Goal: Investigate how algal physiology and abiotic disturbances, of varying frequency and magnitude, drive succession patterns in two well studied and historic regions in California: Carmel Bay and Point Loma.
Question 1: How do seasonal and annual disturbances impact red algal succession, and do these impacts vary among red algal species and/or with geographic location?
Question 2: How do species-specific light requirements of red algae structure community assemblages following disturbances?
Presentations
McHugh, T.A., 2017, "A Storm's a Brewin! Assessing How Strong and Frequent Storm Disturbances Will Impact Kelp Forest Communities in San Diego, CA." Marine Science Day Speaker, Coastal Marine Institute Laboratory, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
McHugh, T.A., 2017, "Disturbances to Kelp Forest Ecosystems, and Their Subsequent Impacts for Red Algae Communities" Guest Speaker, Marine Botany Course, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
McHugh, T.A., and Edwards, M.E. 2016 "Red Algal Community Structure in Response to Disturbances of Varying Frequency and Magnitude." Speaker, Western Society of Naturalists Conference and Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA.
McHugh, T.A. , 2016 "Roles of Light Adaptations and Community Structure in Response to Frequent and Infrequent Disturbance Events." San Diego State University "Proposal Fest" to advance to candidacy. San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
McHugh, T.A., and Edwards, M.E. 2015 "The Sea Was Angry That Day: A Preliminary Analysis of Algae Dominated Temperate Reefs Prior to an El Niño disturbance event." Western Society of Naturalists Conference and Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA.
McHugh, T.A. and Gaylord, C.G. 2015 "Subtidal Field Methods" MARINE Symposium, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA McHugh, T.A. and Gaylord, C.G. 2015 "PISCO and the Rockfish Dispersal Genetics Project" Monterey Bay Aquarium Local Science Symposium, Monterey, CA.
Elsmore, K.E. and McHugh, T.A., 2014, "3-Dimensional Mapping of Two Marine Reserves" The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Currents Symposium, Seaside, CA. * 3rd Place and Honorable Mention in the Graduate Student Division*
McHugh, T.A. and Elsmore, K.E., 2013 "Distributions and Habitat Associations of Two Sea Urchins in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea" Western Society of Naturalists Conference and Annual Meeting, Oxnard, CA.
Funding
I sincerely thank my sources of funding for allowing all of this to be possible! Seriously.
FAFSA and California State University Grant (2017-2018)
Harold & June Grant Memorial Scholarship (2017)
Jordan D. Covin Memorial Scholarship (2017)
Cal State University- COAST Graduate Research Fellowship Program (2017)
FAFSA and California State University Gran(2016-2017)
Association for Women in Science (AWIS) San Diego Chapter Scholarship (2016)
PADI Research Grant (2016)
Myers Trust Grant (2016)
FAFSA and California State University Gran(2015-2016)
Women Diver Hall of Fame- Advances Training Grant (2015)
University of California, Natural Reserves Grant (2014)
Local Union No. 104 Sheet Metal Workers Scholarship (2012)
Mamma and Pop for rehabilitating and feeding me between research trips (2009-current)