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Coastal Sciences — M.S. Theses

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Theses completed in the Division of Coastal Sciences

2020

• Panyi, Apryle
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Kevin Dillon.
  
• Fairweather, Edithrose
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric Saillant.
• Murphy, Nickolas
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Patrick Biber.
• Poussard, Leanne
  M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric Powell.

2019

• Brock, Melissa
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Leila Hamdan.
  
• Collins, Lillian
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Frank Hernandez.
  
• Morgan, Leah
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet Rakocinski.
  
• Mugge, Rachel
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Leila Hamden.
• Jermain, Nate
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robert Leaf.
• Gigli, Eric
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric Saillant (Co-Research Director with Reg Blaylock).
• Johnson, Jeremy
  . M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Joe Griffitt.

2018

• Hoover, Angela M. 
  Influence of natural and anthropogenic environmental variability on larval fish diet, growth, and condition in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Frank Hernandez.
• Kuhn, Abigail A.
  Effects of temperature on growth and molting in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and lesser blue crabs (Callinectes similis). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: M. Zachary Darnell.
• Trigg III, Robert
  Examining movement dynamics of the Gulf Menhaden fishery using an individual-based model. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Robert Leaf.
• Simning, Danielle
  Impacts of oil exposure during early life development stages in Sheepshead Minnows (Cyprinodon Variegatus) under different environmental factors. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Joe Griffitt.
• Bennett, Alyssa
  Combined effects of dissolved oxygen and temperature on aerobic respiration and respiratory recovery responses of the spioniform polychaete, Streblospio gynobranchiata, in relation to body size. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Satterfield, Emily
  Reassessment of the Red drum stock in Mississippi coastal waters: The role of ages 3-5 year-class fish. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Yang, Yimu
  Detection, activity measurement and phylogeny of ureolytic bacteria isolated from elasmobranch tissue. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Jay Grimes.
• Kemberling, Adam
  Regional variation in migratory behavior and reproductive output of the Gulf of Mexico blue crab spawning stock. Master's Thesis. Major Professor, Zachary Darnell.
• Timbs, Jeremy R.
  Spatial Distribution and Stock-Recruitment Analysis of the Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, in the Mid-Atlantic Bight and on Georges Bank. Master's Thesis. Major Professor, Eric Powell.
• Hardy, Tyler
  Coastal Wetland Dynamics Under Sea-level Rise and Wetland Restoration in the Northern Gulf of Mexico using Bayesian Multilevel Models and A Web Tool. Major Professor, Wei Wu.
• Shakeri, Lennah
  Linkages between marsh fragmentation, prey availability, and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) abundance and mortality. Major Professor: Zachary Darnell.
• Bennetts, Corbin
  Life-history characteristics and fishery dynamics of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Major Professor: Robert T. Leaf.
• Fleming, Chris
  Spatial variability of basal resources and trophic position of selected fishes of the north-central Gulf of Mexico: a stable isotope approach. Major Professor: Kevin Dillon.
• Daley, Taylor
  Growth and reproduction of Atlantic Chub Mackerel (Scomber colias) in the northwest Atlantic. Major Professor: Robert T. Leaf.

2017

• Doucette, Kaitlin
  The elasmobranch-microbe relationship: Trimethylamine n-oxide synthesis, urea hydrolysis, and microbe-osmolyte interactions in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Jay Grimes.
• Adams, Grant
  Environmentally-driven variation in the population dynamics of Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor, Robert Leaf
• Pace, Sara M.
  Evidence of multidecadal recruitment in the Ocean Quahog, Arctica islandica in the western Atlantic Ocean. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric Powell.
• Bailey, Danielle E.
  Characterization of adrenocortical tissue morphology, histology, and steroid synthesis among Finetooth (Carcharhinus isodon), Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), Atlantic Sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae), and Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) sharks. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Frank Hernandez Jr.
• Fogg, Alexander Q.
  Life-history of non-native Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Kevin S. Dillon (Research Director: Mark S. Peterson).
• Moncreif, Trevor
  Age, growth and reproduction of Vermillion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.

2016

• Kuykendall, Kelsey Michelle
  Management strategy evaluation for the Atlantic surfclam, Spisula
  solidissima, using a fisheries economics model. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor:
  Eric N. Powell.
• Gillam, Patrick D.
  Community structure and production of the macrobenthos on four artificial reefs in the Mississippi Sound in relation to substrate and profile type. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Norrell, Adrienne
  Development of genomic resources for the evaluation of Red Snapper, an emerging species candidate for marine aquaculture and stock enhancement. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric A. Saillant.
• Vick, Page E.
  Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) pre-restoration occupancy patterns on Ship Island, Mississippi Sound with an evaluation of designated critical habitat use by eastern and western population segments. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Corey, Morgan M.
  Growth and reproduction of Southern Flounder (Paralichthyes lethostigma) in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robert T. Leaf.
• Dippold, David A.
  Fishery and population dynamics of Mississippi’s Spotted Seatrout. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robert T. Leaf.
• Higgs, Jeremy
  Age, growth, reproduction, and diet of the Finetooth Shark, Carcharhinus isodon, in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski (Research Director: Eric Hoffmayer).

2015

• Ransom, John T.
  Deepwater Horizon impacts on the diet, growth, and condition of larval Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Frank Hernandez.
• Green, Jennifer Lynne
  Habitat selection of Gulf-strain Striped Bass, Morone saxatilis: Relationships to dynamic abiotic characteristics within the Biloxi River, MS. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Gaines, Leah Corrine
  Observations on the life history of the Bayou Killifish Fundulus pulvereus
  (Evermann 1899) in Mississippi tidal marshes. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor:
  Richard W. Heard.
• Guest, Taylor Westbrook
  Effects of pre-release physical stressors on post-release success of hatchery-
  reared Spotted Seatrout. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Andrew Evans
  (Research Director: Reg Blaylock).
• Odom, Allison Renee
  Analyses of indices of abundance for important groundfish species in the
  northern Gulf of Mexico from 1987-2009, relative to shrimp bycatch; with
  age and growth of three sciaenid species. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet
  F. Rakocinski (Research Director: Richard S. Fulford).
• Taylor, Stephanie M.
  Ichthyoplankton composition in the Loop Current and Sargassum habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robert T. Leaf.

2014

• Matten, Claire Louise
  Resident benthic fishes of artificial reefs in the Mississippi Sound: Effects of
  habitat relief and subregion. M.S. Thesis. Major Profesor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Manley, Christopher Burton
  The effects of stocking density and feeding frequency on aggressive and
  cannibalistic behaviors in larval hatchery-reared Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion
  nebulosus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski (Research
  Director: Reg Blaylock).
• Knight, Carley Rain
  Taxonomy, diversity, and distribution patterns of portunid crab megalopae in
  the northern Gulf of Mexico during fall of 2003 M.S. Thesis. Major Professor:
  Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Allen, Joshua Michael
  Characterization of rain and stormwater nitrogen inputs to the Mississippi
  Sound: A landscape approach. M.S. Thesis. Major Profesor: Kevin S. Dillon.
• Barnes, Brinton Thomas
  Seasonal differences in diet of two predatory fishes in relation to reef type in the inshore northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Profesor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Lambert, Faith
  Exploring the glucocorticoid actions of 1alpha-hydroxycorticosterone in the elasmobranch fishes. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Andrew Evans.

2013

• Hedgpeth, Bryan Matthew
  Response of CYP1A and VEGF in Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon
  variegatus) when exposed to source/dispersed oil and hypoxia. M.S. Thesis.
  Major Professor: Robert J. Griffitt.
• Wilking, Lynn Elizabeth
  Assessing respiration rates and nutrient dynamics of artificial reef biofilms
  and bacterioplankton in the Mississippi Sound. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor:
  Kevin S. Dillon.
• Newman, Cher Marie
  Age, growth, mortality, and the effects of trawling on mortality of the
  Longspine Porgy, Stenotomus caprinus.  M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark
  S. Peterson.
• Sibuea, Agustina Kristiani
  A comparison of yellow head virus epidemic models in Litopenaeus vannamei
  and Litopenaeus setiferus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Somerset, Carly Renee
  Development of a genetic monitoring program for stock enhancement of
  Mississippi Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). M.S. Thesis. Major
  Professor: Eric A. Saillant.
• Mazzei, Viviana
  Primary productivity on artificial reefs in the Mississippi Sound estimated
  from settlement plate measurements. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Patrick
  D. Biber.
• Berutti, Tracy Rene
  Variations of Vibrio populations in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus
  vannamei, aquaculture raceways. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Darrell J.
  Grimes.

2012

• Ennis, Bradley Michael
  Nekton habitat use patterns along an intertidal gradient in micro-tidal
  saltmarshes. M.S. Thesis. Major Profesor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Francis, John Henry
  Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in high intensity minimal exchange shrimp
  (Litopenaeus vannamei) raceways.  M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Kevin S.
  Dillon.
• Salamone, Amy Leigh
  Fungal biofilm colonization and succession on artificial reefs in the north-
  central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Darrell J. Grimes.
• Griffitt, Kimberly Jordan
  Improved detection methods for selected Vibrio species in the marine
  aquatic environment. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Darrell J. Grimes.
• Brewton, Rachel Aileen
  Gene expression and growth as indicators of effects of the BP Deepwater
  Horizon oil spill on Cynoscion nebulosus  M.S. Thesis. Major Professor:
  Robert J. Griffitt (Research Director: Richard S. Fulford).
• Clardy, Samuel Dee
  Life history of the Southern Kingfish, Menticirrhus americanus, from the
  north-central Gulf of Mexico M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Menke, Daneen Paulette
  Evaluating macrobenthic indicators of organic enrichment and hypoxia within
  the coastal Mississippi hypoxic zone. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F.
  Rakocinski.
• Olsen, Zachary Thomas
  Determining the trophic role of Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) using
  carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Kevin S.
  Dillon (Research Director: Richard S. Fulford).

2011

• Frey, Jennifer W.
  Sub-pixel classification of historical and current marsh habitat for the eastern Mississippi Gulf coast using remotely sensed images. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Wei Wu.
• McBride, Kathryn Rondot
  Mycorrhizal colonization of native salt marsh plants on Mississippi's Gulf
  coast and the effects of commercial mycorrhizal inoculants on nursery-
  grown plants. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski (Research
  Director: Jinx Campbell).
• Tilley, Jason Daniel
  Early life history of Prognichtys occidentalis and Caranx crysos associated
  with Sargassum habitat in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis.
  Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns.
• Gibson, Dyan Patricia
  The effect of the chemical composition of low salinity water on the growth, development, and survival of cultured juvenile blue crabs. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard S. Fulford.
• Anderson, Corey Robert
  Thermal tolerance of age-0 Gulf of Mexico Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis):
  Ontogenetic and genetic effects. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Eric A.
  Saillant.
• Boube Idrissa, Idrissa
  Identification of trancriptomic pathways involved in Taura Syndrome Virus
  resistance in Litopenaeus vannamei. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robert J.
  Griffitt.

2010

• Carpenter, Katie Grace
  Examining the bioavailability of dissolved organic matter and inorganic
  nutrients to heterotrophic bacteria in Mississippi coastal waters. M.S. Thesis.
  Major Professor: Kevin S. Dillon.
• McKinney, Jennifer Ann
  Spatial analysis of Whale Shark Rhincodon typus distribution in the
  northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard S. Fulford
  (Research Director: Eric Hoffmayer).
• Dieterich, Jay William
  A spatially explicit bioenergetics model of habitat suitability for Striped Bass,
  Morone saxatilis, in the Biloxi Bay estuary and tributaries, Mississippi. M.S.
  Thesis. Major Professor: Richard S. Fulford.
• Havrylkoff, Jeanne-Marie Dawn
  Gulf sturgeon of the Pascagoula: Post-Katrina assessment of seasonal usage of the lower estuary. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Lang, Eric L.
  Reproductive life history of Fundulus jenkinsi and comparative development of five sympatric fundulid species. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Littleton, Lauren A.
  Differences in feeding performance between hatchery-reared and wild juvenile Spotted Seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski (Research Director: Reg Blaylock).

2009

• Anderson, Evan John 
  Early life history of the three kingfish (Menticirrhus) species found in coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns.
• Dangre, Arati 
  Mechanism of interaction between cadmium and hypoxia in larval Cyprinodon variegatus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Marius Brouwer.
• Lopez, John Daniel
  Characterization of habitat, abundance, distribution and perspectives of Fundulus jenkinsi (Saltmarsh Topminnow) life history in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Rocker, Jana Moerbe 
  Comparison of the intra-host quasispecies of Taura Syndrome Virus in acute and chronic infections in Litopenaeus vannamei. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Wagner, Jonathan
  Evaluation of internal tag performance in hatchery-reared juvenile Spotted Seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz (Research Director: Reg Blaylock).

2008

• Ballard, James Robert 
  Effect of crowding density on the growth and survival of Cobia, Rachycentron canadum, in a recirculating aquaculture system. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Cook, Joshua O. 
  Transmission and occurrence of Dermomycoides sp. in Rana sevosa and other ranids in the north central Gulf of Mexico states. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robin M. Overstreet.
• de la Calzada, Rey 
  Comparison of white spot syndrome virus LD50s in Litopenaeus vannamei and Farfantepenaeus duorarum. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Dennis, Darcie J. 
  Fecundity and egg diameter of primiparoius and multiparous blue crab Callinectes sapidus in Mississippi waters. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Patricia Biesiot (Research Director: Harriet M. Perry).
• Grammer, Paul O. 
  Cohort growth dynamics of the Bay Anchovy, Anchoa mitchilli, in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns.
• Pratt-Zossoungbo, Melissa 
  Mycorrhizal fungal associations with salt marsh species Juncus roemerianus, Spartina alterniflora, Schoenoplectus robustus, and Schoenoplectus americanus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Patrick D. Biber.
• Siegel, Jeffrey Wade 
  Stranding trends of beach cast Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) in Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters.  M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robin M. Overstreet.
• Tremonte, Jocelyn Marie Warner
  The effects of temperature on Taura syndrome virus (TSV) infections in Litopenaeus vannamei. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Turner, Sarah Elizabeth 
  Trophic relations of juvenile Gray Triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) and Planehead Filefish (Stephanolepis hispidus) within Sargassum habitat in the north central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.

2007

• Apeitos, Angelos 
  Fecundity and survival of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa fed Isochrysis galbana (Tahitian strain) and Chaetoceros mulleri. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Guynn, Kimberly Claire 
  A review of mercury in fishes with a detailed treatment of mercury in the Patagonian Toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt 1898, among three distinct ocean basins. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Shelley, John Paul 
  The effect of salinity on the bioenergetics of the young-of-the-year Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatis sabina (Lesuer). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns (Research Director: Eric Hoffmayer).
• Walker, Allison Kennedy 
  Assessment of fungal diversity of gulf coast saltmarshes and seagrass beds using morphological, molecular and biochemical methods. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jinx Campbell.

2006

• Ferguson, Heather Joy 
  Comparison of subtidal and intertidal macrobenthic communities between created and natural marshes in the Davis Bayou, Mississippi. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski
• Hendon, Laura Ann 
  Cross-talk between pyrene and hypoxia signaling pathways in embryonic Cyprinodon variegatus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Maurius Brouwer.
• Holden, Samantha Gayle 
  Early life history of Greater Amberjack (Seriola cumerili), Lesser Amberjack (Seriola fasciata), Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana) and Banded Rudderfish (Seriola zonata) associated with Sargassum habitat in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns.
• McDonald, Jennifer Lynn
  Habitat characteristics and reproductive behavior of introduced Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus)) in coastal Mississippi: Interactions with native centrarchid species: Tilapia nilotica. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Thoma, Brent Patrick
  Gammarus mucronatus species complex in the northern Gulf of Mexico: ecophonotypic plasticity or distinct species? M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Thoma, Jana Nell
  Review of the Epicaridea (Isopoda) of the South Atlantic Bight, with descriptions of two new species: M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Larsen, Kirstein Marie
  Utilization of nonvegetated bottom and marsh edge habitats in western Mississippi Sound by brown shrimp, Farfantenpenaeus aztecus, and associated faunal assemblages.  M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Patricia Biesiot (Research Director: Harriet M. Perry).

2005

• Knight, Julianne
  Descriptions of four new species and a new genus belonging to the family Apseudidae (Crustacea: Peracarida: Tanaidacea) from New Zealand Marine Waters. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Partyka, Melissa L.
  Salt marsh communities in an anthropogenic landscape: habitat characteristics, distribution, and density of infauna, epifauna and nekton along an estuarine gradient. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Phillips, Andrea 
  Investigating Vibrio parahaemolyticus incidence in Gulf Coast water and underlying oysters (Crassostrea virginica) using remote sensing: A comparative study of archived and real-time data for risk assessment. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Darrell J. Grimes.
• Vivian, Deborah Nicole
  Examining habitat function of a restored salt marsh using post-larval Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis Baird and Girard). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Wells, Tami Maureen 
  M.S. - Hyperspectral remote sensing of noxious aquatic plant species in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson (Research Director: Gregory A. Carter).

2004

• Bakenhaster, Micah Daniel 
  External morphological features of mancas of four parasitic isopod species (Cymothoidae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Jones, Cheryl Lynn Taylor 
  Hydrocarbon transport in Keegan Bayou, Biloxi, MS, using coprostanol as a tracer. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Julia S. Lytle.
• Lezina, Brian Joseph 
  Life history of the Gulf Toadfish, Opsanus beta, in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Nickels, Barbara Rose
  Light and electron microscope studies of a haplosporidian infection in the Florida marshclam, Cyrenoida floridana. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Pelleteri, Sara T 
  Tanaidmorpha (Crustacea: Malacostraca) of Hawaii. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Vervaeke, William Chesley 
  Stage-structured, predator/prey interactions between seasonal transients and permanent residents of an estuary. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Waggy, Gretchen L. 
  Life history of the Silver Perch, Bairdiella chrysoura Lacepède in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.

2003

• Chiluiza, David 
  Development of the digestive system in cultured larvae of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: William Hawkins.
• Zimmerman, Jacqueline Kathleen 
  Salinity tolerance of Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) eggs and larvae. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.

2002

• Bleich, Matthew Daniel 
  Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Prionotus (Teleostei: Triglidae), with an emphasis on the northern Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Stuart Poss.
• Bullard, Stephen Ashton 
  Blood flukes (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from commercially and recreationally important fishes in the Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robin M. Overstreet.
• Crochet, Nicole Marie 
  Investigations of flyingfish larvae (Exocoetidae) in the western central Atlantic: Identification, distribution and abundance, and developmental descriptions of Prognichthys occidentalis. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Bruce H. Comyns.
• Flowers, Charles Harry, Jr. 
  Evaluation of host potential of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) for white spot syndrome virus: susceptibility, pathogenicity, and transmission. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.
• Krol, Rena
  Pathobiology of white spot virus (WSV) in diverse crustaceans from the United States. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffrey M. Lotz.
• Opel, Nicole Merree 
  Assessment of genetic variation among and within populations of shoalgrass (Halodule wrightii) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis, Major Professor: Cynthia A. Moncrieff.
• Salazar Anton, Lesber 
  The effect of chronic Taura syndrome virus (TSV) infections on stress tolerance and development of a semi-quantitative infectivity assay for white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.
• Wheeler, Kersten N. 
  Feedings habits of juvenile Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) from northern Gulf of Mexico barrier island beaches. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard.
• Zapfe, Glenn A. 
  Effects of marsh access on the feeding success and growth of juvenile Spot, Leiostomus xanthurus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Henderson, Tammie Sue
  The analysis of a putative complement-related serine protease sequence in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Kenneth C. Stuck.

2001

• Garber, Amber Frances 
  Utilization of a hypervariable region as a molecular marker for Red Snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, stock enhancement. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Kenneth C. Stuck.
• Lemus, Jason Thomas 
  Development of a protocol for the mass production of copepods. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.
• Vincent, Dena Greene 
  The influence of pollution stress on the growth of juvenile fishes and the evaluation of associated bioassessment techniques. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Woodley, Christa Myranne 
  Measurement of increased predation threat using behavioral and physiological metrics: Implications for aquatic habitat loss in estuarine ecosystems. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.

2000

• Shervette, Virginia Rhea
  Do stone crabs need public housing?: testing the refuge limitation hypothesis for Menippe adina juveniles in the Mississippi Sound. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Patricia Biesiot (Research Director: Harriet M. Perry).
• Aguirre Maldonado, Windsor Efren 
  Phylogenetic vs. ecophenotypic influences on interspecific variability of sagittae in the genera Cynoscion and Isopisthus (Teleostei: Sciaenidae). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Stuart Poss.
• Camp, Kenneth Russell 
  Biochemical composition of Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus during ontogeny. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.
• Carroll, Suzanne Nichole nee Gronen 
  Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on development of reproductive organs and reproductive function in the teleost fish Oryzias latipes. M.S. Thesis, Marine Science. Major Professor: Marius Brouwer.
• Hendrix, Glenn Michael
  Mitochondrial DNA markers for the identification of early life stages of Paralichthys lethostigma, Paralichthys albigutta, and Paralichthys squamilentus (Pisces, Paralichthyidae). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Kenneth C. Stuck.
• Karels, Arthur Alan 
  Reproductive effects of estrogenic and antiestrogenic chemicals on Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), along with partial isolation and sequence of its estrogen receptor. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Marius Brouwer.
• Moore, Anne Marie 
  Effect of temperature on infectivity of Taura syndrome virus in Litopenaeus vannamei and comparison of three reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocols for detecting Taura syndrome virus. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Jeffery M. Lotz.
• Pederson, Eric John 
  Bryozoa as an ephemeral estuarine habitat used by invertebrates and young fishes. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Smedley, Kristy Louise 
  Life histories and taxonomy of some members of Monorchiidae (Digenea). M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Robin M. Overstreet.
• Syring, Rachel Ann 
  The role of blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, metallothioneins in metal metabolism and detoxification of heavy metals and the crab’s potential as a bioindicator of trace metals in the estuarine environment. M.S. Thesis. Major Professor: Marius Brouwer.
• Bond, Pamela A.
  Comparative early life histories of Scombrids in the north central Gulf of Mexico. M.S. Thesis, Marine Science. Major Professor: Donald Redalje (Research Director: Bruce H. Comyns).
• Blackburn, Brett Ramey
  The effects of industrial and cultural development on phytoplankton community dynamics within three bayou systems of Jackson County, Mississippi. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Cynthia A. Moncreiff.

1999

• Cote, Janet 
  Prey selection by juvenile crabs, Callinectes sapidus between two micrograzing gastropods, Astyris lunata and Bittiolum varium, within estuarine seagrass habitat. M.S. Thesis, Marine Science. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard (Research Director: Chet F. Rakocinski).
• Garber, Nikola Marie 
  Application of the mitochondrial DNA control region in population structure studies of Mugil cephalus (Striped Mullet) in North America. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Kenneth C. Stuck.

1998

• Abney, Michael Alan 
  Phenotypic plasticity in the life history traits of Gambusi puncticulata puncticulata (Poeciliidae) from the Cayman Islands, BWI. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Chet F. Rakocinski.
• Hendon, Joseph Read 
  Spatial and temporal distribution of gobiid fishes along natural and altered marsh-edge habitats. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.

1997

• Snyder, Douglas J
  Life history of a peripheral population of Bluespotted Sunfish, Enneacanthus gloriosus in southern Mississippi. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Mark S. Peterson.
• Al Shaqsy, Hilal Mohammed 
  Recruitment of early juvenile Micropogonias undulatus, Leiostomus xanthurus, Cynoscion arenarius, and Cynoscion nebulosus into Mississippi Sound: Seasonal and long-term patterns. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Thomas D. McIlwain (Research Director: Mark S. Peterson).
• VanderKooy, Katherine Elaine 
  Feeding habits of three coastal sunfishes (Lepomis spp.) in an estuarine bayou. M.S. Thesis, Biological Sciences. Major Professor: Richard W. Heard (Research Director: Chet F. Rakocinski).