HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations
Theses and dissertations from the graduate programs of Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography at Nova Southeastern University.
Theses/Dissertations from 2014
Thesis: Socioeconomics of the Lionfish Derby Fishery, Kristina Ann Trotta
Thesis: Combined Gut Content-Stable Isotope Trophic Analysis and Satellite Tagging of the Pelagic Stingray Pteroplaytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832) from the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Tiffany A. Weidner
Thesis: Behavioral Criteria for the Diagnosis of Domoic Acid Toxicosis in Zalophus californianus, Christiana Wittmaack
Thesis - NSU Access Only: False Crawls of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta): Causation and Impacts on Nesting Success in Broward County, Florida, Michele Zielinski
Theses/Dissertations from 2013
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Age and Growth of Three Coastal Pelagic Tuna Species in the Florida Straits, Jessica L. Adams
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Historical Analysis of Recreational Beach Enterococci Levels; Using Logistic Regression as an Advisory Tool, Diana Ixchel Aranda
Thesis: Species Composition and Reproductive Strategies of Commensal Synalpheus Shrimp (Decapoda:Alpheidae) Occupying the Sponges Spheciospongia vesparium and Spongia Sp. of the Florida Reef Tract, Brittnee Nicole Barris
Thesis: Distribution of Parasitic Isopods on Caridean Shrimp in South Florida Seagrass Beds, Sarah A. Briggs
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Coral Propagation: A Growth and Survival Comparison among Six Scleractinian Boulder Corals Employing In Situ and Ex Situ Nursery Techniques, Daniel James Crossett
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Age, Growth, and Reproduction of the Pelagic Stingray Pteroplatytrygon violacea in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Matthew G. Dancho
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Effects of Habitat Characteristics on Population Dynamics of Acropora cervicornis in the Near-Shore Environment of Southeast Florida, Nicole L. D'Antonio
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Global Evaluation of Platform-Top Sedimentary Features, Alexandra C. Dempsey
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Survivorship, Growth, and Fecundity of Eunicea flexuosa (Cnidaria: Octocorallia) Transplants, Paola G. Espitia
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Mass Cetacean Strandings in the United States- Comparison of Northeast and Southeast Strandings, 1997-2011, Brielle Friedman
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Using Chaetognatha as Indicators of Water Masses in the Florida Current, Broward County, Florida, Nicholas Brian Gadbois
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Impact of Hurricanes on Caretta caretta Nesting Success, Hatching Success and Washout Rate in Broward County, Collette F. Gilbert
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Small Mammal Survey of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, Dania Beach, Florida., Ryan A. Goldman
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Porites astreoides Larval Response to Acute Salinity Stress, Ana Maria Gonzalez Angel
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Effects of Localized NAO, ONI (ENSO) and AMO Events on Reproductive Patterns in Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles in Broward County, FL, USA, Allison L. Hammill
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Alignment of Shallow Water Carbonate Assemblages Along an Oceanographic Gradient in the Galapagos, Alexander Fendrich Humphreys
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Trophic Trends and General Ecology of the Lionfish Species Complex, Pterois miles and Pterois volitans in Broward County, Florida., Sarah Ann Jasper
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Effect of Air Temperature on the Incubation Period and Hatching Success of In Situ Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Clutches in Broward County, Florida, Lucy Teal Kawana
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Beach Compaction Impact on Nesting Success of Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles: A Comparison Between a Natural and Renourished Beach in Northern Broward County, Florida, Danielle R. Kleppan
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Modeling Environmental Limitations on Remote Sensing of Coral Reef Ecosystems, Christopher Lapointe
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Vascular Corrosion Casts of the Spiral Valve Intestine of Siberian Sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), North American Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and the Yellow Stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis): A Comparative Study, Jennifer A. Lash
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Population Modeling of the Rainwater Killifish, Lucania parva, in Florida Bay Using Multivariate Regression Trees, Pamela C. Marcum
Thesis: Evaluating Acropora cervicornis Growth and Survivorship in a Line Nursery, Zachary Ostroff
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Examination of Trophic Dynamics of the Mangrove Ecosystem in Port Everglades, Florida, USA, Using Stable Isotope Ratios, Kelly Parks
Thesis: Changes in a Tropical Seagrass Environment After Installation of Small Artificial Reefs, Joseph M. Penta
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Light-Use Efficiency of Coral-Reef Communities: A Sensitivity Analysis Using an Optically Based Model of Reef Productivity and Calcification, Denise Perez
Thesis: Characterization of Shark Movements on a Mesophotic Caribbean Coral Reef and Temporal Association with Fish Spawning Aggregations, Alexandra E. Pickard
Dissertation - NSU Access Only: Remote Sensing the Diversity, Distribution and Resilience of Coral Reef Environments, Gwilym Rowlands
Thesis: Robinson Point, Belize: An Important Foraging Ground for Endangered Sea Turtles in the Western Caribbean Sea, Linda Searle
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Tissue Loss Syndromes in Acropora cervicornis off Broward County, Florida: Transmissibility, Rates of Skeletal Extension and Tissue Loss, Abraham Jeffrey Smith
Thesis: De novo Transcriptome Analysis of the Marine Sponge Cinachyrella spp: A Potential Model Organism for Oil and Dispersant Ecotoxicology, Emily Smith
Thesis: Migratory Patterns and Habitat Use of the Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Shara Marie Teter
Thesis: Educating the Masses: Human Attitudes Affecting Reef Health, Ashley Wiehl
Theses/Dissertations from 2012
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Search for Novel Sponge genes: Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression in Multiple Sponges, Tandace L. Burkhart
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Post-Injury Recovery, Reattachment, Survival and Growth of the Giant Barrel Sponge, Xestospongia muta, Offshore Southeast Florida, Stephanie J. Bush
Thesis: Density and Diversity of Penaeid Shrimp and Fish Species in Near-shore Seagrass Beds of Northern Biscayne Bay, Florida (USA), Robin Cascioli
Thesis: Post-Release Survival and Habitat Utilization of Juvenile Swordfish in the Florida Straits, Jenny Fenton
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Diel, Tidal, and Sex Based Differences in Time Spent Feeding by the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), Megan Flora
Thesis - NSU Access Only: One Step Closer to Non-Invasive: Quantifying Coral Zooxanthellae Pigment Concentrations Using Bio-Optics, Harmony Alise Hancock
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Sea Surface Microlayer Microbial Observation System, Naoko Kurata
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Use of Simulation Analyses to Investigate Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) Growth Models in the Atlantic Ocean Incorporating Gear Selectivity, Amanda Levy
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Feasibility of Rubble-Binding Sponge Propagation for Use in Reef Restoration, Emily Christine McGrath
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Learning and Long-Term Memory Formation in Danio rerio Through Two Sensory Modalities, Christopher Morin
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Meta-Transcriptome Profiles of the Marine Sponge, Axinella corrugata and its Microbial Consortia: A Pyrosequencing Approach, Jignasa Patel
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Variable Recovery of the Massive Coral, Porites Lobata, in Response to El Nino-Southern Oscillation Events at Devil's Crown, Galapagos, Ecuador, Nicole Christine Paul
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Juvenile Scleractinian Coral Density, Composition, and Influence on the Adult Coral Population in Southeast Florida., Jennifer Stein
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Abundance of Spinner Dolpin (Stenella longirostris) in the Southern Tanon Strait, Philippines 2004-2007, Rachel Stronach
Thesis: Microbial Effects on the Production and Transformation of Surfactants Within the Microlayer and Subsurface Waters in Application to Remote Sensing Techniques, Katie E. Vella
Thesis: The Effects of a New Bridge on Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Use of the FPL Discharge Canal at Port Everglades, Florida, Brea Viragh
Theses/Dissertations from 2011
Thesis - NSU Access Only: One Year Avian Survey of John U. Lloyd Beach State Park to Determine Population Density, Lisa Abernathy
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Intraspecific Comparison of Vocalizations of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) on the East and West Coast of Florida, Beth A. Brady
Thesis - NSU Access Only: A Historical and Analytical Description of the South Florida Recreational Tournament Fishery for Broadbill Swordfish, Xiphias gladius, Elaine J. Brewer
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Influence of Sea Surface Temperature, Chlorophyll Concentration, and Upwelling Index on Kogia Strandings in Florida, Vincent U. Cordero
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Antipredator Responses to the Non-Native African Jewelfish, Hemichromis letourneuxi, by Naive Everglades Prey, Katherine Leigh Dunlop
Dissertation: Field Ecology Patterns of High Latitude Coral Communities, Kristi A. Foster
Thesis: Comparison of Wetland Assessment Methods, Kerstin Green
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Socioeconomic Characteristics of Coastal Pelagic Fishing Tournaments in South Florida, Twyla Herrington
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Trophic Study of Oilfish, Escolar, Snake Mackerel, and Lancetfish in the Western North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico Using Combined Stomach Content and Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analyses, Heidi R. Keller
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Gametogenesis and Spawning of Solenastrea bournoni and Stephanocoenia intersepta and the Fecundity of Four Common Transplanted Coral Species Offshore, Southeast Florida., Jenna R. Lueg
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Observation of Natural and Artificial Features on the Sea Surface from Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite Imagery with In-situ Measurements, Christopher Maingot
Thesis - NSU Access Only: A Trophic-Level Interaction for Elasmobranch Species in Florida Bay, South Florida, Using Stable Isotope Ratios in Rgard to Mercury-Species, Adam G. Matulik
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Influence of Petroleum Exploration on the Distribution of Cetaceans in the Gulf of Mexico., Alexa Olivia Pennell
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Changes in Northwest Hawaiian Island Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) Populations as Evidenced by Stable Isotope Ratios, Nina M. Thompson
Theses/Dissertations from 2010
Thesis: A Comparison of Copepoda (Order: Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Poecilostomatoida) Density in the Florida Current Off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jessica L. Bostock
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Transplantation and Parrotfish Predation: A Study on Small Siderastrea siderea Colonies Offshore Broward County, FL USA, Allison S. Brownlee
Thesis: Study of Secondary Metabolite Gene Expression in Marine Microbial Co-Cultures Using Quantitative Real-Time PCR, Crystal A. Conway
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Predictive Habitat Models for Four Cetaceans in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, Cheryl L. Cross
Dissertation: Investigations Into the Application of Single-Beam Acoustic Backscatter for Describing Shallow Water Marine Habitats, Greg Foster
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Effects of Water Flow on Bleaching of Palythoa Caribaeorum, Atsushi Fujimura
Thesis: Seasonal Aggregations of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the Port Everglades and Intracoastal Regions of Fort Lauderdale, Florida., Jaime M. Goldman
Thesis: Biological and Physical Analysis of Currents and Water Masses Off the Coast of Southeast Florida, Stephanie Healey
Thesis: Applying a Molecular Genetics Approach to Shark Conservation and Management: Assessment of DNA Barcoding in Hammerhead Sharks and Global Population Genetic Structuring in the Gray Reef Shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos., Rebekah L. Horn
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Seasonal Movement Patterns, Migratory Behavior and Habitat Utilization of the Bblue Shark (Prionace glauca) in the Western North Atlantic, Lucy A. Howey
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Spatial Analysis of the Invasion of Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans/miles, in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, Matthew W. Johnston
Dissertation - NSU Access Only: Multi-Experimental Examination of Haemulon Species (Haemulidae) Early-Life Ecology on Southeast Mainland Florida Coral Reefs, Lance K. B. Jordan
Thesis - NSU Access Only: The Visual Physiology of the Smooth Dogfish (Mustelus canis): Temporal Resolution, Irradiance and Spectral Sensitivities, Mieka Kalinoski
Thesis: Establishment of an Acropora cervicornis (Staghorn Coral) Nursery: an Evaluation of Survivorship and Growth, Elizabeth Anne Larson
Thesis - NSU Access Only: A Predictive Habitat Model for Rainbow Parrotfish Scarus guacamaia, Ethan G. P. Machemer
Thesis: Seasonal and Salinity Effects on the Distribution of Higher Filamentous Marine Fungi at Rookery Bay, FL., Julia Ossler
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Variations in Composition, Abundance and Cover of Reef Tract Sponge Assemblages in Broward County, Florida, 2002-2006., Melinda R. Peddycoart
Dissertation - NSU Access Only: Genetic Connectivity and Microevolution of Reef Associated Taxa, Vincent P. Richards
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Linkage Between Mangrove Fish Community and Nearshore Benthic Habitats in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA: A Seascape Approach, Rolando O. Santos
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Reproductive Ecology of Siderastrea siderea: Histological Analysis of Gametogenesis, Spawning, and Latitudinal Fecundity Variation, Adam T. St. Gelais
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Spiral Valve Parasites of Selected Tropical Pelagic Elasmobranchs and Internal Parasites of Mesopelagic Teleosts, Mae Taylor
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Water Chemistry Effects on Apple Snail (Pomacea paludosa, Say) Reproductive Patterns in the Northern Everglades, Tiffany Lorraine Trent
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Analysis of a Partial Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) Library and Differential Expression of Genes in Biochemical Morphotypes of the Marine Sponge Discodermia dissoluta, Patricia A. Waikel
Thesis: Diurnal Movements and Site Fidelity of the Florida Manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris, in Fort Lauderdale, FL., Kym Walsh
Thesis: Occurrence, Density, and Distribution of the Larvae of Three Commercially Important Crab Species in the Florida Current off the Southeast Coast of Florida, U.S., Gabriela L. Wisniewski
Theses/Dissertations from 2009
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Characterization of Nocturnal Fish Assemblages on Vessel and Natural Reefs of Broward County, Florida, USA, Rachel Lynn Anderson
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Oceanographic Effects on the Behavior of Shallow-Set Pelagic Longline Fishing Gear in the Western North Atlantic, Bryan Armstrong
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Abundance and Site Fidelity of Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Off the Atlantic Coast of Nova Scotia, Canada Using Photo-identification Methodology, Gemma Barnacle
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Comparing Catches and Catch Rates by Variable Strength Hooks from Pelagic Longlines to Determine Their Bycatch Reduction Potential for Pilot Whales in the MidAtlantic Bight., Shannon Michael Bayse
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Assessment of Gorgonian Transplantation Techniques Offshore Southeast Florida, Vanessa I. P. Brinkhuis
Thesis - NSU Access Only: Determination of Sea Turtle Nesting Behavior using Thermograph Data Analysis in Broward County, Florida, Brettany L. Cook
Thesis: Analyzing Spatial Patterns in Reefscape Ecology Via Remote Sensing, Benthic Habitat Mapping, and Morphometrics, Shanna K. Dunn
Thesis: Diet Composition of Swordfish, Xiphias gladius, within the Straits of Florida, Amy Marie Heemsoth