Ph.D. Candidate- Coastal and Marine System Science
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Current Ongoing Research
My current research projects focus around developing an understanding of the spatial and temporal variability and controlling factors of estuarine carbonate chemistry.
Investigation of the state of acidification, long-term trends in carbonate system parameters, and CO2 fluxes in the Texas estuaries using water quality data collected by the Hu Carbon Cycle Lab as well as historical data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Ocean acidification monitoring at the Mission Aransas ship channel using state of the art in situ sensors for pCO2 and pH measurement. The project includes an investigation of short-term temporal variability in carbonate system parameters.
Examining impacts of submarine groundwater discharge on the alkalinity budget and carbonate system of a semiarid estuary. This involves estimations of submarine groundwater discharge and associated fluxes of carbonate and sulfur parameters.
Publications
McCutcheon, M. R.; Hu, X. Long-term trends in pCO2 and spatial trends in CO2 fluxes in the estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. (In Prep)
McCutcheon, M. R.; Yao, H; Staryk, C. J.; Hu, X. Carbonate system variability in the Mission-Aransas Ship Channel: A time-series study. (In Prep)
Yao, H., McCutcheon, M. R., Staryk, C. J., Hu, X. Hydrologic controls on CO2 chemistry and flux in subtropical lagoonal estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. (In Review)
McCutcheon, M. R.; Staryk, C. J.; Hu, X. Characteristics of the Carbonate System in a Semi-Arid Estuary that Experiences Summertime Hypoxia. Estuaries and Coasts (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00588-0
Hu, X.; Nuttall, M. F.; Wang, H.; Yao, H.; Staryk, C. J.; McCutcheon, M. R.; Eckert, Ryan J.; Embesi, J. A.; Johnston, M. A.; Hickerson, E.; Schmahl, G. P.; Manzello, D.; Enochs, I. C.; DiMarco, S.; Barbero, L. 2018. Seasonal variability of carbonate chemistry and decadal changes in waters of a marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Chemistry, 205, 16-28
Scherer, A. E.; Bird, C. E.; McCutcheon, M. R.; Hu, X.; & Smee, D. L. (2018). Two-tiered defense strategy may compensate for predator avoidance costs of an ecosystem engineer. Marine Biology, 165(8).
Hu, X.; Beseres Pollack, J.; McCutcheon, M. R.; Montagna, P. a.; Ouyang, Z. Long-term alkalinity decrease and acidification of estuaries in Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015, 150217102145007.
Presentations
McCutcheon, M. R. (2018 July) Oral †. CO2 and the Coast. Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center – Eco-Expert Talk Series. Corpus Christi, TX.
McCutcheon, M. R. *, Hu, X. (2018 June) Oral. Understanding uncertainties in the changing carbon budget of estuaries: A case study in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. ASLO 2018 Summer Meeting. Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2018 March) Webinar. Temporal fluctuations in pH and CO2 partial pressure in the Aransas Ship Channel, TX. EPA OA Monitoring in NEPs Webinar.
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2017 November) Oral. CO2 flux and long-term pCO2 trends of the estuaries of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Coastal Estuaries Research Federation Meeting. Providence, Rhode Island.
Staryk, C. J.*, McCutcheon, M. R., Hu, X. (2017 November) Oral. Seasonal hypoxia and high buffer capacity and a shallow subtropical estuary. Coastal Estuaries Research Federation Meeting. Providence, Rhode Island.
Hu, X*, Staryk, C. J., McCutcheon, M. R., Yao, H., Wetz, M. S., Montagna, P. A. (2018 February) Poster. Extreme Weather Event Induced Distinct Changes in the CO2 system in Two Subtropical Estuaries. Ocean Sciences Meeting. Portland, Oregon
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2017 July) Poster. Spatial and temporal trends of pCO2 and CO2 flux in the estuaries of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Gordon Research Conference in Chemical Oceanography. New London, New Hampshire
McCutcheon, M. R., Hu, X* (2017 May) Webinar. Temporal fluctuations in pH and CO2 partial pressure in the Aransas Ship Channel, TX. EPA OA Monitoring Webinar.
Heim-Ballew, H.*, McCutcheon M. R., Pinnell, L. (2017 April) Oral. Third Coast Science For You: A Scientific Responsibility and Obligation of Bridging the Communication Gap. Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting. Port Aransas, TX
McCutcheon, M. R. *, Hu, X. (2016 December) Oral. Estimating air-sea CO2 flux and long-term pCO2 trends of the Texas estuaries. 6th Annual MSGSO Student Research Forum. Corpus Christi, TX
Awarded second place graduate student oral presentation
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2016 November) Oral. Estimating air-sea CO2 flux and long-term pCO2 trends of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Gulf Estuarine Research Society Meeting. Pensacola, FL
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2016 April) Oral. Long-term trends and spatial variability of pCO2 in the Texas estuaries. Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting. Port Aransas, TX
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2016 February) Poster. Exploring relationships of calcification rate with respiration rate and predator cue presence in juvenile Crassostrea virginica. Ocean Sciences Meeting. New Orleans, LA
McCutcheon, M. R.* (2015 June) Oral. Investigating the role of nonconsumptive predator effects on the calcification, respiration, and carbon cycle contribution of juvenile eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Graduate Seminar. Corpus Christi, TX
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2015 March) Oral. Investigating Nonconsumptive Predator Effects on the Eastern Oyster. Gulf of Mexico Graduate Student Symposium, Dauphin Island, AL
Liu, Q.*, McCutcheon, M. R.* (2014 May) Oral. Carbonate Chemistry of Atlantic Water. WACSII Research Cruise Presentation Series. WACSII Research Cruise
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X. (2014 December) Oral. Nonconsumptive effects of predators may alter calcification and respiration rates of the Eastern Oyster. 4th Annual MSGSO Student Research Forum. Corpus Christi, TX
Awarded second place graduate student oral presentation.
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Hu, X., Beseres Pollack, J., Montagna, P. Ouyang, Z. (2014, April) Poster. Long-term alkalinity decline in dewatering Texas estuaries. Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting. Port Aransas, TX
Awarded first place student poster presentation
McCutcheon, M. R.*, Brown, S.*, Layne, J. R. (2013 April) Poster. Factors affecting mortality in Eurosta solidaginis populations Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Meeting. Clarion, PA
McCutcheon, M. R.* (2012 December) Oral. Sharks: Species, Senses, and Up-Close Encounters. Sugarcreek Elementary School Gifted Program Presentation Series. Franklin, PA