Number 68 | February 2025 | |
"Gunter Library News" is the monthly e-newsletter highlighting current events and happenings at the Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, University of Southern Mississippi. | |
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GCRL researchers are encouraged to submit research to the Aquila repository. Papers should be submitted in Microsoft word, rich text format (RTF) or Adobe Acrobat (PDF). If using a program other than Microsoft Word, “export” or “save as” in RTF file format. Submissions should include an email address, abstract, keywords, and name affiliation (department and university), and author email.
For submissions with author review, an adobe acrobat PDF version will be created and returned to you asking for your approval. Once approved, you will be notified by email when the paper is posted. For submissions with no author review, a PDF version will be created and published and you will be notified by email when posted. [BC]
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Submit Your Book Recommendations
All faculty, students, and staff--now is the time to submit your recommendations for books to be purchased to support your teaching, research, and learning. Please include as much information as possible--author, title, date, publisher, etc. and indicate your preference for print or e-books. Please note there are some publisher restrictions with e-books including the number of pages you can download (usually 60 pages or less). If this will impede your use of the book, then be sure to indicate you are requesting print. We need your recommendations asap. Print books ordered for COA are housed at Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Please email to: guntergcrl@usm.edu
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From left to right: Frank Driscoll and Aishah Burke | |
Tamara Kramer (M.S.)
Advisor: Eric Powell
Frank Driscoll (M.S.)
Advisor: Songjie He
Aishah Burke (M.S.)
Advisor: Wei Wu
| Audra Beeson, a recent graduate from USM in Marine Biology with a minor in English, joined the MEC staff as a Marine Educator. | |
Call to Support Co-Worker
Pam Moeller is organizing donations and gift cards to support Jill Eure, GCRL Public Information Officer. Jill is receiving medical care in Jackson. If you would like to donate a gift card or money, please bring to Millie Medina at the Director’s House.
| Welcome Library Volunteer | Cory Lambert is from Gautier, Mississippi and graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Mississippi. In the Summer, he travels to Alaska for the salmon fishing season. In addition, he loves being outdoors, especially being in the water, surfing, and spearing fishing. [ML] | |
Graduate Student Symposium | |
On February 14-16, the 2025 Graduate Student Symposium was hosted by graduate students from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Attendees included students traveling from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) and Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory (DISL). GSS offers students opportunities to present their research in a low-stress and student-orientated environment. The conference itinerary included a day trip to parades in celebration of Mardi Gras, night outings in downtown Ocean Springs, MS, and a beach cleanup on a beautiful day on East Beach. [ML] | |
Fellowship & Internship Opportunities | |
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) and the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE) will co-host a 2025 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Gulf Research Program (GRP) Science Policy Fellow. The fellowship program helps scientists hone their skills by putting them into practice for the benefit of Gulf Coast communities and ecosystems. Fellows gain first-hand experience as they spend one year on the staff of federal, state, local or non-governmental environmental, natural resource, oil and gas, and public health agencies in the Gulf region. Fellows who have completed an MA, MS, or MPH/MSPH degree or who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program will receive an annual stipend of $58,000. Fellows who have completed a PhD, ScD, EngD, MD, DrPH or DVM will receive an annual stipend of $63,000. Deadline to apply: Feb. 26, 2025. | |
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant supports two paid summer internship positions for undergraduates (juniors, seniors) or recent graduates interested in marine science and environmental education. The internships are offered through the Discovery Hall Programs at Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Dauphin Island, Alabama, and run from May 28-July 31, 2025. The application deadline is March 1, 2025. | |
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SAVE THE DATE
The Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 10:00am-11:30am in the Thad Cochran Center (2nd Floor). Winners will be announced during the Awards Luncheon in the Thad Cochran Ballroom from 12:00pm-1:00pm.
The symposium provides graduate students with an opportunity to present their research to faculty, staff, and students in a friendly competitive environment through oral and poster presentations. The symposium aims to enhance the scholarly environment and highlight the creative and innovative research conducted by Southern Miss graduate students.
Symposium Registration Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2025
Abstract submission: deadline is March 28 (seems late, but that’s what is on the form)
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Photos taken by Dr. Kelly Darnell.
A historic winter storm occurred on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. The official snowfall at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport was seven inches, tying the record for the snowiest day in the airport's history. This unusual winter phenomenon shut down Ocean Springs and the Mississippi Gulf Coast for three days.
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- Tuesday, February 18th, Have a Conversation with your Heart Workshop, 11:30-12:30 pm @ GCRL Caylor Building
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- Thursday, February 20th, Heritage Unearthed: Lecture with Dr. Tammy Greer, 6 pm - 7:30 pm @ Walter Anderson Museum
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- Saturday, February 22nd, STEM FEST, 9 am to noon @ INFINITY Science Center, admission is free for all ages.
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- Saturday, February 22nd, Bats on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 9 am @ Mississippi State Coastal Research and Extension Center, 1815 Popps Ferry Rd, Biloxi, free
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- Saturday, February 22nd, Gautier Mardi Gras Night Parade, 7 pm
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- Friday, February 28th, 6 pm @ Ocean Springs Carnival Association Night Parade
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- Saturday, March 8th, 8 am to noon, Family Birdwatching with Dr. Marl Woodrey, free, limited.
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Save the Date
Monday, February 24th - 6 pm to 7 pm
Caylor Auditorium
(703 East Beach Drive, aka "Halstead" campus)
Sponsored by Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
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Scared Strong: Using Predator Cues to Bolster Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture
Presenter: Dr. Lee Smee
Many prey species respond to predators by changing their appearance to reduce their chances of being eaten. For example, oysters grow heavier, stronger shells when exposed to scents from blue crabs, oyster drills, or other predators. These shell changes increase oyster survival, and we are now working to improve oyster restoration by toughening up oysters to improve their survival. We investigated if oyster morphology could be manipulated on large scales to improve survival and bolster restoration. Through a series of experiments in collaboration with state agencies, NGOs, and industry, we tested the benefits and costs of this approach. Our results suggested that exposing oyster spat to predator cues significantly increased their survival. Concurrently, we performed experiments to identify the chemical cues predators release that stimulate oysters to grow stronger shells in hopes of building a synthetic cue. We found that oysters are reacting to molecules in predator urine and increase their shell strength by 20 – 100%. Oysters with stronger shells had >50% higher survivorship than controls after being in the field after one year, although survivorship differences varied substantially depending on season and site. These findings demonstrate the utility of using predator cues to enhance the survival of target species, and highlight an opportunity to employ cost-effective methods for improving oyster aquaculture and restoration.
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If you missed any of our GCRL Science Cafes visit our Marine Education Center’s (MEC) Facebook page at the link below.
Refreshments compliments of Gunter Library
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"Like" the GCRL Science Cafe Facebook page for more information about upcoming Science Cafe events. | |
If you missed any of our Zoom GCRL Science Cafes visit our Marine Education Center’s (MEC) Facebook page at the link below. | |
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Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Joyce Shaw, Head & Professor
Megan Le, Library Manager
Brennan Collins, Library Assistant
Marjie Williams. Library Assistant
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