Theses/Dissertations from 2026
Thesis: Diet Composition and Trophic Ecology of Hypanus say and Hypanus sabinus in the Indian River Lagoon, FL, Shelby Boyles
Thesis: Geographical and Anatomical Microbiome Variation in Invasive Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana), Amanda A. Diaz
Thesis: Patterns of Calf-Initiated Contact Exchanges in Bottlenose Dolphins based on Sex and Age, Savanna Marie Duda
Thesis: Elasmobranchii oral microbiome diversity within Southeast Florida: Implications of shark zoonotic and antibiotic resistant pathogens associated with human interactions, Amanda Finnefrock
Thesis: Environmental Drivers of Stingray Movement: Insights from Hypanus say in the Indian River Lagoon, Mary E. Gardella
Thesis: Histological analysis of six Atlantic scleractinian coral species exposed to three hydrocarbons, 1-methylnapthalene, phenanthrene, and toluene, Jalyn R. Lee
Thesis: Peruvian Pinniped Canines as Indicators of Trace Element Bioaccumulation in the Humboldt Current Upwelling Marine Ecosystem, Ally E. Sheehan
Thesis: A Series of Investigations on the L. cornutus Host System and Bivesiculid sp. Cercariae, Briana K. Zaffiro
Theses/Dissertations from 2025
Thesis: Optimization of Light Spectrum During the Early Grow-out of Caribbean Corals, Liam A. Abrams
Thesis: Effects of Oil Spill Response Agents on Scleractinan Corals Acropora cervicornis and Porites divaricata, Austin Blakeslee
Thesis: Trace Element Contamination in the Coastal Gray Wolves of Southeast Alaska, Miranda Brohman
Thesis: Microbial Community and Water Quality Assessment of Crassostrea virginica Habitats in Southeast Florida, Stacy Brown
Thesis: The Characterization and Detection of Human Associated Pathogens Within Aquatic Sediments in Florida, Athena Giorgiou Capetanakis
Thesis: eDNA Surveys for the Critically Endangered Caribbean Staghorn Coral, Acropora cervicornis (Lamarck, 1816), Pari Elaine Cribbins
Thesis: Optimizing Coral Sexual Propagation Ex Situ: Synergistic Effects of Multiple Cues on the Larval Settlement of Caribbean Corals, Chloe Daniel
Thesis: Acute Toxicity of Arsenate and Arsenite in Two Scleractinian Coral Species: Acropora cervicornis and Orbicella faveolata, Cailey Dorman
Dissertation: Using Satellite Tracking and Stable Isotopes to Characterize the Movements, Core-use Areas, and Distribution of Loggerhead and Green Turtles Nesting in South Florida, USA: Internesting, Foraging, and Migration, Glenn D. Goodwin
Thesis: Influence of Lunar Light on Vertical Distributions of Myctophid, Hygophum taaningi, Meta Hughes
Thesis: Identification of Crustose Coralline Algae Species in Florida and Their Ability to Induce Larval Settlement of Caribbean Corals, Danielle Macias
Thesis: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Population Change in Gorgonia ventalina on Florida's Coral Reef, Michelle Mair
Thesis: Algal turf-sediment dynamics across Florida’s Coral Reef, Nicole Messerlian
Thesis: Genomic Annotation and Biological Characterization of Three Novel Gordonia rubripertincta Bacteriophages, Sri Rishitha Nannapaneni
Thesis: Biomarkers that Could Explain Parasite-Induced Behavioral Alterations in the Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) – Posthodiplostomum System, Laura D. Nicolas
Thesis: Line Transect Surveys and Initial Estimates of Abundance for Sea Turtles in Biscayne National Park, Florida., Kathryn C. Price
Thesis: Shark Wildlife Tourism’s Influence on Conservation Efforts, Elizabeth C. Saraf
Thesis: The Trophic Ecology of the snipe eel Avocettina infans (Anguilliformes: Nemichthyidae) in the Deep-Pelagic Gulf of Mexico, Emma N. Schindler
Thesis: The benefits of high phosphate concentration (10N : 1P) and diagonal orientation on the ex situ grow-out of Caribbean coral juveniles, Ashley Shen
Thesis: Abundance, Distribution, and Shoaling of Driftfishes and Allies (Scombriformes: Stromateoidei) in the Pelagic Gulf of Mexico, Juliet Tretler
Thesis: Predicting the Structure of the YscF Polymer in the Type III Secretion System of Yersinia pestis Using AlphaFold3, Andrew Utinans
Thesis: Predation, Survivorship, and Growth of Outplanted Fragments of Orbicella faveolata in Southeast Florida, US, Alex S. Wagner
Theses/Dissertations from 2024
Thesis: Histology and Cell Culture of Octocoral, Antillogorgia americana, to Enhance their Potential for Genomics and Conservation, Rachel H. Bacaner
Thesis: Euhaplorchis sp. A Effect on Social Behavior and Familiarity of Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis), Hannah Bauman
Thesis: Metabolic Response of the Code Goby (Gobiosoma robustum) to Estuarine Climate Change Forecasts, Karli S. Corey
Thesis: Differences in Secondary Consumer Behavioral Responses to Predators on Natural and Artificial Reefs in South Florida, Lauren E. Dalton
Thesis: Caribbean Gorgonian Coral-Zooxanthellae Network: Establishing Critical Symbiotic Relationships in an Uncertain Climate, Brady Estrada
Thesis: Understanding Bigeye Scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) in Southeast Florida: Age-growth, Reproduction, and Diet, Mariah France
Thesis: Estimating the Carbon Flux Contributions of Three Common Myctophids in the Gulf of Mexico, Mary S. Gad
Thesis: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Parrotfish (Scaridae) Population Structure Across Florida’s Coral Reef, Zachary T. Graff
Thesis: A Comparative Analysis of Extant Oceanic Shark Species Using Trait-Based Ecology, Elizabeth A. Johnson
Thesis: Species Detection and Discovery of Zoanthidea Symbiotic with Deep-sea Gorgonians, Saige Jost
Thesis: Understanding the Relationship Between [ATP], Growth Rate, and Inoculum Effect in β-Lactamase Producing Bacteria, Ariane R. Kalifa
Thesis: Trophic Ecology of Black Swallowers (Scombriformes: Chiasmodontidae: Chiasmodon) In the Deep-Pelagic Gulf of Mexico, Travis J. Kirk
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Metazoan Endoparasites of King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) as Possible Biological Tags, Charles Klingler
Thesis: Assessment of Thermal Preferences and Critical Temperature Tolerance Polygons on Mangrove Fish and Invertebrates From South Florida, Jailynn Konkler
Thesis: Frequent Disease Intervention on the Largest Corals Prolongs Colony Life During Coral Disease Outbreaks, Allie Kozachuk
Thesis: The Trophic Ecology and Vertical Distribution of the Deep-Pelagic Fish Scombrolabrax heterolepis (Scombriformes: Scombrolabracidae), an ‘Advanced’ Fish in a World of ‘Primitive’ Fishes, Kathryn Lim
Thesis: The Effects of Simulated Predation and Nursery Structure on Post-Outplant Survival and Growth of Sexual Juveniles of Six Caribbean Coral Species, Jarrod Little
Thesis: Comparisons of Buried and Unburied Benthic Communities on Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, Michael McDonough
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Polymicrobial Growth Dynamics: Inter-Species Interactions and Antibiotic Sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, Trent D. Moulder
Thesis: Microplastic Quantification on the Effect of Endoparasite Communities in Florida Seabirds, Sarah N. Prieto
Thesis: Emotional Response in Working Memory of Individuals with Latent Toxoplasmosis, Antonella Quimbayo
Thesis: Applying Integrative Systematics to Zoanthidea Specimens of the Okeanos Explorer RV Expeditions, Emily M. Salonia
Thesis: Comparing Metabolism and Hypoxia Tolerance of Native and Non-Native Florida Freshwater Fishes in Climate Change Scenarios, Benjamin A. Share
Thesis: Assessment and Prioritization of Contaminants of Concern Along Florida's Coral Reef, Ellen Regina E. Skelton
Thesis: Estimating the Carbon Flux of Argyropelecus aculeatus Within the Gulf of Mexico, Sidney R. Trimble
Thesis: Spatiotemporal Patterns in Orbicella Faveolata Wound Regeneration as an Indicator of Colony Health, Alexander G. Wheeler
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Temporal Effects of Recurrent Disturbances on Coral Traits on High-Latitude Marginal Coral Reefs, Samara Zinman
Thesis: One-Time Broadscale SCTLD Intervention Effectiveness on Montastraea cavernosa in an Endemic Zone, Amanda Zummo
Theses/Dissertations from 2023
Thesis: Growth Environment Affects Virulence Factor Expression in Biofilm Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an unstable environment., Fatima Abu-Rumman
Thesis: A Rapid Site Selection Assessment as an Indicator of Stony Coral Microfragment Outplant Success, John J. Alfirevich
Thesis: Do Mesopelagic Fish Biomass Patterns Change in Response to Major Oceanographic Features in the Northern Gulf of Mexico?, Ian M. Areford
Thesis: Assessing the Dynamics of the Southeast Florida Shark Community from 2013-2019 Via Catch per Unit Effort and Stable Isotope Analysis, Alexandra Barth
Thesis: A Forensic Assessment of Current Water Quality Using IDEXX Techniques in the Himmarshee Canal and New River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Catherine Margaret Bilodeau
Thesis: Prevalence, Faunal Composition, and Vertical Distribution of Bioluminescence in the Pelagic Gulf of Mexico: Fishes, Crustaceans, Cephalopods and Gelatinous Megaplankton, Devynne M. Brown
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Accumulation of Trace Elements in Northern Sea Otter Vibrissae (Enhydra lutris kenyoni), Kayli L. Burke
Thesis: Quantifying Phenotypic Variation Among the Head Photophores and Nasal Rosettes of the Myctophid Species, Diaphus Dumerilii in Relation to Body Size, Ryan E. Byrne
Thesis: Heavy Metal Content in Eggs from Wild and Managed-Care Humboldt Penguins, Mya Daniels-Abdulahad
Thesis: Age and Growth for Three Members of the Family Gempylidae: Escolar (Lepidocybium Flavobrunnuem), Oilfish (Ruvettus Pretiosus), and Snake Mackerel (Gempylus Serpens), Sydney N. Daniels
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Growth Productivity Determines the Inoculum Effect of Aminoglycosides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gabriela Diaz-Tang
Thesis: Parasites Versus Predation: The Role of Chronic and Acute Parasite Exposure in Infection Risk and Anti-Predator Behavior, Delaney Farrell
Thesis: Desperate Larva Or Death Before Dishonor: Can Old Coral Larvae Replenish Degraded Reefs?, Nepsis García Lara
Thesis: Restoration of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Susceptible Species in the Arrecife de Puerto Morelos National Park, Mexico Using Colony Microfragmentation, Marina Garmendia
Thesis: Psammocora stellata Distribution at Devil's Crown, Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, María José Guarderas Sevilla
Thesis - NSU Access Only: High Residency of a Critically Endangered Hammerhead Shark to a Small Area of the Colombian Pacific Coast: Implications for Marine Protected Area Design, Maria Alejandra Herrera
Thesis: Evaluating the Effect of Symbiodiniacea on Survival, Growth, and Acquisition of Newly Settled Corals of Three Caribbean Species, Michael B. Hood
Thesis: The Effect of Water Flow Rates on the Survival and Growth Rates of Three Caribbean Bouldering Coral Species Juveniles in an Indoor versus Outdoor Environment, Ian Michael Johnson
Thesis: The Potential for Top-Down Control of the Corallivorous Gastropod Coralliophila Galea and Its Effect on Coral Reef Ecosystems, Tanya Y. Kamerman
Dissertation: Characterizing Ocean Surface and Internal Wave Magnetic Signatures: Laboratory, Field, and Glider-based Observations, John A. Kluge
Thesis: Spawning Asynchrony of the Endangered Acropora cervicornis: Are Light Pollution and Abnormally Warm Temperatures the Culprits?, Krista Laforest
Dissertation: Movement, Behavior, and Trophic Ecology of a Pelagic Predator Guild in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, Ryan Keith Logan
Thesis: Growth Productivity Serves as a Determinant of the Inoculum Effect in Staphylococcus aureus, Estefania Marin Meneses
Thesis: The Plastic Pandemic: Examining Surgical Face Mask Degradation in the Marine Environment in Times of COVID-19, Christopher J. Mayer
Thesis: Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Internal Wave Interactions on Conch Reef, Florida Keys, Megan Miller
Thesis: Cytokine Profiles in Peruvian Pinnipeds and Their Relationships with Environmental Stressors, Mykenzee L. Munaco
Thesis: An Ecological Assessment of the Deep-Pelagic Fish Genus Cyclothone (Gonostomatidae; Stomiiformes), Possibly the World’s Most Abundant Fishes, in the Gulf of Mexico, Olivia C. North-Menthonnex
Thesis: Twenty Years of Change in a Southeast Florida Acropora Cervicornis Thicket, Daniel Perez
Thesis: Exploring Host-Parasite Interactions in the Euhaplorchis Californiensis-Fundulus Parvipinnis System, Bennett J. Perry
Thesis: Coral Castles: Protecting Polyps from Parrotfish Predation, Kyle Anthony-Kicking Bear Pisano
Thesis: Optimization of Light Spectrum During Coral Grow-out, Daisy N. Ponce
Thesis: Investigating the Effects of a Southward Flow in the Southeastern Florida Shelf Using Robotic Instruments, Alfredo Quezada
Thesis: The Endoparasite Fauna of Mesopredatory Mesopelagic Teleosts, Alexander U. Rayburn
Thesis: Applying Integrative Systematics to the Poorly Explored Symbiotic Relationships Between Echinoderms and Zoanthidea, Savannah Renken
Thesis: Evaluating Post-Release Survival and Distribution of Juvenile Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Caught on Buoy Gear Within the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits, Cody Rewis
Thesis: Cnidae in Integrative Systematics of Zoanthidea: A Sticking Point, Melissa Rex
Thesis: Addressing Water Hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) Impacts on Aquatic Biota in Lake Okeechobee, Joseph Salerno
Thesis: Effects of Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms on the Microbial Community Within Lake Okeechobee, FL, USA, Paisley S. Samuel
Thesis: Using Carbon Source Preference to Modulate the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in Co-Culture., Elinor Sevy
Thesis: Heavy Metals within the Hawaiian Islands Archipelago as Evidenced in the Hawaiian Monk Seal and Their Prey, Yvanna M. Strait
Thesis: Fishing and Fear Effects Interact to Shape Herbivory on Coral Reefs, Bethany M. Tilton
Dissertation: Microscale to Mesoscale Modeling of the Ocean Under Tropical Cyclones: Effects of Sea Spray and Surfactants on Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Air-Sea Gas Exchange, Breanna Lynn Cain Vanderplow