Southeast Ecological Science Center

Benthic Ecology

The Benthic Ecology Group has an active research program examining fauna living in and on the seafloor in a variety of natural and artificial marine habitats, including deep-sea and shallow-water corals, chemosynthetic seeps, shipwrecks, marine canyons and wetland communities. Current projects focus on community structure, biodiversity, trophic structure, and habitat connectivity of marine benthic ecosystems. In addition to increasing general knowledge, the data acquired through these projects can assist with management and conservation efforts for fragile marine communities, including corals and wetlands.

Current Research

DISCOVRE PROJECT - Diversity, Systematics, and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems

Trophic coupling and habitat connectivity among coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass fishes and benthic invertebrate communities of the Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS) and Coral Reef National Monument (VICR)

Synthesis of the potential environmental impacts associated with offshore sand dredging for beach and coastal restoration

Contact information:

USGS | SESC - Benthic Ecology

amandad@usgs.gov

Recent Publications

White, H.K., P. Hsing, W. Cho, T.M. Shank, E.E. Cordes, A.M. Quattrini, R.K. Nelson, R. Camilli, A.W.J. Demopoulos, C.R. German, J.M. Brooks, H.H. Roberts, W. Shedd, C.M. Reddy, and C.R. Fisher. 2012. Impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on a deep-water coral community in the Gulf of Mexico. PNAS. doi:10.1073/pnas.1118029109. [Journal Abstact]

Ross, S.W., Demopoulos, A.W.J., Kellogg, C.A., Morrison, C.L., Nizinski, M.S., Ames, C.L., Casazza, T.L., Gualtieri, D., Kovacs, K., McClain, J.P., Quattrini, A.M., Roa-Varón, A.Y., and Thaler, A.D., 2012, Deepwater Program: Studies of Gulf of Mexico lower continental slope communities related to chemosynthetic and hard substrate habitats: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1032, 301 p.

McClain Counts, J.P., and Demopoulos, A.W., 2012, Connectivity of tropical marine ecosystems: An overview of interdisciplinary research to understand biodiversity and trophic relationships in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2012-3016, 2 p.

Demopoulos, A.W.J., Gualtieri, D.J., Neils, A., and Huge, D., 2011, Comprehensive summary of beach renourishment and offshore sand removal impacts for Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1135, 183 p.

Demopoulos, A.W.J., Foster, A.M., Jones, M.L., and Gualtieri, D.J., 2011, Geospatial characteristics of Florida's coastal and offshore environments: Coastal habitats, artificial reefs, wrecks, dumping grounds, harbor obstructions and offshore sand resources: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3167, 10 p.

Demopoulos, A.W.J., Foster, A.M., Jones, M.L., and Gualtieri, D.J., 2011, Geospatial characteristics of Florida's coastal and offshore environments: Distribution of important habitats for coastal and offshore biological resources and offshore sand resources: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3166, 11 p.

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Benthic Ecology

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