publications
Recent Submissions
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Gulf‐Wide Decreases in the Size of Large Coastal Sharks Documented by Generations of Fishermen
(Taylor & Francis, 2013-06-18)Large sharks are top predators in most coastal and marine ecosystems throughout the world, and evidence of their reduced prominence in marine ecosystems has been a serious concern for fisheries and ecosystem management. ... -
Landscape pattern influences nekton diversity and abundance in seagrass meadows
(Inter-Research, 2014-07-17)We studied how spatial qualities and configuration of seagrass patches influence the diversity and abundance of resident nekton. Shallow landscapes of equal area (4225 m2) in 2 bays were mapped and sampled in the summer ... -
An Analysis of Artificial Reef Fish Community Structure along the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Shelf: Potential Impacts of “Rigs-to-Reefs” Programs
(PLoS ONE, 2015-05-08)Artificial structures are the dominant complex marine habitat type along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf. These habitats can consist of a variety of materials, but in this region are primarily comprised of ... -
Quantifying Delayed Mortality from Barotrauma Impairment in Discarded Red Snapper Using Acoustic Telemetry
(American Fisheries Society, 2015-11-05)Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus is the most economically important reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, and despite being intensively managed, the stock remains overfished. These fish are susceptible to pressure‐related ... -
Was Everything Bigger in Texas? Characterization and Trends of a Land‐Based Recreational Shark Fishery
(American Fisheries Society, 2016-11-10)Although current assessments of shark population trends involve both fishery‐independent and fishery‐dependent data, the latter are generally limited to commercial landings that may neglect nearshore coastal habitats. Texas ... -
Effects of a New Artificial Reef Complex on Red Snapper and the Associated Fish Community: an Evaluation Using a Before–After Control–Impact Approach
(Taylor & Francis, 2017-09-21)Artificial reefs are commonly created with the goal of enhancing fish populations. However, many studies evaluating their effects on these populations have been hindered by a lack of preconstruction data from existing ... -
Movement, Behavior, and Habitat Use of a Marine Apex Predator, the Scalloped Hammerhead
(Frontiers in Marine Science, 2018-09-10)Conservation and management efforts of marine apex predators are more reliable when information on movement and habitat use patterns are known. The scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) was the first shark species to be ... -
A Comparison of Fish Community Structure at Mesophotic Artificial Reefs and Natural Banks in the Western Gulf of Mexico
(Taylor & Francis, 2017-04-11)Oil and gas platforms along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf have served as artificial reefs since oil and gas exploration intensified in the 1950s. As these structures are decommissioned, they must be removed; ... -
Population connectivity of pelagic megafauna in the Cuba-Mexico-United States triangle
(Scientific Reports, 2019-02-07)The timing and extent of international crossings by billfishes, tunas, and sharks in the Cuba-Mexico-United States (U.S.) triangle was investigated using electronic tagging data from eight species that resulted in >22,000 ... -
Recreational Angler Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding the Use of Descending Devices in Southeast Reef Fish Fisheries
(Wiley Periodicals, Inc., 2019-12-19)Reducing discard mortality in recreational fisheries remains an important component of stock rebuilding for many reef fish species. Discard mortality for these species can be high due in part to barotrauma injury sustained ... -
Utility of citizen science data: A case study in land-based shark fishing
(PLoS ONE, 2019-12-19)Involving citizen scientists in research has become increasingly popular in natural resource management and allows for an increased research effort at low cost, distribution of scientific information to relevant audiences, ... -
New Insights Into the Seasonal Movement Patterns of Shortfin Mako Sharks in the Gulf of Mexico
(Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021-01-26)Highly mobile apex predators such as the shortfin mako shark (mako shark; Isurus oxyrinchus) serve an important role in the marine ecosystem, and despite their declining populations and vulnerability to overexploitation, ... -
A Review of the Ecological Performance and Habitat Value of Standing versus Reefed Oil and Gas Platform Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
(2020-08-14)In the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), approximately 1,800 oil and gas production platforms (hereafter “standing platforms”) function as de facto artificial reefs. As a large number of platforms are reaching the end of their ... -
Movement patterns and habitat use of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) across ontogeny in the Gulf of Mexico
(PlosONE, 2020-07)The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is globally distributed with established coastal and open-ocean movement patterns in many portions of its range. While all life stages of tiger sharks are known to occur in the Gulf of ... -
Characterizing Nekton use of the Largest Unfished Oyster Reef in the United States Compared with Adjacent Estuarine Habitats
(National Shellfisheries Association, 2014)Characterizing density patterns of fish and crustaceans across estuarine habitat types can provide useful information regarding their relative value. The oyster reef complex within Sabine Lake Estuary is the largest known ... -
Venting or Rapid Recompression Increase Survival and Improve Recovery of Red Snapper with Barotrauma
(Taylor and Francis Open, 2014)Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus are the most economically important reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico and a heavily targeted fishery. When brought to the surface from deep water, this species often suffers pressure-related ... -
Gulf-Wide Decreases in the Size of Large Coastal Sharks Documented by Generations of Fishermen
(Taylor and Francis Open, 2013)Large sharks are top predators in most coastal and marine ecosystems throughout the world, and evidence of their reduced prominence in marine ecosystems has been a serious concern for fisheries and ecosystem management. ... -
Relative value of oyster reef as habitat for estuarine nekton in Galveston Bay, Texas
(InterResearch, 2010)Biogenic reefs formed by dense aggregations of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica are a dominant feature in most estuarine systems along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Oyster reefs are complex in their structural ... -
Relative Value of Deep Subtidal Oyster Reefs to Other Estuarine Habitat Types using a Novel Sampling Method
(National Shellfisheries Association, 2010)Subtidal eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) cover large expanses of many Gulf of Mexico estuaries; however, few researchers have attempted to quantify the value of deep, open-water, subtidal reefs as habitat for ... -
Population connectivity of red drum in the northern Gulf of Mexico
(InterResearch, 2010)Stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios in otoliths were used to assess the degree of connectivity between early life and adult habitats of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico. ...