Pamela Hallock Muller, Biogeological Oceanography
Professor, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1977

By studying the geologic record and modern coral reefs, my students and I gain insight not only into environments of the past and present, but also the potential effects of human activities on the future of Earth's ecosystems. Our work has implications for cell biology, coral reef ecology, environmental management, global environmental change, evolution, paleoceanography, sedimentology, and hydrocarbon exploration.

Ongoing projects include:

• Biology and ecology of larger foraminifera and their endosymbionts, including causes and implications of bleaching. Testing of indices of biological integrity based on foraminifera applicable to subtropical/tropical coastal environments. View FORAM Index CD
• Effects of ocean acidification on larger foraminifers and other marine organisms.
  Aquarius: Mission 6, 2008
  Aquarius: Mission 7, 2008
  Aquarius: Mission 6, 2009

Recent Theses and Dissertations

• See also thesis and dissertation topics of Recent Graduate Students
• Can waters around Durney Key, Pasco County, Florida, support coral recruitment to artificial substrates? Master’s thesis of Kelley Anderson, 12/08.
• Can colored dissolved organic material protect coral reefs by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation? Ph.D. Dissertation of Lore Ayoub, 5/09.
• Ecological dynamics of livebottom ledges and artificial reefs on the inner central west Florida shelf. Ph.D. Dissertation of Jennifer Dupont, 5/09.
• Foraminiferal responses to arsenic in a shallow-water hydrothermal system in Papua New Guinea and in the laboratory. Ph.D. Dissertation of Bryan McCloskey, 5/09.  View Project Website
• Shell abnormalities in Archaias angulatus (Foraminifera) from the Florida Keys: An indication of increasing environmental stress? Ph.D. Dissertation of Heidi L. Souder, 5/09.

Links of Interest

• Information for prospective grad students
• USF Diving Program
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
• National Marine Sanctuaries
• Biscayne National Park
• US Geological Survey
• USGS Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies
• Molecular Systematics Group
• Bowser foram lab
• Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research
• Illustrated Glossary of Terms Used in Foraminiferal Research
• Association for Women Geoscientists, Distinguised Lecturer Program
• Suprenand Photographic Adventures, Research with Paul Suprenand

Current Graduate Students:

Michael Drexler, M.Sc. Student

Brienne Engel, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: Characterization of chemical attractants of foraminifera

Julia Galkiewicz, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: Cataloging diversity of microbial communities associated with deep-sea corals

Mark Hartman, M.Sc. Student

Thesis Topic: Assessing Diver Damage to Benthos During the Spiny Lobster Sport Season Around Looe Key, Florida Keys

Michael Martinez-Colon, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: Heavy metal pollution culture experiments on tropical benthic Foraminifera

Melanie Peters, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: Patch reef communities in Biscayne National Park: Quanitifying baseline shift over the past 30 years

Paul Suprenand, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: Ocean Acidification and Bioindicators

Amy Wallace, M.Sc. Student

Thesis Topic: Patch Reef Assessment in Biscayne National Park

Ryann Williams, M.Sc. Student

Thesis Topic: Testing Bioindicators on Reefs off SE Florida

Kathryn (Katie) Wirt, Ph.D. Student

Dissertation Topic: To be Determined