Biology Graduate Student Publishes in Ecology

by the University of Florida
9/9/2020

Biology graduate student Alexandra Gulick, with co-authors from the National Park Service and the UF Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, recently published a paper in Ecology. Results of the study show that grazing by recovering green turtle populations stimulates seagrass productivity, and that grazing intensity has a relevant role in regulating the productivity of Caribbean seagrass meadows. Authors highlight the need for a historical perspective and the use of appropriate indicators when evaluating seagrass response to grazing, as green turtle populations continue to recover and seagrass meadows are returned to a natural grazed state.

Title: Recovery of a large herbivore changes regulation of seagrass productivity in a naturally grazed Caribbean ecosystem
Authors: Gulick, Alexandra G; Johnson, Robert A; Pollock, Clayton G; Hillis-Starr, Zandy; Bolten, Alan B; Bjorndal, Karen A
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3180
Corresponding author: Alexandra Gulick, ude.lfunull@kcilug.ardnaxela