A5028899695- Marine and fisheries research
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine animal studies overview
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
Wake Forest University
2020-2025
Sabin Vaccine Institute
2025
North Carolina State University
2013-2021
Florida International University
2008-2020
Ecological Society of America
2018
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2018
Google (United States)
2017
Texas A&M University
2003-2014
Clark Art Institute
2014
Yale University
2005-2006
Stable isotope ratios (typically of carbon and nitrogen) provide one representation an organism's trophic niche are widely used to examine aspects food web structure. Yet stable isotopes have not been applied quantitatively characterize community-wide structure (i.e., at the level entire web). We propose quantitative metrics that can be this end, drawing on similar approaches from ecomorphology research. For example, convex hull area occupied by species in δ13C–δ15N space is a total extent...
Abstract Much research has focused on identifying species that are susceptible to extinction following ecosystem fragmentation, yet even those persist in fragmented habitats may have fundamentally different ecological roles than conspecifics unimpacted areas. Shifts trophic role induced by especially of abundant top predators, could transcendent impacts food web architecture and stability, as well function. Here we use a novel measure niche width, based stable isotope ratios, assess effects...
1. Apex predators are often assumed to be dietary generalists and, by feeding on prey from multiple basal nutrient sources, serve couple discrete food webs. But there is increasing evidence that individual level specialization may common in many species, and this has not been investigated for marine apex predators. 2. Because of their position at or near the top webs, possibility they can affect populations induce trophic cascades, it important understand patterns shark populations. 3....
Abstract Predation is heterogeneously distributed across space and time, presumed to represent a major source of evolutionary diversification. In fishes, fast-starts–udden, high-energy swimmingbursts–are often importan tin avoiding capture during predator strike. Thus, in the presence predators, we might expect evolution morphological features that facilitate increased fast-start speed. We tested this hypothesis using populations western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) differed level...
We examined intraspecific morphological diversification between river channel and lagoon habitats for two Neotropical fish (Bryconops caudomaculatus, Characidae; Biotodoma wavrini, Cichlidae). hypothesized that differences (e.g. flow regime, foraging opportunities) might create selective pressures resulting in divergence conspecific populations. collected from four channel-lagoon habitat pairs the Río Cinaruco, Venezuela, compared body morphology using geometric morphometrics. There were...
We use stomach contents and stable isotope ratios of predatory fishes, collected over a 10-year time span from species-rich river in Venezuela, to examine potential body-size–trophic-position relationships. Mean body size predator taxa their prey (determined by content analyses) were significantly correlated, but trophic position predators (estimated ratios) was not correlated with size. This reflects no apparent relationship between among taxa. Primary consumer (algivores detritivores) this...
Male genitalia may experience more rapid, divergent evolution than any other animal character, but why? Research during the past several decades has culminated in view that genital diversification primarily results from postmating sexual selection (e.g., sperm competition or cryptic female choice). However, potential roles of premating mate choice) and natural have received little attention. We examined possible importance these mechanisms by investigating divergence male among populations...
Biotic resistance, the process by which new colonists are excluded from a community predation and/or competition with resident species, can prevent or limit species invasions. We examined whether biotic resistance native predators on Caribbean coral reefs has influenced invasion success of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles), piscivores Indo-Pacific. Specifically, we surveyed abundance (density biomass) lionfish predatory fishes that could interact (either through...
On coral reefs, fishes can facilitate growth via nutrient excretion; however, as abundance declines, these nutrients may help increases in macroalgae. By combining surveys of reef communities with bioenergetics modeling, we showed that fish excretion supplied 25 times more nitrogen to forereefs the Florida Keys, USA, than all other biotic and abiotic sources combined. One apparent result was a positive relationship between macroalgal cover on reefs. Herbivore biomass also negative cover,...
Ontogenetic niche shifts occur across diverse taxonomic groups, and can have critical implications for population dynamics, community structure, ecosystem function. In this study, we provide a hypothesis-testing framework combining univariate multivariate analyses to examine ontogenetic using stable isotope ratios. This is based on three distinct shift scenarios, i.e., (1) no shift, (2) expansion/reduction, (3) discrete between size classes. We developed criteria identifying each scenario,...
Abstract Corals thrive in low nutrient environments and the conservation of these globally imperiled ecosystems is largely dependent on mitigating effects anthropogenic enrichment. However, to better understand implications nutrients requires a heightened understanding baseline dynamics within ecosystems. Here, we provide novel perspective coral reef by examining role fish communities supply storage nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P). We quantified fish‐mediated for 144 species modeled data onto...
Ecosystems are intricately linked by the flow of organisms across their boundaries, and such connectivity can be essential to structure function ecosystems. For example, many coral reef fish populations maintained movement individuals from spatially segregated juvenile habitats (i.e., nurseries, as mangroves seagrass beds) areas preferred adults. It is presumed that nursery provide for faster growth (higher food availability) and/or low predation risk juveniles, but empirical data supporting...
Consumer-mediated nutrient supply is increasingly recognized as an important functional process in many ecosystems. Yet, experimentation at relevant spatial and temporal scales needed to fully integrate this bottom-up pathway into ecosystem models. Artificial reefs provide a unique approach explore the importance of consumer for function coastal marine environments. We used bioenergetics models estimate community-level by fishes, measures primary production, test hypothesis that consumers,...
As a result of being hunted, animals often alter their behaviour in ways that make future encounters with predators less likely. When hunting is carried out for conservation, example to control invasive species, these behavioural changes can inadvertently impede the success efforts. We examined effects repeated culling by spearing on predatory lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) Bahamian coral reef patches. compared extent concealment and activity levels at dawn midday 16 patches off...
Significance A fundamental dilemma in ecology is to reconcile the degree which ecological processes are generalizable among taxa and ecosystems or determined primarily by taxonomic identity. We apply a unique dataset of organisms from diverse marine community test applicability two theories, metabolic theory (MTE) stoichiometry (EST), role identity for predicting nutrient excretion rates fishes macroinvertebrates. Excretion were principally explained body mass identity, providing strong...
Abstract Fishing is widely considered a leading cause of biodiversity loss in marine environments, but the potential effect on ecosystem processes, such as nutrient fluxes, less explored. Here, we test how fishing Caribbean coral reefs influences and functions provided by fish community, that is, fish-mediated capacity. Specifically, modelled five processes storage (in biomass) supply (via excretion) nutrients, well measure their multifunctionality, onto 143 species reef fishes across 110...