A5063159725- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
2023-2024
East Carolina University
2020-2023
William & Mary
2020
Williams (United States)
2020
Restoration is increasingly utilized as a strategy to stymie the loss of coastal habitats. Coastal habitat restoration has predominantly emphasized designs that minimize physical stress and competition. As evidence pervasiveness this approach, we conducted global survey seagrass restorationers found strong affinity for stress-avoidant with adult shoots in dispersed rather than aggregated configurations. To test alternative hypothesis including positive interactions can enhance success,...
Abstract Rapid global degradation of coastal habitats can be attributed to anthropogenic activities associated with development, aquaculture, and recreational surface water use. Restoration degraded has proven challenging costly, there is a clear need develop novel approaches that promote resilience human‐caused disturbances. Positive interactions between species mitigate environmental stress recent work suggests incorporating positive into restoration efforts may improve outcomes. We...
Habitat restoration efforts are often limited by cost, making it important that available funds used efficiently and effectively to achieve desired goals. In this study, we evaluate habitat provision for oysters motile epifauna on restored oyster reefs in a northwestern Gulf of Mexico estuary constructed with discrete high vertical relief (~0.6 m “reef mounds”) or continuous low (<0.08 flats”). reef mounds exceeded flats within one month construction supported 0.75x higher density, 2x...
Abstract The detrimental ecological impacts of engineered shoreline protection methods (e.g., seawalls) and the need to protect coastal zone have prompted calls for greater use natural nature‐based infrastructure (NNBI). To balance competing needs structural stability functioning, managers require assessments NNBI designs materials differing environmental settings among wave‐energy regimes). examine effects setting oyster‐based design on provision protection, we constructed reefs from two...
Organisms have limited resources available to invest in reproduction, causing a trade-off between the number and size of offspring. One consequence this is evolution disparate egg sizes and, by extension, developmental modes. In particular, echinoid echinoderms (sea urchins sand dollars) been widely used experimentally manipulate how changes affect development. Here, we test generality results (a) using laser ablations blastomeres reduce embryo energy asteroid stars),
Major storms can alter coastal ecosystems in several direct and indirect ways including habitat destruction, stormwater-related water quality degradation, organism mortality. From 2010–2020, ten tropical cyclones impacted North Carolina, providing an opportunity to explore ecosystem responses across multiple storms. Using monthly trawl contemporaneous seagrass surveys conducted Back Sound, NC, we evaluated how may affect the nursery role of shallow-water biogenic habitats by examining...
Tidal streams are spatiotemporally varying areas that encompass tidally influenced limnetic and oligohaline zones within estuaries. These important for many biogeochemical processes the life cycles of fishery species. However, tidal also susceptible to impairment from coastal development watershed-derived runoff, which potentially affects faunal assemblages ecosystem. This study developed indices biotic integrity (IBIs) nekton benthic macroinfauna in along southern Texas coast. Fifteen...
Abstract The introduction and spread of non‐native species restructure native ecosystems can be particularly impactful when invaders are ecosystem engineers or habitat‐forming species. In coastal, estuarine, marine systems, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), like macroalgae seagrasses, form key habitats for nekton, serving as nurseries, foraging grounds, reproduction sites. If provide sufficient structure and/or resources, they may exert a neutral positive effect on organisms occupying...
Abstract There have been significant conceptual advances for identifying nursery habitats within coastal systems used by juvenile fishes and crustaceans. The approaches delineating areas include measures of abundance, growth, or survival; habitat characteristics; seascape connectivity; population fitness; contribution to adult biomass (per unit area total). We all US states as replicate trials evaluate the integration concepts into fisheries management found an obvious disconnect between...