Congraulations Mackenzie Campbell! Honors Thesis Defense
The Johnson Laboratory wants to congratulate Mackenzie Campbell on defending her honors thesis this past spring!Ìý
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Mackenzie has spent the last two years working on her honors thesis project titled "Using Otolith Aging Techniques to Compare Acanthurus tractus Age and Length with Infection Load of Scaphanocephalus spp.". This study focuses on ocean surgeonfish (Acanthurus tractus), a key herbivorous fish in Caribbean reefs, to examine the relationship between fish age (years), size (length), and parasite load of the trematode Scaphanocephalus spp.. By investigating these variables, this research aimed to provide insights into marine host-parasite interactions, contributing to a deeper understanding of this subject. Using otolith aging techniques to determine fish age, direct comparisons of infection load of Scaphanocephalus spp. to host age and length were made. The findings confirmed a positive nonlinear relationship between age and length, supporting the validity and reliability of otolith aging for ocean surgeonfish. Parasite load was not significantly correlated with either variable, suggesting that factors beyond age or size, such as behavior or habitat use, may be more influential in shaping infection patterns. This study contributes to otolith research on reef fishes and provides new insights into parasite-host relationships, contributing to a broader understanding of coral reef ecosystems which is crucial given the stress they are currently under.Ìý
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We are so proud of Mackenzie's hard work and we know that she will continue on and do amazing things. You can access her written honors thesis through the following link () if you would like to read more about her work! Ìý