Date of Award
Summer 7-28-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
August 2026
Department
Biological Sciences
College Granting Degree
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department Granting Degree
Biological Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Jeanette Wyneken
Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair
Samantha G. Kuschke
Abstract
Florida serves as an important nesting habitat for sea turtles, with more than 160,000 nests laid annually. While many environmental factors influence nest success, fungal infections have been identified as a possible contributor to reduced hatching success. This study characterized the occurrence and dynamics of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) in leatherback nests by quantifying fungal presence and abundance in sand samples collected at oviposition and excavation. FSSC presence and abundance at both time points were not associated with hatching or emergence success. However, fungal abundance increased significantly during incubation, suggesting that the nesting environment may promote FSSC proliferation. FSSC growth was not significantly associated with the environmental variables examined, although weak associations were observed with nest distance to the dune toe and sand pH at oviposition. Future research is needed to identify the environmental factors driving FSSC proliferation and its potential effects on embryonic development.
Recommended Citation
Schultheis, Elizabeth K., "INVESTIGATING THE FUSARIUM SPECIES BURDEN IN LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE (DERMOCHELYS CORIACEA) NESTS" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 380.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/380