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The Marine Fisheries Ecology Lab conducts research that informs resource management and improves our understanding of coastal ecosystems. Each of our projects falls under one of three focus areas:
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---- The response of marine species to climate and ocean warming ----
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Climate change is altering the geographic distribution of suitable habitat for marine species. These shifts are challenging fisheries management, which is based on the assumption that fish stocks are static over the long term. We conduct research to better understand how variability in climate affects marine species and communities, and also to predict how ocean warming will impact marine ecosystems and fisheries in the future.
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Above: An end-of-century projection for American lobster, where red indicates a reduction in habitat suitability and blue indicates an increase in habitat suitability (Morley et al. 2020). Left: Summer flounder have differences in their core habitat distribution at different life stages. These shifts in habitat, found in many species, may have important implications for climate change impacts on fisheries (project lead V. Wang). |
---- Estimating human-use impacts on marine and estuarine areas ----
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Humans modify or disturb coastal aquatic habitats in many ways. For example, shellfish farming involves adding culture gear to leased areas in estuaries; navigation channels need to be dredged in order to maintain depth for boat passage. Other modifications may be designed to enhance recreation, such as artificial reefs. Our lab conducts field investigations to estimate the impacts of these habitat changes. Impacts can be positive or negative, and the measured effect represents a trade-off between alternative uses of estuarine and ocean space.
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Above: Collecting data on fish use of coastal inlet habitats using sonar. In the background is a large dredge ship used to vacuum up sediments from the seafloor (project lead A. McMains).
Right: The Fisheries Lab has conducted research on the habitat value of oyster farms. We have used acoustic imaging sonar, hydrophones, and net and trap sampling to better understand the impact of this expanding industry in NC. Our research was featured on Sci NC. Watch the 6 min clip here LINK. |
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Left: Aerial image of an oyster farm, where the movements of 15 tagged fish (colored dots) are tracked acoustically over a 24 hour period (project lead A. McMains).
Below: Oyster farm in Cedar Island Bay where acoustic tagging study was conducted. 
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---- Emergent management concerns for fisheries resources ----
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Fisheries managers are routinely confronted with new challenges in governing coastal resources. These challenges can include invasive species that affect food webs or emergent parasites that might impact the productivity of a resource species. Often, fisheries managers are simply confronted with a lack of data on species life history or habitat use. Our lab conducts research to address these emergent threats to marine species or to fill data gaps in our understanding of species' life history. The goal of this research is to inform the coastal management and policy making process. |
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Above: Juvenile sheepshead (black & white stripes) are captured with open lift-traps filled with oyster shell. Gray snapper are also seen in the video.
Right: Cross section of a juvenile sheepshead otolith, showing daily growth rings. These rings can be counted to determine hatch date (project lead M. Johnson). |
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Right: Black Gill is a condition that shrimp exhibit when infected by a certain parasite. The host-parasite dynamics of Black Gill are influenced by the environment. This is being investigated in the field and laboratory (project lead C. Gabriel).
Left: Blue catfish are an invasive species to the coastal plain and have become one of the most abundant fishes in Albemarle Sound. The trophic impacts of this species on food webs is a major concern. Stomachs (diet), otoliths (aging) and tissue samples (trophic position) are being collected from > 1,000 blue catfish in the Albemarle Sound (project lead C. Miller). |
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