Ph.D. 2001, College of William & Mary – Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Department of Fisheries Science
Advisor: Dr. John A. Musick
B.S. 1992, - University of Miami (Florida), Double Major: Marine Science / Biology
Advisor: Dr. Samuel Gruber
Research Interests
Ecology of marine and estuarine fishes.
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.
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.
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
Ichthyology
Biology of Elasmobranch Fishes
Marine Invertebrate Zoology
Tropical Marine Biology
Marine Ecology Training For Teachers
Professional Societies
American Elasmobranch Society
American Fisheries Society
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Advisory Positions
1996-present: Adjunct Faculty, Bimini Biological Field Station, Bahamas; University of Miami, FL
2001-present: Shark Specialist. IUCN (World Conservation Union), Species Survival Commission.
2000-2001: Consultant - National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Apex Predators Investigations Program, Shark nursery grounds project.