- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Echinoderm biology and ecology
- Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Analytical Chemistry and Sensors
- Marine animal studies overview
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Underwater Acoustics Research
- Research Data Management Practices
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Remote-Sensing Image Classification
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
University of North Carolina Wilmington
2017-2025
James Cook University
2013-2022
South College
2021
William & Mary
2008-2014
Stockton University
2011
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
2010
United States Army
2010
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
2008
Seagrasses, flowering marine plants that form underwater meadows, play a significant global role in supporting food security, mitigating climate change and biodiversity. Although progress is being made to conserve seagrass meadows select areas, most remain under pressure resulting decline meadow condition loss of function. Effective management strategies need be implemented reverse enhance their fundamental coastal ocean habitats. Here we propose globally face series common challenges must...
We investigated the effects of several environmental factors on eelgrass abundance before, during, and after widespread diebacks during unusually hot summer 2005 in Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Virginia. Systematic sampling with fixed transects was used to investigate changes at downriver upriver regions York River Estuary. Concurrently, continuous discreet measurements water quality were made stations each area within beds from 2004 through 2006. Results indicate...
Seagrass meadows support key ecosystem services, via provision of food directly for herbivores, and indirectly to their predators. The importance herbivores in seagrass has been well-documented, but the links between webs services have not previously made explicit. Herbivores interact with - including carbon sequestration, cultural values, coastal protection. Interactions can be positive or negative depend on a range factors herbivore identity grazing type intensity. There unintended...
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout JournalEditorsTheme Sections 444:43-56 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09428 Characterization and ecological implication of eelgrass life history strategies near species’ southern limit in western North Atlantic Jessie C. Jarvis1,3,*, Kenneth A. Moore1, W. Judson Kenworthy2 1Virginia Institute Science, School College William...
Abstract Terrestrial plants use an array of animals as vectors for dispersal, however little is known biotic dispersal marine angiosperms such seagrasses. Our study in the Great Barrier Reef confirms first time that dugongs ( Dugong dugon ) and green sea turtles Chelonia mydas assist seagrass dispersal. We demonstrate these mega-herbivores consume pass faecal matter viable seeds at least three species Zostera muelleri , Halodule uninervis Halophila decipiens ). One to two per g DW were found...
Species, including seagrasses, at their range limits are uniquely vulnerable to climate change. In the western Atlantic Ocean, biogeographic transition zone between temperate and tropical ecosystems is recognized as one of several global hotspots where poleward-flowing boundary currents forecast warm faster than average. this region seagrass ecosystem services primarily supplied by two species, Zostera marina , a its southern limit Halodule wrightii northern limit. Water temperatures in...
Marine urbanization creates novel benthic habitat in coastal areas around the world. This process includes construction of artificial reefs, energy infrastructure, and jetties. These hard structures are colonized by epibenthic communities macroalgae sessile invertebrates. The factors influencing composition must be understood to build that incorporate organisms into their design through anthropogenic ecosystem engineering. An community on Masonboro Inlet jetty at Wrightsville Beach North...
Abstract Seed size is an essential determinant of germination and survival in angiosperms. Zostera marina, one few marine angiosperms, a key foundation species present temperate coastal ecosystems, edge-of-range population persistence increasingly reliant on seed production successful seedling establishment. While environmental conditions have been linked to variability regional patterns variation, far less known about what influences differences within plant. Here, we genotype measure...
The ocean is one of the world’s largest anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) sinks, but closing budget logistically difficult and expensive, uncertainties in fluxes reservoirs remain. One specific challenge that measuring CO2 flux at air–sea interface usually requires costly sensors or analyzers (USD > 30,000), which can limit observational capacity. Our group has developed validated a low-cost ΔpCO2 system, able to measure both pCO2water pCO2air, for USD ~1400 combat this limitation....
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) has declined precipitously throughout coastal areas and its reestablishment long been an important objective of management. We investigated restoration success Vallisneria americana (wild celery) using seeds, seed pods, whole shoot transplants at sites in the Chesapeake Bay United States where historical aerial photography indicated that species once grew. In addition, we evaluated habitat conditions established herbivore exclosures to assess impacts water...
In a series of experiments, seeds from temperate seagrass species, Zostera nigricaulis collected in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia were exposed to range salinities (20 PSU pulse/no pulse, 25 PSU, 30 35 PSU), temperatures (13 °C, 17 22 °C), burial depths (0 cm, 1 2 cm) and site specific sediment characteristics (fine, medium, coarse) quantify their impacts on germination rate maximum overall germination. southern the Z. is common subtidal species; however, little known about factors...
Seagrass communities are a vital component of estuarine ecosystems, but threatened by projected sea level rise (SLR) and temperature increases with climate change. To understand these potential effects, we developed spatially explicit model that represents seagrass (Zostera marina) habitat estuary-wide productivity for Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor (BB-LEH) in New Jersey, USA. Our modeling approach included an offline coupling numerical biomass the variable environmental conditions from...
Abstract Seed size can have an impact on angiosperm reproductive fitness. Ecological theory predicts plants that will produce larger seeds in stressful environments to increase the chances of seedling survival and numerous small favourable conditions number recruits. We measured seed morphology seagrass Heterozostera nigricaulis from four populations under differing environmental South East Australia. mass among sites showed consistent differences over flowering seasons. Seeds exposed,...
Seagrass meadows are some of the most productive marine plant ecosystems in world, yet their loss continues on a global scale. Zostera marina , an ecologically important foundation species, reproduces both sexually and asexually, yielding different levels genetic diversity throughout its range, which turn can influence resistance to, resilience from, environmental disturbances. Understanding structure these populations, how they fluctuate over space time, will aid conservation management...