Faculty Projects and Publications

R. Dean Grubbs

Assistant Researcher

Email: rgrubbs@hawaii.edu
Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology
PO Box 1346
Kane‘ohe, HI 96744

Education

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.
2000: Consultant/Principal Investigator, Wildlife Conservation Society-New York;
Design and implementation of shark survey, Middle Cay, Belize

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