Research Interests
Research in the Guidone lab is primarily focused on the abiotic and biotic forces that shape community structure. Many of our research projects investigate the ecological impacts of human alterations to marine and freshwater environments. Given the ecosystem services that marine and freshwater habitats provide, understanding how abiotic, biotic, and human factors interact to shape these communities is critical to prepare for and mitigate future environmental changes. Current Research Projects 1) Determining latitudinal variation in epiphytes and meiofauna on Spartina alterniflora stems. This is a collaborative project with Dr. LaTina Steele at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. 2) Examining multi-year settlement patterns of barnacles on Spartina alterniflora and determining their impact on plant growth and photosynthesis. This is a collaborative project with Dr. Heather Joesting at Georgia Southern University's Armstrong Campus. 3) Examining the quantity of microplastic pollutants in local marine beach sediments, epiphytic algae, and snail gut contents. 4) Determining the influence of human disturbance and marsh vegetation on fiddler crab retreat behavior. Previous Research Projects 1) Ulva bloom ecology and diversity. This was a multi-project collaborative effort with numerous researchers, including Dr. Carol Thornber (University of Rhode Island), Dr. Brian Wysor (Roger Williams University), and Dr. Kathy Van Alstyne (Western Washington University). 2) Identifying native herbivores that provide biotic resistance to invasive Eurasian watermilfoil. This was a collaborative project with Dr. LaTina Steele (Sacred Heart University). 3) Tracking spatial and temporal trends in grass shrimp (Palaemon pugio) parasite abundance and its influence on grass shrimp habitat choice. This was a collaborative project with Dr. Mary Carla Curran (Savannah State University). |