NSU Currents Spring 2014 Newsletter - Volume XXIV, Issue 1

10 Brittnee Barris : “Species composition and reproductive strategies of commensal Synalpheus shrimp (Decapoda: Alpheidae) occupying the sponges Spheciospongiavesparium and Spongia sp. of the Florida Reef Tract.” Committee: James Thomas, Ph.D., chair; Charles Messing, Ph.D.; and Kristin Hultgren, Ph.D. Thesis. December 13, 2013. Amy Biedenbach : “Environmental policy, marine mammals, and active sonar: Investigating the problems and finding the solutions.” Committee: Steffen Schmidt, Ph.D., chair, and Brion Blackwelder, Ph.D. Capstone. August 8, 2013. Jacob Blair : “Assessing water quality management of the Puget Sound.” Committee: Donald McCorquodale, Ph.D., chair, and Steffen Schmidt, Ph.D. Capstone. July 31, 2013. Sarah Briggs : “Distribution and prevalence of parasitic isopods on Caridean shrimp in South Florida seagrass beds.” Committee: Amy Hirons, Ph.D., chair; Michael Robblee, Ph.D.; and Charles Messing, Ph.D. Thesis. July 31, 2013. Alexandra Canepa : “Evolution and future management of marine protected areas.” Committee: Nicholas Funicelli, Ph.D., chair; David Kerstetter, Ph.D.; and Amy Hirons, Ph.D. Capstone. July 29, 2013. Matthew Dancho : “Age, growth, and reproduction of the pelagic stingray Pteroplatytrygon violacea in the western North Atlantic Ocean.” Committee: David Kerstetter, Ph.D., chair; Charles Cotton, Ph.D.; and Robin Sherman, Ph.D. Thesis. December 13, 2013. Nicole D’Antonio : “Effects of habitat characteristics on population dynamics of Acropora cervicornis in the near- shore environment of Southeast Florida.” Committee: Dave Gilliam, Ph.D., chair; Brian Walker, Ph.D.; and Kathleen Lunz, Ph.D. Thesis. August 7, 2013. Kaitlin De’Aeth : “Microbial degradation and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants.” Committee: Donald McCorquodale, Ph.D., chair, and Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D. Capstone. December 5, 2013. Alexandra Dempsey : “Global morphometric evaluation of carbonate platform-top sedimentary environments.” Committee: Samuel Purkis, Ph.D., chair; Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D.; and Klaas Verwer, Ph.D. Thesis. December 12, 2013. Claire Dolphin : “Post-disturbance coral populations: Patterns in cover and size classes from transect studies in two oceans.” Committee: Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D., chair; Samuel Purkis, Ph.D.; and Evie Wieters, Ph.D. Thesis. December 9, 2013. Paola Espitia : “Survivorship, growth, and fecundity of Eunicea flexuosa (Cnidaria: Octocorallia) transplants.” Committee: Dave Gilliam, Ph.D., chair; Charles Messing, Ph.D.; Howard Lasker, Ph.D.; and Vladimir Kosmynin, Ph.D. Thesis. November 1, 2013. Dawn Formica : “Quantitative microbial assessment in marine organisms: Applications and methodologies.” Committee: Jose Lopez, Ph.D., chair, and Patricia Blackwelder, Ph.D. Capstone. December 5, 2013. Nicholas Gadbois : “Using Chaetognatha as indicators of water masses in the Florida Current, Broward County, Florida.” Committee: Amy Hirons, Ph.D., chair; Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D.; and Jonathan Shenker, Ph.D. Thesis. August 1, 2013. Gail George : “Fate and effects of oil spill dispersants particular reference to the Deepwater Horizon Gulf of Mexico spill.” Committee: Donald McCorquodale, Ph.D., chair, and Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D. Capstone. August 2, 2013. Colette Gilbert : “Impact of hurricanes on Caretta caretta nesting success, hatching success, and washout rate in Broward County.” Committee: Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D., chair; Derek Burkholder, Ph.D.; and Pat Quinn, Ph.D. Thesis. August 1, 2013. Ana Maria Gonzalez Angel : “ Porites astreoides larval response to acute salinity stress.” Committee: Patricia Blackwelder, Ph.D., chair; Jose Lopez, Ph.D.; Sara Edge, Ph.D.; and Esther Peters, Ph.D. Thesis. July 25, 2013. Allison Hammill : “Effects of localized NAO, ONI (ENSO), and AMO events on reproductive patterns in Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta ), Green ( Chelonia mydas ), and Leatherback ( Dermochelys coriacea ) sea turtles in South Florida, USA.” Committee: Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D., chair; Donald McCorquodale, Ph.D.; and Pat Quinn, Ph.D. Thesis. August 2, 2013. Alexander Humphreys : “The alignment of shallow water carbonate assemblages with oceanographic controls along the latitudinal extent of the Galapagos Archipelago.” Committee: Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D., chair; Jochen Halfar, Ph.D.; and Samuel Purkis, Ph.D. Thesis. July 30, 2013. Lucy Teal Kawana : “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.” Committee: Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D., chair; Richard Spieler, Ph.D.; and Lou Fisher. Thesis. July 31, 2013. Thaddeus Kendziora : “A review of Florida’s manatee protection plans: A comprehensive review of boat facility siting plans and recommendations for unifying manatee subpopulation zone siting plans.” Committee: Caryn Self-Sullivan, Ph.D., chair, and Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D. Capstone. April 25, 2013. Michael Alan Kizzar : “An aid to coral reef restoration: The restoration potential index.” Committee: Joshua Feingold, Ph.D., chair, and Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D. Capstone. July 31, 2013. DanielleKleppan : “Beach compaction impact onnesting success of Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta ) sea turtles: A comparison between a natural and renourished beach in northern Broward County, Florida.” Committee: Curtis M. Burney, Ph.D., chair; Samuel Purkis, Ph.D.; and Richard Spieler, Ph.D. Thesis. August 2, 2013. Christopher Lapointe : “Modeling environmental limitations on remote sensing of coral reef ecosystems.” Committee: Eric Hochberg, Ph.D., chair; Bernhard Riegl, Ph.D.; and Samuel Purkis, Ph.D. Thesis. November 14, 2013. Jennifer Lash : “Vascular corrosion casts of the spiral valve intestine of Siberian Sturgeon ( Acipenser baerii ), North American Paddlefish ( Polyodon spathula ), and the Yellow Stingray ( Urobatis jamaicensi s): A comparative study.” Committee: Robin Sherman, Ph.D., chair; Richard Spieler, Ph.D.; and Alois Lametschwandtner, Ph.D. Thesis. December 13, 2013. Recent M.S. Graduate Student Defenses The following graduate degree defenses have taken place during the first half of the academic year 2013–2014.