A5028061474- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
2018-2024
University of South Alabama
2019-2024
Hampton University
2023
Ecological Society of America
2020
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
2009-2018
Texas A&M University
2013
Mitchell Institute
2013
Georgia Institute of Technology
2002-2006
Nonconsumptive effects (NCEs) have been shown to occur in numerous systems and are regarded as important mechanisms by which predation structures natural communities. Sensory ecology-that is, the processes governing production, propagation, masking of cues ambient noise-provides insights into strength NCEs functions environment modes information transfer. We discuss how properties predators used prey encode threat, affects cue role single sensory versus multimodal processes. why present body...
Tropical cyclones drive coastal ecosystem dynamics, and their frequency, intensity, spatial distribution are predicted to shift with climate change. Patterns of resistance resilience were synthesized for 4138 time series from n = 26 storms occurring between 1985 2018 in the Northern Hemisphere predict how ecosystems will respond future disturbance regimes. Data grouped by (fresh water, salt terrestrial, wetland) response categories (biogeochemistry, hydrography, mobile biota, sedentary...
The lethal and nonlethal impacts of predators in marine systems are often mediated via reciprocal detection waterborne chemical signals between consumers prey. Local flow environments can enhance or impair the chemoreception ability consumers, but effect hydrodynamics on predation risk by prey has not been investigated. Using clams as our model organism, we investigated two specific questions: (1) Can decrease their mortality responding to predators? (2) Do fluid forces affect detect...
Predation can significantly affect prey populations and communities, but predator effects be attenuated when abiotic conditions interfere with foraging activities. In estuarine turbidity species richness abundance is changing in many areas because of coastal development. Many fish are less efficient foragers turbid waters, previous research revealed that elevated turbidity, abundant whereas crabs shrimp more abundant. We hypothesized altered predatory interactions estuaries by interfering...
Abstract Climate change is altering species’ range limits and transforming ecosystems. For example, warming temperatures are leading to the expansion of tropical, cold-sensitive species at expense their cold-tolerant counterparts. In some temperate subtropical coastal wetlands, winters enabling mangrove forest encroachment into salt marsh, which a major regime shift that has significant ecological societal ramifications. Here, we synthesized existing data expert knowledge assess distribution...
We investigated how changes in abiotic conditions resulting from human activities indirectly alter trophic interactions using turbidity estuaries as a model system. Development and nutrient input are causing to increase many coastal areas. Using an 18 yr data set Aransas San Antonio Bays Texas, we found fish abundance ( Sciaenops ocellatus , Pogonias cromis Archosargus probatocephalus ) be highest low (< 30 nephelometric units [NTU]; p < 0.01), while crab Callinectes sapidus was high...
Abstract Turbidity is widely regarded for modulating primary production and influencing the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation. Although less well studied, turbidity can also have significant effects on trophic interactions food webs by modifying light penetration scattering, foraging ability visual-hunting predators such as fishes. By interfering with visual foragers, may shift towards that forage other sensory modalities (e.g. chemoreception mechanoreception), consequently...
The global distribution of primary production and consumption by humans (fisheries) is well-documented, but we have no map linking the central ecological process within food webs to temperature other drivers. Using standardized assays that span 105° latitude on four continents, show rates bait generalist predators in shallow marine ecosystems are tightly linked both composition consumer assemblages. Unexpectedly, peaked at midlatitudes (25 35°) Northern Southern Hemispheres across seagrass...
Predators often have large effects on community structure, but these can be minimized in habitats subjected to intense physical stress. For example, predators exert rocky intertidal communities wave‐protected shores are usually absent from wave‐swept where hydrodynamic forces prevent them foraging effectively. The environment also affect predation levels when stressors not severe enough physically risky. In situations, environmental conditions may constrain a predator's ability locate prey...
Predators can strongly influence prey populations and the structure function of ecosystems, but these effects be modified by environmental stress. For example, fluid velocity turbulence alter impact predators limiting their range altering foraging ability. We investigated how hydrodynamics affected behavior green crab (Carcinus maenas), which is invading marine habitats throughout world. High flow velocities are known to reduce predation rates our study sought identify mechanisms affects...
Abstract Prey organisms reduce predation risk by altering their behavior, morphology, or life history. Avoiding deterring predators often incurs costs, such as reductions in growth fecundity. minimize costs limiting predator avoidance deterrence to situations that pose significant of injury death, requiring them gather information regarding the relative threat potential pose. Chemical cues are used for evaluation, and we investigated morphological responses oysters ( Crassostrea virginica )...
Foraging blue crabs must respond to fluid forces imposed on their body while acquiring useful chemical signals from turbulent odor plumes. This study examines how manage these simultaneous demands. The drag force, and hence the cost of locomotion, experienced by is shown be a function orientation angle relative flow. Rather than adopting fixed that minimizes drag, decrease (increase drag) when present in low speed flow, assuming drag-minimizing posture under other conditions. motivation for...
The objective of this study was to measure the communities associated with different seagrass species predict how shifts in composition may affect fauna. In northwestern Gulf Mexico, coverage historically dominant shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) is decreasing, while manatee (Syringodium filiforme) and turtle (Thalassia testudinum) increasing. We conducted a survey fishes, crabs, shrimp monospecific beds shoal, manatee, habitats South Texas, USA assess changes sea would measured parameters...