Casey Hudspeth

Graduate Student

Degree Sought: M.S.
Major Professor: Dr. Josh Patterson

Casey Hudspeth is a graduate student working towards her M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Casey received funding from NSF through their Graduate Research Fellowship Program to pursue her degree. She works with Dr. Josh Patterson at his lab in Apollo Beach and is focusing on restoration aquaculture, ecological function, and dietary effects, primarily with the long-spined black sea urchin Diadema antillarum. Casey’s research investigates gaps in current aquaculture profiles of the species and works to unravel some of the secrets of the delicate early life stages of this echinoderm such as dietary and water quality necessities.  During her time in graduate school, she hopes to improve overall understanding of early juvenile stages in sea urchins and aid in the production of this valuable species for future Florida reef restoration projects, .

Casey graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Business and Administration. While in undergraduate school, Casey worked in FAU’s Primatology lab using GIS software to look at primate home ranges. She also participated in a research project in the Galapagos islands regarding human interference on sea lion behavior. Outside of schooling, Casey volunteered at multiple nature centers providing care to aquatic and terrestrial species while also leading educational presentations on the importance of marine ecosystems, danger of invasive species, and value of native reptiles.  She has additional experience working at a small animal clinic as a veterinarian technician and as an externship student at a wildlife clinic.

In her free time, Casey enjoys drawing, crocheting, and going on walks with her pet snake.

CONTACT

The Florida Aquarium | Center for Conservation
529 Estuary Shore Ln
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
hudspeth.c@ufl.edu
813-419-4917

• Education

  B.S., Biological Sciences, Minor in Business Administration, 2022, Florida Atlantic University

• Selected Publications

  Hudspeth, C., D. Mitsova, and D. Detwiler. 2023. Home range analysis of Cercopithecus monkeys in Gombe National Park, Tanzania.  Florida Atlantic Undergraduate Research Journal 12:44-58.
  Read Here

• Presentations

  Hudspeth, C., A. Pilnick, A. Petrosino, J. Smith, M. Dakin, and J. Patterson 2024. Investigating early post-settlement rearing in the Long-Spined Sea urchin Diadema antillarum, a restoration aquaculture candidate. Oral Presentation. Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, St. Augustine, Florida.

  Hudspeth, C., A. Pilnick, A. Petrosino, J. Smith, M. Dakin, and Patterson, J. 2024. Restoration aquaculture with sea urchin Diadema antillarum - investigating early post-settlement rearing. Oral Presentation. Graduate Student Symposium, Gainesville, Florida.

• Awards

  NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program