BIO

I am currently pursuing a Biological Sciences degree at Florida State University on the marine biology academic pathway. Over the summer in my hometown of Sarasota/Venice, Florida, I interned at the Mote Marine Laboratory, working with multiple land and aquatic turtle species. This academic year I have been volunteering and participating in research at the Florida State Marine and Coastal Laboratory. I plan to obtain another internship position this coming summer at the Mote Marine Laboratory and am looking for environmental/marine biology research opportunities at Florida State University for the coming fall term.

A Review of Research Pertaining to Gorgonian Octocorals off the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

The Gulf of Mexico is made up of primarily limestone reefs,
where gorgonian octocorals are one of the most prominent
organisms that contribute to habitat formation. Gorgonian
octocorals make up highly diverse communities, yet it is
evident that few ecological studies have been conducted on
their species in the Gulf of Mexico. This gap in research is
predominantly due to the difficulty of species identification in
the field, causing a lack of monitoring efforts pertaining to this
group of organisms. Despite this, there is an increasing effort to
understand this diverse and widely distributed taxon due to
their role as habit-forming organisms and potential reliance
under global change. Within this literature review, we delve
into an array of ecological, morphological, distributional, and
taxonomical research pertaining to gorgonian octocorals
throughout the Gulf of Mexico. This comprehensive review
will conceivably be used by researchers and scientists to
communicate knowledge, provide suggestions for prospective
work, and advocate for future imperative studies.

Keywords: Gorgonian, Octocorals, Gulf of Mexico