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Optimizing The Time To Transfer Sexually Produced Corals Of Porites Astreoides, Agaricia Agaricites, And Montastraea Cavernosa To An Offshore Nursery, Rachel Ionata

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

As reefs continue to decline globally and become unable to recover on their own, restoration becomes essential to abate reef degradation and boost reef recovery until the main sources of the degradation are addressed. Sexual propagation is an important restoration technique that still requires optimization. One of the major knowledge gaps is determining the optimal time to transfer newly-settled sexually-produced corals from an aquarium to an offshore nursery without compromising their survival and growth. This study transferred settlers from Porites astreoides, Agaricia agaricites, and Montastraea cavernosa to an offshore nursery at approximately one week, five weeks, and nine weeks post-settlement, …

Characterization Of Fish Assemblages On An Upper Mesophotic Reef In South Florida Using A Commercial Grade Mini Rov, Sydney L. Panzarino

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Mesophotic coral ecosystems, or MCEs, are coral ecosystems at approximately 30-150m depths and represent the transitional zone where benthic organisms rely less on photosynthesis and more on filter-feeding or other feeding habits in order to sustain themselves. Fish assemblages in MCE’s have been poorly studied and may possibly provide a connection to shallow water reefs (SWR’s). Mesophotic reef fish communities from 32-37 m depths were assessed using video footage recorded by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Video transects were performed at three locations: unburied areas north and south of Port Everglades, as well as an area which experienced burial from …

People That Score High On Psychopathic Traits Are Less Likely To Yawn Contagiously, Andrew Gallup, Mariska E. Kret, Omar T. Eldakar, Julia Folz, Jorg J. M. Massen

Biology Faculty Articles

Considerable variation exists in the contagiousness of yawning, and numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the proximate mechanisms involved in this response. Yet, findings within the psychological literature are mixed, with many studies conducted on relatively small and homogeneous samples. Here, we aimed to replicate and extend upon research suggesting a negative relationship between psychopathic traits and yawn contagion in community samples. In the largest study of contagious yawning to date (N = 458), which included both university students and community members from across 50 nationalities, participants completed an online study in which they self-reported on their yawn contagion …

Predation Efficiency Of Lionfish (Pterois Volitans And P. Miles) In Differing Levels Of Habitat Complexity, Abigail Ehlers Kimbrel

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois sp.) into the Atlantic and Caribbean has received attention around the globe. Venomous spines, over-sized fanlike pectoral fins, slow movement, and novel feeding strategies have allowed lionfish to become effective apex- predators. Recent research has determined that lionfish use inshore mangrove habitats as foraging grounds, which are also used as nursery habitats for juvenile fish, thus reducing recruitment of native fish populations. The purpose of this study was three-fold: (1) determine the predation efficiency of lionfish in differing mangrove habitat complexities, (2) examine the influence of temperature and behavior of prey commonly found …

Responses Of Benthic Calcifying Algae To Ocean Acidification Differ Between Laboratory And Field Settings, Heather N. Page, Keisha D. Bahr, Tyler Cyronak, Elizabeth B. Jewett, Maggie D. Johnson, Sophie J. Mccoy

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Accurately predicting the effects of ocean and coastal acidification on marine ecosystems requires understanding how responses scale from laboratory experiments to the natural world. Using benthic calcifying macroalgae as a model system, we performed a semi-quantitative synthesis to compare directional responses between laboratory experiments and field studies. Variability in ecological, spatial, and temporal scales across studies, and the disparity in the number of responses documented in laboratory and field settings, make direct comparisons difficult. Despite these differences, some responses, including community-level measurements, were consistent across laboratory and field studies. However, there were also mismatches in the directionality of many responses …

Element Contamination In Port Everglades – Preparing For Ecological Impacts, Laura White

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Port dredging is of economic importance worldwide but its impacts to the marine environment through the remobilization of elemental contaminants are not well understood. A massive deepening and widening of Port Everglades, Florida, will begin in 2023. Contaminated sediment disturbed during the dredging process could be released and prove to be harmful to three coral reef tracks located beginning 1.5 miles away from the port. This study focused on identifying and quantifying 14 different trace elements: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), tin (Sn), …

Spatiotemporal Variation Of An Eastern Tropical Pacific Pelagic Community Assessed With Free-Drifting Bruvs, Tyler Stephen Plum

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Information about pelagic community diversity and ecology generally lags far behind that of coastal communities, and largely derives from fisheries data that do not reflect small and non-target species. We describe spatiotemporal vertebrate species diversity and variability over a 3,486 km² area of highly productive pelagic marine ecosystem in Pacific Panama using drifting baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS), a non-invasive fishery-independent sampling technique. We observed 26 taxa from 17 families, including 1 mammal, 3 reptile, 5 elasmobranch, and 17 teleost species. Community assemblages differed on and off the continental shelf and between wet (April – December) and dry …

Educational Pandemic Impacts In Applied Behavior Analysis (Aba) Classrooms: Qualitative Outcomes From Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Bcba) And Registered Behavior Technicians (Rbt) Perspectives, Chana S. Josilowski-Max, Nicole Lambright

The Qualitative Report

The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented changes in how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services are provided to students/clients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and scant literature is available from which to determine the best course of action for providing safe services during a pandemic. The research question for this study is: What is the essence of experiences of parents, teachers, and Board-Certified Behavior Analysts of students with ASD who are now receiving ABA services remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic school closures? Generic qualitative design was used to analyze the responses of nine participants who are either Board …

Scorpionfish (Scorpaena Porcus) Neurocranium, Erin Porter, Cairone Reft, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium preparation of a Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) by Erin Porter and Cairone Reft for the Biology of Fishes course at Nova Southeastern University taught by Dr. Kerstetter.

Applying Integrative Systematics To Long-Standing Species Boundary Questions In The Zoanthidea, Annika Markovich

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The study of systematics has been around for over 200 years. Some recent systematic studies have shifted to the idea of genetic barcoding for identification and classification. This shift is notably present in the cnidarian order Zoanthidea. Systematists have employed genetic barcoding exclusively for the classification of these animals resulting in taxonomic uncertainty. A prominent Mediterranean species complex (Parazoanthus axinellae) is at the center of these taxonomic issues. Recently two color-morpho-types: “slender” yellow and “stocky” orange have been used to differentiate modern P. axinellae specimens, advancing the uncertainty associated with this complex. This lack of taxonomic identity becomes …

Broad-Scale Vertical And Horizontal Behavior Of The White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias) In The Western North Atlantic, Taryn Szalay

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The ecology of white sharks Carcharodon carcharias in the western North Atlantic (WNA) is largely unknown. With a lack of essential fish habitat (EFH) identified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), understanding white shark behaviors is crucial to protect aggregation sites and other essential habitats (e.g., mating, parturition) for white sharks. To better understand the movements of these animals, data from 26 tagged white sharks are examined here. Data from the pop-up satellite archival transmitting (PSAT) tags from these sharks were analyzed using the HMMoce package for R (R Development and Core Team 2015) and tracks were generated …

Impacts Of Deepwater Horizon On Fish And Fisheries: What Have We Learned About Resilience And Vulnerability In A Coupled Human-Natural System?, S.A. Murawski, C.B. Paris, Tracey Sutton, M. Cockrell, S. O'Farrell, J. Sanchirico, E. Chancellor, L. Perruso

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill occurred in a region of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) supporting abundant, diverse and valuable communities of fishes and fishers. The economy of the northern GoM is inextricably tied to the natural resource bases of the region (tourism, fishing, oil and gas, etc.) and thus the coupling between the human and ecological systems is tight and subject both feed-back and, to some extent, feed-forward controls. Management actions taken during the 87-day DWH spill incident included the closure of over 280,000 km² of productive fishing area (about 1/3 of USA federal waters in the …

Kingfish Neurocranium, Kaden R. Mackey, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

This is the skull of a kingfish with the nasal bone included.

Grey Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus) Neurocranium, Madelynn Sampson, Hailey Levine, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Grey Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) neurocranium preparation by Madelynn Sampson and Hailey LeVine.

Pelagic Habitat Use By Benthic Fishes – Juvenile Scorpaenoids Of The Oceanic Gulf Of Mexico, Drew W. Mertzlufft

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The suborder Scorpaenoidei is among the most speciose fish taxa of the World Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Most adult scorpionfishes are benthic and have a pelagic juvenile phase. Although the species descriptions and distributions of adult scorpionfishes within the GoM are well documented, their juvenile forms are largely undescribed. Due to the poorly resolved taxonomic status of juvenile scorpionfishes, their assemblage dynamics have not been accurately assessed. Specimens were collected from the GoM during seven research cruises (2010-2011), as part of the NOAA-supported Offshore Nekton Sampling and Analysis Program (ONSAP), and during six research cruises (2015-2018), as …

A Temporal Analysis Of The Microbiota And Biofouling Development On Artificial Substrates In The Port Everglades Inlet, Florida, Denise Swack

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

A pilot project was deployed in Port Everglades Inlet, Florida that aimed to evaluate the biofilm composing the microbiome on ecologically engineered artificial substrates used to build Coastal Marine Infrastructure. In April of 2017, an Articulated Concrete Block Mattress comprised of an ecological engineered concrete substrate and a standard smooth surface control substrates were compared. This study will provide a profile on the microbiome community on artificial substrates within Port Everglades Inlet on bio-enhancing concrete-based solutions in our Coastal Marine Infrastructure. To study the microbial community, the 16s rRNA technology was used in Illumina’s high-throughput DNA sequencing. Samples were collected …

Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena Hippurus) Neurocranium, Alexia J. Hilber, Caileigh Craddock, Kiara Belanger, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), collected in 3/2021 by Katerina Sawickji

Centropomus Undecimalis, Common Snook Neurocranium, Victoria Rose Kelley, Savanna Duda, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from Centropomus undecimalis (Common Snook), collected from NSU Oceanographic Campus Boat Basin on 24/03/2021 by Savanna Duda.

[Red Grouper (Epinephelus Morio)] Neurocranium, Laurel Gallaudet, Robert Spekis

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from 14.1 cm total length (TL) Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio), collected from Miami on 13/10/21 by Laurel Gallaudet.

Red Grouper (Epinephelus Morio) Neurocranium, Katja C. Kramers, Morgan A. Pfeiffer, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium From 10 cm total length Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio), collected from Whole Foods Supermarket on 10 October 2021 by Katja Kramers and Morgan Pfeiffer

Validation Of Landsat 8 High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature Using Surfers, Quinton Vanhellemont, Robert J. W. Brewin, Philip J. Bresnahan, Tyler Cyronak

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Nearshore coastal waters are highly dynamic in both space and time. They can be difficult to sample using conventional methods due to their shallow depth, tidal variability, and the presence of breaking waves. High resolution satellite sensors can be used to provide synoptic views of Surface Temperature (ST), but the performance of such ST products in the nearshore zone is poorly understood. Close to the shoreline, the ST pixels can be influenced by mixed composition of water and land, as a result of the sensor’s spatial resolution. This can cause thermal adjacency effects due to the highly different diurnal temperature …

King Mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla), Aubrey L. Anthony, Erin Keeley, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from [length] cm total length (TL) King Mackerel (Scomberomorus Cavalla), collected from Bravo Market on 11/16/2021 by Aubrey Anthony

Tile Fish (Lopholatilus Villarii) Neurocranium, Maeya C. Yeatman, Sebastian K. Chan, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium from 12 cm total length (TL) Tile fish (Lopholatilus villarii), collected from Foodtown on 10/22/2021 by Maeya Yeatman and Sebastian Chan

Snook Neurocranium Scan Mello & Glanzmann, Christopher F. Glanzmann, Madison A. Mello

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

This file is a 3D scan of a Snook Neurocranium. Snook head provided by DR. Kerstetter and scan performed by Chris Glanzmann and Madison Mello. Medium detail scan with a simplification ratio of 50.

“I Finally Marginalized Myself From The Mainstream”: An Autoethnography Study Of Chinese International Student’S Development Of Intercultural Communicative Competence, Yuqi Lin, Hongzhi Zhang

The Qualitative Report

In the higher education market, the cross-border flow of international students has become increasingly apparent. For Australia, China has been a major student source and most of these students have been enrolled in the higher education sector. Such a phenomenon has rendered the innovation of higher education management necessary, and its socio-cultural influence has attracted attention from the Australian government. This study suggests that international students’ intercultural communicative competence (ICC) deficits could influence their self-perceptions thus compromising their ability to communicate with peers. Using a qualitative research approach, the study explores the extent to which China’s College English influences Chinese …

Growing-And-Giving Mindset Intervention In Early Childhood Education: A Collaborative Action Research, Fumiko Masaki

The Qualitative Report

In childhood education, a behaviorist approach (a mixture of praise and punishment) has been used for student target behaviors; however, the results have not been consistent. This study investigated how a constructivist approach would work in the same setting. The participant was a four-year-old student who showed target behaviors with negative attention-seeking and avoidance of self-regulation; three teachers and the author worked with him on collaborative action research. We treated him using the behaviorist approach in the first cycle of intervention. It seemed to work on the surface but was not helping him become autonomously self-regulated; his surroundings learned to …

Two Models Of Coteaching From University Teaching Staff: Phenomenographic Research, Jesus Pinzón-Ulloa, Mariana Tafur Arciniegas Dr, Irma A. Flores H.

The Qualitative Report

The literature of coteaching in the post-secondary landscape encompasses a wide array of different conceptions. Having multiple meanings of coteaching in higher education may pose some challenges for effectively implementing and researching this collaborative model. We should have a clear picture of the qualitatively different ways in which educators who co-teach in post-secondary settings understand this practice. Aiming to offer one of the first contributions to this effort, we analyzed the experiences of 16 university coteaching practitioners from a top university in Bogotá, Colombia. The sample participants´ interviews were analyzed using a phenomenographic methodology (Marton, 1981), which seeks to capture …

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Genetic Variants Associated With Hiv-1c Infection In A Botswana Study Population, Andrey Shevchenko, Daria V. Zhernakova, Sergey Malov, Aleksey Komissarov, Sofia Kolchanova, Gaik Tamazian, Alexey Antonik, Nikolay Cherkasov, Sergey Kliver, Anastasiia Turenko, Mikhail Rotkevich, Igor Evsyukov, David Vlahov, Prisca K. Thami, Simani Gaseitsiwe, Vladimir Novitsky, Myron Essex, Stephen James O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

Although there have been many studies of gene variant association with different stages of HIV/AIDS progression in United States and European cohorts, few gene-association studies have assessed genic determinants in sub-Saharan African populations, which have the highest density of HIV infections worldwide. We carried out genome-wide association studies on 766 study participants at risk for HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) infection in Botswana. Three gene associations (AP3B1, PTPRA, and NEO1) were shown to have significant association with HIV-1C acquisition. Each gene association was replicated within Botswana or in the United States–African American or United States–European American AIDS …

Applying The Nominal Group Technique For Specifying The Interacting Dimensions Affecting Adherence To Post–Sharps Injury Follow-Up Services, Abdullah Aliff Abdul Wahab, Rosnah Ismail, Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah, Noor Dalila Inche Zainal Abidin, Nurul Asyikin Mustaffa, Halim Ismail

The Qualitative Report

Scale of adherence to post–sharps injury follow-up services among healthcare workers is uncommon compared to medication adherence scale. To develop a novel and culturally adapted scale, stakeholders should be consulted to specify dimensions by deducing it from the existing framework. This study was to demonstrate how health stakeholders were consulted to specify the dimensions.

This study employed two sessions of Nominal Group Technique. Each session consisted of 12 purposive-sampled mixed participants i.e., healthcare managers and providers. A four-step sequential protocol was used for collecting participants’ key ideas on what adherence factors in post–sharps injury follow-up services: silent idea generation, round-robin …

Identification Of Needs Of Community Schools Of Kavre, Nepal For Educational Improvement, Roshani Rajbanshi, Parbati Dhungana, Bal Luitel

The Qualitative Report

Needs assessment is a method to find out the current needs of the school that can be considered for providing quality education to the students. This paper presents the needs of five community schools intending to bring changes in the school community. Thus, this paper aims to identify the needs of the five community schools of Kavre, Nepal, and recommend possible interventions. In-depth interviews, observations, and focus group discussions with different stakeholders provided rich data for this study. School-specific needs were identified from the data based on which recommendations are made for intervention, which are: Teacher professional development, contextualized curriculum, …