Upcoming Events
PhD Dissertation Proposal Defense - Environmental Science & Policy
Mar 29, 2024, 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Hybrid
Potomac Science Center 3102
Zoom - email espgrad@gmu.edu for Zoom meeting info
PhD Dissertation Proposal
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
College of Science
George Mason University
Candidate: Jordan Sims
Defense Date and Time: March 29, 2024 at 2:30pm
Defense Location: Potomac Science Center 3102 and virtually on Zoom
Title: Filling critical ecological knowledge gaps on Honduran reefs to better inform coral restoration practices using molecular approaches
Dissertation Director: Dr. Jennifer L. Salerno
Committee: Dr. Haw Chuan Lim, Dr. Esther C. Peters, Dr. Diego Valderrama
ABSTRACT
Coral restoration is increasingly being used in response to degradation of coral reefs, but many restoration projects are limited by a lack of knowledge of ecological processes and local factors, reducing the success of restoration efforts. The proposed dissertation leverages molecular approaches to address critical unknowns that impact larval rearing and coral gardening projects on the reefs of Honduras, including (1) bacterial biofilm biogeography and community assembly, (2) connections between environmental conditions, microbial community composition, and benthic invertebrate settlement, and (3) genetic diversity of two critically endangered stony coral species from four local coral gardening programs and regional wild populations.