Using GIS to Analyze the Causes and Impacts of Red Tide (Karenia brevis) on the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Gulf Coast of Florida
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Environmental Science
Minor
Wildlife & Conservation Biology; Spanish
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Mrs. Jane Benson
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Red tide, caused by the algae Karenia brevis, is an algal bloom event that occurs annually in the Gulf of Mexico. The algae releases brevetoxin, a toxin that can be fatal to wildlife in high concentrations. In the past several decades, these algal bloom events have become more extreme due to warming ocean temperatures and increased nutrient runoff from urbanization. As a result, there has been an increase in the mortality of marine organisms like the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). This study analyzes the changes in nutrient runoff and sea surface temperatures, and how these factors affected red tide cell concentrations and manatee mortalities on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Four years (2003, 2013, 2018, and 2021), each with 100 or more red tide-related manatee mortalities, were analyzed using GIS modeling, mapping, and analysis. It is hypothesized that years with more urban land cover and warmer sea surface temperatures had higher concentrations of Karenia brevis and therefore caused more red tide-related manatee deaths in Florida's Gulf Coast.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Using GIS to Analyze the Causes and Impacts of Red Tide (Karenia brevis) on the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Gulf Coast of Florida
Red tide, caused by the algae Karenia brevis, is an algal bloom event that occurs annually in the Gulf of Mexico. The algae releases brevetoxin, a toxin that can be fatal to wildlife in high concentrations. In the past several decades, these algal bloom events have become more extreme due to warming ocean temperatures and increased nutrient runoff from urbanization. As a result, there has been an increase in the mortality of marine organisms like the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). This study analyzes the changes in nutrient runoff and sea surface temperatures, and how these factors affected red tide cell concentrations and manatee mortalities on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Four years (2003, 2013, 2018, and 2021), each with 100 or more red tide-related manatee mortalities, were analyzed using GIS modeling, mapping, and analysis. It is hypothesized that years with more urban land cover and warmer sea surface temperatures had higher concentrations of Karenia brevis and therefore caused more red tide-related manatee deaths in Florida's Gulf Coast.