1. Principal Investigator
2. Post-Doctoral Research Scientists
3. Graduate Students and Research Associates
4. Former Post-Docs and Graduate Students
5. Collaborators

Position:
McDaniel Chair of Marine Fisheries, Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, Department of Marine Biology (Galveston), Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (College Station)

Education:
Ph.D. University of Texas at Austin (1997)
M.S. University of Puerto Rico (1991)
B. A. Gustavus Adolphus College (1985)

Research Interests:
My research centers on the community and population ecology of aquatic organisms, with a special emphasis on marine fishes. I am particularly interested in linkages between habitat selection, individual responses, and survival. My work is both laboratory and field-based, and I typically use both quantitative and experimental approaches to elucidate the importance of biotic and abiotic factors that influence growth, condition, and survival. In addition, we are currently using a variety of natural markers to solve ecological problems. Otolith chemistry is being used to retrospectively determine the environmental histories of marine fishes. The premise of otolith chemistry is that certain elements or isotopes are incorporated into otoliths in proportion to their concentrations in the environment, and thus we use these elemental fingerprints to distinguish individuals from different environments or regions. We also use dietary tracers (stable isotopes, fatty acids) to investigate marine food web structure since consumer tissues reflect the isotopic and fatty acid composition of prey in a predictable manor. These natural biomarkers provide time-integrated or long-term measures of diet, and both approaches afford information on source(s) of organic matter supporting local food webs as well as trophic relationships of associated consumers. Recent work also involves the use of sophisticated electronic tags to investigate movement and population connectivity of coastal and pelagic fishes.

Position:
Post-doctoral Research Associate

Education:
Ph.D. Louisiana State University, 2007
M.S. Texas A&M University, 2002
B.S. Oregon State University, 1998

Research Interests:
My research interests focus on the conservation and ecology of marine fishes. I am specifically interested in understanding the mechanisms responsible for survival and long term sustainability of marine fishes and in determining the effects of fishing on marine ecosystems. I try to utilize multiple techniques to better understand process-oriented questions. This approach not only provides information on the target species, but also integrates the associated biological community, habitat, and environmental parameters. We are currently using pop-up archival transmitting (PAT) tags and otolith microchemical fingerprints to better understand movement, mixing rates, and population connectivity of highly migratory species (HMS). In addition, we are combining both stable isotopes and traditional stomach content analysis to determine the feeding dynamics and connectivity of fishes that utilize multiple habitat types. Ultimately, these methods provide the ability to identify essential fish habitat (EFH) and delineate both top-down and bottom-up effects that fishing activities have on marine food webs.

Position:
Ph.D. Student

Education:
M.S. Texas A&M University – Kingsville (2006)
B.S. Texas A&M University – Kingsville (2001)

Research Interests:
My research interests include early life ecology of fishes especially nursery dependant species and their ontogenetic shifts in diet and habitat; connectivity between marine biotopes (i.e. seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef habitats). My dissertation research focuses on the early life ecology of the snapper-grunt complex and exploring linkages (direct and indirect) between marine biotopes of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. It will attempt to identify back-reef nursery habitats (seagrasses, mangroves) and assess their relative contribution to the adult populations on the coral reef system using both natural tracers (stable isotopes in tissue; stable isotopes/trace elements in otoliths) and tagging methods (coded wire, acoustic).

Position:
Ph.D. Student

Education:
M.S. University of West Florida (2007)
B.S. Auburn University (2004)

Research Interests:
My research interests are mainly in community structure, population, dynamics, and ecology of marine fishes, specifically fishery-exploited reef fishes and pelagic fishes.

Position:
M.S. Student

Education:
B.S. Texas A&M University at Galveston (2006)

Research Interests:
For my thesis, I am investigating the stable isotope composition of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunns thynnus) otoliths. Using δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O stable isotope signatures within T. thynnus otoliths, I am attempting to determine the percent contribution of Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Mexico stocks to northwest Atlantic fisheries. Otoliths are secreted by alternating protein and calcium deposition on a daily basis, therefore they reflect the composition and conditions of the surrounding water. Juvenile T. thynnus otoliths from nursery grounds provide an isotope signature specific to each stock and by comparing these signatures to those of adult fish it is possible to determine an individuals’ natal origin. Since the concentration of δ¹⁸O varies with temperature and salinity, I am also examining δ¹⁸O values in transects across otolith annuli to estimate at what age and how frequently T. thynnus enter Gulf of Mexico spawning grounds.

Position:
M.S. Student

Education:
B.S. University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (2003)

Research Interests:
The main goals of my thesis work, “Early Life Ecology of Sailfish in the NW Gulf of Mexico,” are to determine the growth rate of larval sailfish, the influence of environment on growth and identify spawning/nursery grounds of larval billfish. A better understanding of early life history will help determine what influences the production, retention, recruitment and survival of billfish larvae and juveniles. Sailfish larvae have been collected using neuston net gear during annual surveys. I extract otoliths (ear bones) to determine larval ages and hatch dates since otoliths accrete material daily which results in daily growth increments, allowing age calculation. With age data one can determine growth rates and compare growth between seasons and years. We can also examine the influence environmental conditions, such as water temperature, have on larval growth. Hatch date information is used to look for peaks in adult spawning. Additionally, spawning locations can be determined using catch location and age data combined hydrodynamic modeling techniques. This information will paint a clearer picture of the importance of the Gulf of Mexico as a sailfish spawning and nursery ground as well as ideal conditions for larval survival, growth and recruitment.

Position:
M.S. Student

Education:
B.A. Biology from Occidental College (2007)

Research Interests:
My thesis research focuses on the life history, reproductive biology and ecology of the coney, Cephalopholis fulva, and the red hind, Epinephelus guttatus, two grouper species that are heavily exploited throughout the Caribbean artisanal fishery. Like many serranids, both fish are sequential protogynous hermaphrodites and haremic or aggregate spawners, making them particularly susceptible to intensive fishing pressure. Further information on the biological parameters of both species is necessary in order to develop appropriate strategies to manage the fishery stocks.

Position:
Research Assistant

Education:
B.S. Texas A&M University at Galveston (In Progress)

Research Interests:
I am currently working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston. After graduation I plan to continue my education by pursuing Graduate studies through the Marine Resources Management Program at TAMUG. I am interested in focusing on environmental law and policy geared towards the management of ocean and coastal resources. I feel that combining a strong biology background with current management strategies will provide a valuable perspective when addressing policy issues.

Jessica L. Beck (Ph.D. 2008)
Contrasting survival strategies of hatchery and wild red drum: implications for stock enhancement
Current Position: Knauss Fellow, Washington, DC.

Dr. Dave Secor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland

Dr. John Graves, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Dr. Gregorio De Metrio, University of Bari, Italy

Dr. G. Joan Holt, University of Texas Marine Science Institute

Mr. Scott Holt, University of Texas Marine Science Institute

Dr. John Neilson, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada

Dr. Jay Kaufman, University of Maryland

Dr. Enrique Rodriquez-Marin, Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Spain

Dr. Eric Prince, NOAA Fisheries-SEFSC

Dr. Barbara Block, Stanford University

Dr. Greg Stunz, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi

Dr. Will Heyman, Texas A&M University

Dr. John Hollihan, University of Miami

Mr. Dave Itano, University of Hawaii

Mr. Bill Lyons, McDaniel Charitable Foundation

Mr. Mark Lyons, McDaniel Charitable Foundation

Capt. John Cochrane, Freeport, TX

Capt. Brett Falterman, Venice, LA