopic signatures of teleosts and elasmobranchs feeding at the same trophic levels. The diet of Hypanus americanus (Southern stingray) and Centropristis striata (black sea bass) were controlled. They were fed a primary consumer diet (shrimp) for 11 weeks, then switched to a secondary consumer diet (squid) for 11 more weeks. Blood and muscle samples were taken weekly for the Southern stingrays and every 2-3 weeks for black sea bass. These samples were then prepped and sent for stable isotope analysis. It has been assumed that teleosts and elasmobranchs have the same isotopic signatures across trophic levels, however, due to their vastly different physiologies, we expect to see a different result. This will aid ecological studies, as researchers will be able to better interpret isotopic signatures of tissues by gaining knowledge regarding the time frame in which trophic shifts will be reflected.

Keywords: Marine Biology Isotopes