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Upcoming Events

Apr 24

Dissertation Defense - Nicholas Minster, PhD Bioinformatics & Computational Biology

Apr 24, 2026, 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Apr 24

Dissertation Defense - Nazli Azodi, PhD Bioinformatics & Computational Biology

Apr 24, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Apr 24

PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense - Elizabeth M. Schierbeek - Environmental Science and Policy

Apr 24, 2026, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Virtual on Zoom - please register:
https://tinyurl.com/427x6kw4

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MS Thesis Defense - Environmental Science and Policy

Apr 20, 2026, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Horizon Hall, Room 4010 and 
Virtual on Zoom - please register:
https://tinyurl.com/5y23bv89

MS Thesis
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
College of Science
George Mason University

 

Candidate: Caroline Miller
Defense Date and Time: April 20, 2026 at 1:00-4:00pm
Defense Location: Horizon Hall, Room 4010 and Virtual on Zoom
Title: Constraining Depth Habitat Preferences of Polar and Subpolar Planktic Foraminifera: Insights from the Northern California Current

Thesis Director: Dr. Brittany Hupp
Committee: Dr. Amy Fowler, Dr. Reid Nelson

 

ABSTRACT

 

Planktic foraminifera are a vital component of marine ecosystems, yet many polar and subpolar taxa are understudied. This thesis assesses the community composition and depth habitat of species dwelling in the Northern California Current in an effort explore spatiotemporal variability in community diversity, constrain the location of these taxa within the water column, and assess the correlation between average living depth and vertical distribution. These findings may contribute to the development and improvement of paleoceanographic proxies that are used in high latitudinal regions where the pressing effects of climate change are most prominent.

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