Marine Ecology
Research at VIMS illuminates the physiology, anatomy, and behavior of marine organisms of all sizes—from microbes and plankton to squid and sea turtles—as well as the biogeochemical processes and food-web interactions that connect them. Research sheds light on benthic ecology, biodiversity, harmful algal blooms (HABs), invasive species, and jellyfish.
Top Stories
- Worldwide experiment shows small-animal diversity benefits seagrass meadows (May 2015) Unprecedented experiment conducted simultaneously at 15 sites shows algae-eating invertebrates control seaweeds that can smother seagrasses, and that more diverse animal communities perform this custodial service more effectively.
- Biodiversity promotes multitasking in ecosystems (April 2015) A new study of the interplay between organisms and their environment bolsters the idea that greater biodiversity helps maintain more stable and productive ecosystems.
- Survey shows average abundance of juvenile striped bass in VA waters in 2014 (October 2014) Preliminary results from ongoing VIMS survey represent a significant increase following the below-average recruitment observed in 2012.
- New VIMS faculty member specializes in algal toxins (September 2014) Dr. Juliette Smith’s research focuses on one of the most complex and pressing issues in aquatic science—and she wouldn’t HAB it any other way.
Advisory Service Reports
- Virginia. Dept. of Health, Virginia. Dept. of Environmental Quality, and Virginia Institute of Marine Science. 2004. Harmful algal blooms and other organisms of concern in coastal waters. Virginia Department of Health, [Richmond, Va.].
- Haas, L. W., and K. L. Webb. 1998. Resource limitation of phytoplankton in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay and tributaries using nutrient-addition bioassays. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA.
- Sin, Y., R. L. Wetzel, and College of William and Mary. School of Marine Science. 1996. Patterns of phytoplankton abundance and nutrient concentration in the York River Estuary, Virginia: 1984-1994. College of William and Mary, School of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA.
- Musick, J. A., S. A. Bellmund, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and United States. National Marine Fisheries Service. Northeast Region. 1987. Final contract report on the ecology of sea turtles in Virginia. The Institute, Gloucester Point, VA.
- Jacobs, F., and G. C. Grant. 1978. Guidelines for zooplankton sampling in quantitative baseline and monitoring programs. for sale by the National Information Service, Corvallis, Or. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Environmental Research Laboratory ; Springfield, Va.
- Feeley, J. B., and M. L. Wass. 1971. The distribution and ecology of the Gammaridea (Crustacea : Amphipoda) of the lower Chesapeake estuaries. Virginia Institute of Marine Science,
- School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary., Gloucester Point, VA.
Five Most Recent Journal Articles
- Stone, J.P. and D.K. Steinberg, 2018. Influence of top-down control in the plankton food web on vertical carbon flux: A case study in the Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 498: p. 16-24. 10.1016/j.jembe.2017.10.008
- Seitz, R.D., et al., 2018. Human Influence at the Coast: Upland and Shoreline Stressors Affect Coastal Macrofauna and Are Mediated by Salinity. Estuaries and Coasts, 41: p. S114-S130. 10.1007/s12237-017-0347-6
- Prosser, D.J., et al., 2018. Impacts of Coastal Land Use and Shoreline Armoring on Estuarine Ecosystems: an Introduction to a Special Issue. Estuaries and Coasts, 41: p. S2-S18. 10.1007/s12237-017-0331-1
- Lynch, P.D., et al., 2018. Abundance trends of highly migratory species in the Atlantic Ocean: accounting for water temperature profiles. Ices Journal of Marine Science, 75(4): p. 1427-1438. 10.1093/icesjms/fsy008
- Luellen, D.R., et al., 2018. Assessment of legacy and emerging contaminants in an introduced catfish and implications for the fishery. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(28): p. 28355-28366. 10.1007/s11356-018-2801-9
- Lefcheck, J.S., et al., 2018. Long-term nutrient reductions lead to the unprecedented recovery of a temperate coastal region. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(14): p. 3658-3662. 10.1073/pnas.1715798115
Read a full list of VIMS-authored journal articles related to marine life & processes.