Abundance of Free-Living Cyanobacterial Nitrogen Fixers on the West Florida Shelf

Authors

• Ashley Gielazyn, University of South Florida
• Emma Graves, University of South Florida
• Christa Baranowski, University of South Florida
• Kristen Buck, Oregon State University
• Salvatore Caprara, Oregon State University
• P. Dreux Chappell, University of South Florida

Document Type

Poster Session

Publication Date

1-24-2026

Abstract

• Bio-available nitrogen is scarce in the ocean. An important source of bioavailable nitrogenisnitrogen fixation, which can only be done by select organisms.
• Trichodesmium is a cyanobacterial nitrogen fixer.
• T. thiebautii and T. erythraeum are considered the representative species of the two major clades of Trichodesmium.
• Trichodesmium can be found on the West Florida Shelf, which is a highly productive, yet oligotrophic environment.
• There is limited research on the abundance of nitrogen fixers such as Trichodesmium on the WFS, especially at the clade level.
• This project looks at where and in what quantities the two major clades of Trichodesmium can be found along the WFS.

Rights Information

Terms of use for work posted in Scholar Commons.

Scholar Commons Citation

Gielazyn, Ashley; Graves, Emma; Baranowski, Christa; Buck, Kristen; Caprara, Salvatore; and Chappell, P. Dreux, "Abundance of Free-Living Cyanobacterial Nitrogen Fixers on the West Florida Shelf" (2026). Making Waves REU. 24.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/making-waves_reu/24