Date of Award

Spring 5-7-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Marine Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Eric Rosch

Abstract/Description

Climate change is a growing threat to marine habitats globally. One ecological impact that warming water temperatures poses is the increased metabolic rate of many parasite species. Their promoted reproductive and feeding rates could pose a threat to the stability of many host populations. Parasites of the gills, or brachial parasites, are especially concerning to fish populations globally. As parasitism is not limited to a specific taxon and comprises a large diversity of ecomorphs and behaviors, geographically distinct areas may be differentially affected by the changing prevalence of parasites. This study aimed to survey current brachial parasite abundance and prevalence in young-of-year population of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) from a northern South Carolina estuary. Abundance and prevalence were relatively healthy for this population when compared to historic records, although the limitation of only YOY specimens means that the parasite community which parasitizes the juvenile and adult stages are unobserved, and therefore future research is required to determine the full current impact parasites could be having on the striped mullet population in northern South Carolina.

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