Physiological Ecology of Marine Animals

Dr. Richard B. Forward, Jr.
Lee Hill Snowden Professor of Zoology
Duke University

Research in the Forward laboratory focuses on the physiology and behavior of marine animals.  Proximate aspects of metamorphosis, migration and life histories, particularly those influenced by light and chemical cues, are investigated using crustacean zooplankton as research models.  An additional research focus involves selective tidal stream transport (STST), using the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, as a model in laboratory and field experiments.

 

     Contact Information
                Duke University Marine Laboratory
                Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
                135 Duke Marine Lab Road
                Beaufort, NC 28516-9721, USA

       email: rforward@duke.edu
       phone: 252.504.761o

     Representative Publications

  • Cohen, J.H. and R.B. Forward, Jr.  2005.  Diel vertical migration as an inducible defense in the marine copepod Calanopia americana. Limnology and Oceanography. 50: 1269-1277.
  • Forward, R.B., Jr., J.H. Cohen, R. D. Irvine, J.L. Lax, R. Mitchell, A. M. Shick, M.M. Smith, J. M. Thompson and J. I. Venezia.  2004.  Settlement of blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, megalopae in a North Carolina, USA, estuary.   Marine Ecology-Progress Series.  269: 237-247.
  • Forward, R.B., Jr., H. Diaz and J. H. Cohen.  2005.  The tidal rhythm in activity of the mole crab Emerita talpoida.  Journal of the Marine Biological Association, U.K. 85:895-901.
  • Forward, R. B., Jr., N.B. Reyns, H. Diaz, J. H. Cohen, and D. B. Eggleston.  2005. 
    Endogenous swimming rhythms underlying secondary dispersal of early juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus.   Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 316: 91-100.
  • Forward, R. B., Jr. and R. A. Tankersley. 2001. Selective tidal stream transport of marine animals. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Annu. Rev. 39: 305-353.

 

Current Ph.D. Students

 

Tracy Ziegler ~ Tracy’s research focuses on the biological (behavioral) and physical (hydrodynamic) processes that influence the dispersal of benthic marine invertebrates.  Specifically, her interests include how behavior and events during the early life history stages of these organisms drive later-stage spatial and temporal distribution patterns.  Her research will determine the mechanisms influencing the open-ocean dispersal stage of palinurid lobsters, including the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus and the spotted spiny lobster Panurilus guttatus.  Her objectives are to determine when and how newly-hatched phyllosoma larvae leave their natal areas and disperse across the western Atlantic and Caribbean.  She will conduct laboratory-based experiments designed to (1) determine the temporal patterns of larval release, (2) determine if early-stage phyllosoma larvae possess an endogenous activity rhythm, (3) measure larval behavior with respect to proximate environmental cues (e.g., light, pressure, and gravity), and (4) measure larval swimming speeds and trajectories.  Ultimately, she hopes to use current meter data to characterize the circulation patterns around spawning areas and to determine if specific hydrodynamic transport corridors mediate early larval lobster dispersal.  More information on Tracy can be found here.

 

Matthew Ogburn ~ Matt’s dissertation research will focus on blue crab postlarval transport in coastal and estuarine areas. He plans to (1) compare the daily abundance of blue crab megalopae arriving at sites just outside and just inside two barrier island inlets that have different offshore directions, (2) predict the abundance of megalopae arriving at inlet and estuarine sites using models, (3) determine the relationship between the near-inlet distribution of megalopae and the abundance of juveniles in the Newport River estuary, and (4) determine the effect of low temperatures on a behavioral response that initiates flood-tide transport of blue crab megalopae.  His study uses an interdisciplinary approach to address the mechanisms underlying a crucial transition in the life history of blue crabs.  By combining theoretical and physical models with biological data, he will be able to 1) examine hypotheses about the mechanisms by which megalopae are transported to estuaries and 2) evaluate the importance of different nursery habitats in the Newport River estuary based on the probability of megalopal transport to the different sites.  More information on Matt can be found here.

 

 

Recent Graduates


Robert J. Mayer ~ Robert's dissertation research examined the combined effects of temperature, salinity and predator kairomones on several life history characteristics of two natural (i.e., not inoculated by man) populations of Artemia from Puerto Rico and one from Jamaica, that have been shown to have significant differences in several morphometric parameters and in the external morphology of the genitalia (i.e., a widely used character in arthropod systematics).  The results of this study broadened our understanding of the effects of environmental factors on the physiological ecology of these natural populations of Artemia and also helped in the determination of the potential of these populations as live food for cultured shellfish and fish species in commercial aquaculture operations.  This work was part of an international effort to describe and study the ecology of populations of Artemia from the New World.   I also love Hobie Cat sailing, mountain biking, reading good books, listening to good music, eating good sea food, hush puppies, sincere people and gardening!

 

Jonathan Cohen ~ Jon studied the photophysiology and photobehavior of marine zooplankton.  His dissertation research focused on describing the proximate role of chemical cues (aminosugars) derived from fish mucus in mediating phenotypic plasticity in diel vertical migration (DVM).  The photoresponses of calanoid copepods were measured in the laboratory under a variety of chemical conditions using a simulated underwater light field and various optical arrangements; DVM behavior is then inferred from photobehavior.  This work also employed biochemical techniques to investigate the chemical nature of mucus-derived molecules, and measured cue molecules in seawater.  Other studies are determining the role of mucus-derived chemical cues on predator avoidance behaviors (shadow responses) of crab larvae, and measuring the sublethal effects of bloom forming toxic dinoflagellates on zooplankton photobehavior.  When he is not hard at work, he is probably sailing.  More information on Jon and his present research can be found here.

 

Collaborators
           Dr. Dan Rittschof (DUML)
         Dr. David Eggleston (NCSU)
         Dr. Humberto Diaz (IVIC/DUML)
         Dr. Richard Luettich (UNC-CH IMS)

Teaching
          Physiology of Marine Animals
          Sensory Physiology and Behavior of Marine Animals
          Independent Study

 

 

               Last updated 25 October 05 by tziegler@duke.edu