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DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20260624T150000
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DTSTAMP:20261005T032511
CREATED:20260615T132338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T133059Z
UID:10001313-1782313200-1782315900@grad.southernct.edu
SUMMARY:Thesis Defense: Alina Tran
DESCRIPTION:Title: UPPER THERMAL REGIMES AND QUIESCENSE IN THE TEMPERATE CORAL ASTRANGIA POCULATA \nAbbreviated Abstract: While climate impacts on tropical corals are well-documented\, the thermal limits of temperate species like Astrangia poculata remain understudied. Notably\, A. poculata enters dormancy during cold winter temperatures (<5°C)\, but it is unknown if it exhibits a similar “warm-water dormancy” observed in other temperate corals. This study investigates how elevated temperatures (18–33°C) influence tentacle behavior and responsiveness in Rhode Island A. poculata colonies. Following daily feedings\, tentacle activity will be monitored both during a week of thermal stress and a subsequent recovery period. Additionally\, zooxanthellae densities will be calculated in visually bleached colonies\, though counts were primarily used to verify the extent of symbiont loss. By analyzing the relationship between temperature and tentacle behavior\, this research will determine if A. poculata utilizes dormancy as a survival mechanism against heat stress. These findings will provide critical insights into the thermal tolerance and resilience of temperate corals in a rapidly warming ocean.
URL:https://grad.southernct.edu/event/thesis-defense-alina-tran/
LOCATION:Academic Science and Labratory Building\, 103\, Jennings Hall\, Fitch St\, New Haven\, CT\, 06515\, United States
CATEGORIES:Defense
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grad.southernct.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_3791_Alina-Tran.jpg
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LAST-MODIFIED:20250421T162115Z
UID:10000085-1746025200-1746028800@grad.southernct.edu
SUMMARY:Thesis Defense: Danielle Moloney
DESCRIPTION:Title: A within-site comparison of intertidal and subtidal populations of Astrangia poculata \nAbstract: Astrangia poculata (Northern-star coral) exists in both the intertidal and subtidal habitats in southern New England. As such\, they inhabit exceptionally dynamic environments. Though subtidal populations have been well studied\, few studies exist examining basic physiological parameters between adjacent intertidal and subtidal populations. The objective of this study was to compare factors controlling intertidal coral resilience that allow them to withstand extreme environmental fluctuations. Corals were collected from the intertidal and subtidal zones at Fort Wetherill\, Rhode Island\, then acclimated to lab conditions at Southern Connecticut State University. We exposed intertidal and subtidal colonies to thermal challenges of either heat or cold stress (5°C\, 15°C\, 18°C\, 22°C\, and 27°C) based on historical averages in the region. To assess physiological differences between intertidal and subtidal populations\, we measured feeding responses\, fluorescent yield\, and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration both before and after exposure to thermal challenge. Temperature had a significant impact on feeding responses\, with a collapse of all feeding behavior in the 5°C treatment after all corals in this group entered a winter dormancy period called quiescence. We observed an inverse relationship between temperature treatment and DO concentration\, with higher DO produced by corals in cold temperature treatments and low levels of DO\, or DO consumption\, in the warm temperature treatments. Intertidal or subtidal collection site significantly impacted fluorescent yield\, with intertidal corals exhibiting higher and more variable fluorescence than subtidal corals. All corals in the 5°C treatment entered quiescence\, regardless of collection site\, allowing for measurements on quiescent A. poculata to be taken for the first time in a laboratory setting. The results of this study have important implications for the fields of temperate coral resilience\, intertidal coral communities\, and cnidarian dormancy.
URL:https://grad.southernct.edu/event/thesis-defense-danielle-moloney/
LOCATION:Academic Science and Labratory Building\, 103\, Jennings Hall\, Fitch St\, New Haven\, CT\, 06515\, United States
CATEGORIES:Defense
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://grad.southernct.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Danielle-Moloney-scaled.jpg
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