The UCF Statistics and Data Science Department is pleased to present the Big Data Analytics Symposium 2025. This day-long series of speakers and networking opportunities connects students to industry professionals to explore the practical applications of big data and data analytics in the modern marketplace. This event reached its 12th year in 2025 and has become an integral resource for connecting UCF …
Biology Department CalendarPhotosynthesis is a critical metabolic process in plants involving ‘light reactions’ that capture solar energy to produce ATP and NADPH, and ‘dark reactions’ where these molecules power the enzyme Rubisco to synthesize sugars in the Calvin-Benson cycle. These processes serve as the primary energy source for plant growth and reproduction, displaying significant variation across species and environments. In Helianthus, distinct …
Biology Department CalendarUnderstanding the fate of the soil organic matter (SOM) in coastal wetlands allow for accurate assessments of ecosystem functions and services. Mineral associated organic matter (MAOM) is SOM that is physically and chemically stabilized through interactions with mineral surfaces, and is considered one of the most stable pools of SOM. Through both observational and experimental studies, MAOM was quantified along …
Biology Department CalendarCoastal wetlands perform essential ecosystem functions that may be negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities and environmental change. Coastal wetland degradation has been observed in the Tolomato River estuary, part of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), on the east coast of Florida (USA). In some areas, oyster rakes (linear piles of dead oyster shells) form between the …
Biology Department CalendarWildlife populations worldwide are increasingly threatened by emerging infectious diseases, which can exacerbate declines already caused by habitat loss, environmental stressors, and human activities. The fitness consequences of exposure to emerging diseases remain poorly understood for most host-pathogen systems, particularly for neglected taxa like squamates. This dissertation investigates the effects of two major diseases, pentastomiasis caused by Raillietiella orientalis and …
Biology Department Calendar