# overview
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.

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30 Agricultural, Veterinary And Food Sciences

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30 Agricultural, Veterinary And Food Sciences

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30 Agricultural, Veterinary And Food Sciences

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Movement Between Estuarine And Coastal Habitats

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3709 Physical Geography And Environmental Geoscience

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30 Agricultural, Veterinary And Food Sciences

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30 Agricultural, Veterinary And Food Sciences

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4101 Climate Change Impacts And Adaptation

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
The University of Texas at Austin - (Austin, Texas, United States)

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Horizontal movements of Atlantic blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the Gulf of Mexico

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Does transmitter placement or species affect detection efficiency of tagged animals in biotelemetry research?

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The imprint of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on Atlantic bluefin tuna otoliths

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Nursery origin of yellowfin tuna in the Hawaiian Islands

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Effect of predator exposure on the performance and survival of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

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Discriminating among yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares nursery areas in the Atlantic Ocean using otolith chemistry

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Food Habits and Dietary Overlap of Newly Settled Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) from Texas Seagrass Meadows

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Postsettlement patterns of habitat use by sciaenid fishes in subtropical seagrass meadows.

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Distribution, age, and growth of young-of-the-year greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) associated with pelagic Sargassum

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Depressed resilience of bluefin tuna in the western atlantic and age truncation.

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Natural geochemical markers reveal environmental history and population connectivity of common cuttlefish in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

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Sampling larval fishes with a nightlight lift-net in tropical inshore waters

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Crossing the line: migratory and homing behaviors of Atlantic bluefin tuna

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Identification of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) stocks from putative nurseries using otolith chemistry

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Species-specific variation in cuttlebone delta C-13 and delta O-18 for three species of Mediterranean cuttlefish

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Effect of dietary fatty acids on the body tissues of larval and juvenile cobia and their prey

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Feeding ecology of fishes associated with artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico.

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Regional variation in the otolith chemistry of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) from the western North Atlantic Ocean

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Natal origin of Pacific bluefin tuna from the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.

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Nursery origin of yellowfin tuna in the western Atlantic Ocean: significance of Caribbean Sea and trans-Atlantic migrants.

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Feeding ecology of pelagic fish larvae and juveniles in slope waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

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Discrimination of northern bluefin tuna from nursery areas in the Pacific Ocean using otolith chemistry

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Evidence of trans-Atlantic movement and natal homing of bluefin tuna from stable isotopes in otoliths

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Connectivity in the life histories of fishes that use estuaries

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Is otolith strontium a useful scalar of life cycles in estuarine fishes?

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Determining natal origin for improved management of Atlantic bluefin tuna

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Influence of oceanographic conditions on the distribution and abundance of blackfin tuna (Thunnus atlanticus) larvae in the Gulf of Mexico

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The imprint of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on Atlantic bluefin tuna otoliths

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Application of RNA: DNA ratios to evaluate the condition and growth of larval and juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

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Trophic ecology of Sargassum-associated fishes in the Gulf of Mexico determined from stable isotopes and fatty acids

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Interdecadal variation in seawater delta C-13 and delta O-18 recorded in fish otoliths

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Evaluating post-release behaviour modification in large pelagic fish deployed with pop-up satellite archival tags

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Bioaccumulation of mercury in pelagic fishes from the northern Gulf of Mexico

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Fine-scale movements and habitat use of juvenile southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma in an estuarine seascape.

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Distribution and abundance of fishes associated with Sargassum mats in the NW Gulf of Mexico

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Occurrence of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico: characterization of dispersal pathways and spawning areas

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Vulnerability of newly settled red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) to predatory fish: is early-life survival enhanced by seagrass meadows?

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Cross-shelf habitat shifts by red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Stage-specific variability in habitat associations of juvenile red drum across a latitudinal gradient

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Regional patterns of             δ             13             C and             δ             15             N for European common cuttlefish (             Sepia officinalis             ) throughout the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

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Vertical and Horizontal Movements of Yellowfin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico

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Chemistry of tuna otoliths: assessment of base composition and postmortem handling effects

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Spatial and temporal shifts in suitable habitat of juvenile southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma)

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Comparison of Plankton Catch by Three Light-Trap Designs in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

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Population connectivity of pelagic megafauna in the Cuba-Mexico-United States triangle.

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Seascape connectivity and the influence of predation risk on the movement of fishes inhabiting a back-reef ecosystem

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Distribution, condition, and growth of newly settled southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) in the Galveston Bay Estuary, TX

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Natural tracers reveal population structure of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the eastern North Pacific

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Fish assemblages on artificial and natural reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, USA

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Retrospective determination of trophic relationships among pelagic fishes associated with Sargassum mats in the Gulf of Mexico

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Spatial and temporal variability in growth, mortality, and recruitment potential of postsettlement red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus, in a subtropical estuary

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Identification of riverine, estuarine, and coastal contingents of Hudson River striped bass based upon otolith elemental fingerprints

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Spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use by fishes associated with Sargassum mats in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Habitat- and bay-scale connectivity of sympatric fishes in an estuarine nursery

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Habitat characteristics of bluntnose flyingfish Prognichthys occidentalis (Actinopterygii, Exocoetidae), across mesoscale features in the Gulf of Mexico

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Natural tags identify nursery origin of a coastal elasmobranch Carcharhinus leucas

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Spatial dynamics and mixing of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea revealed using next-generation sequencing.

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Distribution, condition, and growth of newly settled southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) in the Galveston Bay Estuary, TX

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Effect of diet on fatty acid compositions in Sciaenops ocellatus

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Assessment of a shell bank and associated substrates as nursery habitat of postsettlement red snapper

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Community Dynamics of Fish Assemblages on Mid-Shelf and Outer-Shelf Coral Reefs in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Influence of mesoscale oceanographic features on pelagic food webs in the Gulf of Mexico

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Fish assemblages associated with artificial reefs assessed using multiple gear types in the northwest Gulf of Mexico

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Isotope baseline shifts in pelagic food webs of the Gulf of Mexico

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Bomb Radiocarbon Age Validation of Warsaw Grouper and Snowy Grouper

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Habitat associations of dolphinfish larvae in the Gulf of Mexico

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Life history and stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

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Ocean Heat Content Reveals Secrets of Fish Migrations.

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Distribution, growth, and mortality of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico

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The Effect of Habitat Exposure and Ontogeny on the Survival Skills of Hatchery Red Drum

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Distribution and habitat associations of billfish and swordfish larvae across mesoscale features in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Patterns of Vertical Habitat Use by Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the Gulf of Mexico

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Public perception of mosquito annoyance measured by a survey and simultaneous mosquito sampling.

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Origin of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Bay of Biscay

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Population connectivity of red drum in the northern Gulf of Mexico

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DIEL, LUNAR AND SEASONAL-CHANGES IN A MANGROVE FISH ASSEMBLAGE OFF SOUTHWESTERN PUERTO-RICO

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Otolith chemistry as an indicator of movements of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the North Atlantic Ocean

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Abundance and habitat associations of tuna larvae in the surface water of the Gulf of Mexico

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Spatial and temporal variability in the otolith chemistry of the Brazilian snapper Lutjanus alexandrei from estuarine and coastal environments.

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Habitat use, growth, and mortality of post-settlement lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) on natural banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Methodological assessment of 2b-RAD genotyping technique for population structure inferences in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares).

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FEEDING ECOLOGY OF THE SCHOOLMASTER SNAPPER, LUTJANUS-APODUS (WALBAUM), FROM SOUTHWESTERN PUERTO-RICO

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Changes in Microbial Plankton Assemblages Induced by Mesoscale Oceanographic Features in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.

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Effect of diet on fatty acid compositions in Sciaenops ocellatus

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Natal origin of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from Canadian waters based on otolith delta C-13 and delta O-18

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Fatty acid composition of flora and fauna associated with Sargassum mats in the Gulf of Mexico

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Inter-laboratory comparison of Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna otolith microconstituents

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Habitat Partitioning and Seasonal Movement of Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout

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A whole-person sampler for assessing numbers of host-seeking adult mosquitoes.

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Fish assemblage structure on a drowned barrier island in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Patterns of habitat use by newly settled red snapper in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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Dorsal fin spines as a non-invasive alternative calcified structure for microelemental studies in Atlantic bluefin tuna

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Genetic evaluation of population structure in white marlin (Kajikia albida): the importance of statistical power

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Taxonomic Richness and Diversity of Larval Fish Assemblages in the Oceanic Gulf of Mexico: Links to Oceanographic Conditions

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Utilization of Saltmarsh Shorelines by Newly Settled Sciaenids in a Texas Estuary

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Dispersive behaviors of black drum and red drum: Is otolith Sr : Ca a reliable indicator of salinity history?

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Utilization of subtropical seagrass meadows by newly settled red drum Sciaenops ocellatus: patterns of distribution and growth

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Natal homing and connectivity in Atlantic bluefin tuna populations.

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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

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Combining otolith microstructure and trace elemental analyses to infer the arrival of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna in the California current ecosystem

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Natal origin and population connectivity of bigeye and yellowfin tuna in the Pacific Ocean

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Spatial, temporal, and habitat-related variation in abundance of pelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico: potential implications of the deepwater horizon oil spill.

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Condition of larval and juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) from estuarine nursery habitats

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Regional Variation in the Trophic Ecology of Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) in the Western Atlantic Ocean

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Effects of variable ration levels on direct and indirect measures of growth in juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

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Wide-Ranging Temporal Variation in Transoceanic Movement and Population Mixing of Bluefin Tuna in the North Atlantic Ocean

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Natal origin and age-specific egress of Pacific bluefin tuna from coastal nurseries revealed with geochemical markers.

# researcherOn[].label
Estimating natal origin and migration dynamics of Pacific bluefin tuna using natural tags

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

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Ocean basin connectivity of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), linking natal origin and trans-Pacific movements into population dynamics

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

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Origin of yellowfin tuna in the western Atlantic Ocean: importance of outside production to US fisheries

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

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Life History and Population Structure of Snowy and Warsaw Grouper in US Waters

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

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Development and Application of Mixed-Stock Models for Determining the Origin of Bluefin Tuna using Natural Geochemical Tags

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - (Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States)

# etdChairOf[].label
Moulton, David Laurence (2016-01). Habitat Use and Connectivity of Juvenile Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout Across Estuarine Seascapes. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Mikulas, Joseph John (2009-05). Habitat use, growth, and mortality of post-settlement lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) on natural banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Randall, Landes Lee (2014-06). The Distribution and Abundance of Bluntnose Flyingfish (Prognichthys occidentalis) Across the Gulf of Mexico. Master's Thesis.

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Glass, Lindsay Ann (2006-08). Distribution, condition, and growth of newly settled southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) in the Galveston Bay Estuary, TX. Master's Thesis.

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Beck, Jessica Louise (2009-05). Contrasting survival strategies of hatchery and wild red drum: implications for stock enhancement. Doctoral Dissertation.

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Cornic, Maelle Marie (2017-04). Early Life Ecology of Tunas in the Gulf of Mexico. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Kitchens, Larissa Leigh (2017-04). Origin and Population Connectivity of Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Atlantic Ocean. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Cai, Yan (2006-08). Bioaccumulation of mercury in pelagic fishes in NW Gulf of Mexico. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Wetmore, Lynne S. (2014-05). Evaluation of Natural Markers to Assess Cross-Shelf Connectivity of MesoAmerican Reef Fish Populations in Belize. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Dance, Michael Allen (2016-01). Spatio-Temporal Variability in Movement Patterns and Habitat Associations of Juvenile Fishes in Estuarine Seascapes. Doctoral Dissertation.

# etdChairOf[].label
Furey, Nathaniel (2012-10). Spatial and Temporal Shifts in Estuarine Nursery Habitats Used by Juvenile Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Schloesser, Ryan Walter (2009-05). Natal origin of atlantic bluefin tuna (thunnus thynnus) from the gulf of st. lawrence using δ13c and δ18o in otoliths. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Simms, Jeffrey R. (2010-07). Early life ecology of sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Master's Thesis.

# etdChairOf[].label
Hoopes, Lisa Ann (2009-05). Metabolic and thermoregulatory capabilities of juvenile steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus. Doctoral Dissertation.