Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1737-0572

Advisor

Sparks, Eric

Committee Member

Drymon, James

Committee Member

Woodrey, Mark

Committee Member

Scyphers, Steven

Committee Member

Temple, Nigel

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Forest Resources (Wildlife, Fisheries & Aquaculture)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems along the northern Gulf of Mexico are ecologically and economically vital yet increasingly threatened by environmental change, habitat degradation, and knowledge gaps that complicate restoration and management efforts. This dissertation integrates social and ecological approaches to improve understanding of predator dynamics, stakeholder perceptions, and habitat function related to nearshore habitats. Thereby, providing information that can inform adaptive management and restoration in the region through addressing three overarching objectives: 1) evaluate stakeholder perceptions of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) predation and management practices; 2) quantify environmental and habitat factors influencing oyster drill (Stramonita haemastoma complex) abundance; and, 3) assess the influence of shoreline habitat type on estuarine nekton community composition. Oysters are central to these systems due to their ecological importance and vulnerability to predation, particularly by oyster drills, which is why they are the focus of objectives 1 and 2. For objective 1, I used survey data from oyster farmers and natural resource professionals to examine perceptions of oyster predation, seasonal trends, and the feasibility of management techniques. While both groups identified multiple predators as important, Resource professionals overwhelmingly viewed the southern oyster drill as the primary threat, whereas Farmers reported a broader distribution of perceived impacts, reflecting differing levels of hands-on experience and management constraints. For objective 2, I used a field-based study to quantify abundance of oyster drills at sites in Mississippi and Alabama at either coarse or fine sediment sites and with or without the presence of nearby oysters. Analyses of oyster drill abundance revealed significant seasonal variation and interactive effects of sediment type and oyster presence, indicating complex habitat relationships beyond simple salinity gradients. For objective 3, assessments of nekton communities using seasonal seine sampling over 1 year across eroded-forest, marsh, and beach shorelines in Florida’s East Bay showed that marsh shorelines supported greater species richness and diversity than eroded-forests or beaches, emphasizing the ecological value of vegetated shorelines for estuarine fauna. Collectively, these studies provide applied insight for sustainable estuarine resource management in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

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