Faculty Projects and Publications

R. Dean Grubbs

Assistant Researcher

Education

Research Interests

  1. Ecology of large coastal sharks: I study movement patterns, habitat use, and population dynamics of sharks using fishery-independent survey methods as well as conventional tagging and modern telemetry techniques. Most of my research has been with large carcharhinid sharks in the waters off Virginia, Hawaii, Florida, the Bahamas, Belize, and Brazil. I am currently studying various aspects of life history, reproduction, and population dynamics of sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) in Hawaii.
  2. Essential fish habitat (EFH) delineation: I apply novel statistical methods to fishery-independent catch data and mark-recapture data to delineate critical and vulnerable habitats spatially and temporally. These habitats are geographically modeled using GIS. My most significant work in this area was defining critical nursery areas used by juvenile sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus) in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. This research resulted in the designation of the area as a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC) by the National Marine Fisheries Service.
  3. Biology of structure-associated tunas: I am studying the trophic ecology and movement patterns of yellowfin and bigeye tunas (Thunnus albacares and T. obesus) in Hawaii. I am contrasting the diets of these species when they are associated with seamounts, high-seas weather buoys, and nearshore fish aggregating devices (FADs). I am interested in the impact the idustrial-scale deployment of FADs has on the trophic dynamics of pelagic ecosystems.

Teaching Experience

Professional Societies

Advisory Positions

 

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