BRAYDEN McGAFFIN

EDUCATION

M.S. Fisheries and Mariculture, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, (expected Fall 2027)

B.S. Biology with a minor in Business, Bowling Green State University – (2025)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Texas Common Snook are a euryhaline species that occupy a diverse range of habitats. These fish move between freshwater and saltwater environments across their lifetime. Long-term monitoring by Texas Parks and Wildlife has documented the species’ recovery, but more research is needed to support that recovery.

My thesis will aim to determine important essential fish habitat for the Common Snook, as well as explore a new method for identifying protandry as the species changes from male to female over its life. I will be conducting otolith microchemistry to determine movement across salinity gradients and residence time, as well as assess whether sex-change changepoints can be identified in otolith chemistry.

I am broadly interested in fish ecology and life history and how that information can inform management decisions. I hope my research can contribute to future management of a valuable sport fish and support the species’ recovery.