Doug Weaver

Doug is a doctoral student in the CMSS program at TAMUCC. He is originally from the rolling hills and rich green farmlands of Lancaster, PA.

Background

Education: B.Sc. - Major: Biology (Marine Emphasis) Minors: Art, Chemistry - Millersville University, PA 1990. M.Sc. - Zoology - University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 1996.

Work Experience: Research Field Biologist - U.S. Geological Survey Gainesville, FL. 1991-2003. Research Diver and Dive Leader - University of Florida. 1990-2003. Research Biologist/GIS Specialist - Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA. 2002-2008.

Hobbies: Dogs, dogs, dogs... Freshwater and Marine Aquaria and Construction. Illustration, Computer Graphics, and Sculpture. Birdwatching; enticing large flocks of hummingbirds and anything other than house sparrows to my feeders.

Research Interests

Community Structure, Habitat Association, and Feeding Ecology of Coral and Hard Bottom Reef Fishes. Seafloor Mapping, Habitat Characterization, and Surficial Geology of Coral and Deep Carbonate Reefs. Marine Geographic Information Systems. Taxonomy and Functional Morphology of Reef Fishes. Ecosystem Approaches to Marine Fisheries. Marine Reserves and Marine Conservation.

• Brief description of research interest

My doctoral research will focus on the community structure, habitat association, and trophic structure of coral reef fishes and deepwater reef fishes in the Gulf of Mexico, using a variety of visual census techniques. I am working in the laboratory of Dr. Ian Mac Donald to test and further develop the Rotary Time Lapse Camera (RTLC) to document community structure and habitat association of reef fishes at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Results of RTLC surveys will be contrasted with existing SCUBA, Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and tow camera surveys of reefs and banks of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico and South Texas Banks. I will also review current trends in deepwater reef fisheries and the potential impact on deepwater coral communities.

• Advisors:

Dr. Ian Mac Donald and Dr. Wes Tunnell, chair and co-chair Dr. Thomas Shirley Dr. Greg Stunz

Presentations and Publications

Mac Donald, I. R. and D. C. Weaver. In Press. Rotary time-lapse photography: a non-destructive technique for fish population assessment. Proceedings of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 7-11 July 2008.

Weaver, D. and L. Rocha. 2007. A new species of Halichoeres (Teleostei: Labridae) from the Western Gulf of Mexico. Copeia 2007(4):798-807.

Weaver, D. C., D. F. Naar and B. Donahue. 2006. Deepwater reef fishes and multibeam bathymetry of the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida. NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 5. Pages 48-68.

Weaver, D., E. Hickerson and G.P. Schmahl. 2006. Deep reef fish surveys by submersible on Alderdice, Mc Grail?, and Sonnier Banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 5. Pages 69-87.

Reed, J. K., D. Weaver and S. A. Pomponi. 2006. Habitat and fauna of deep-water Lophelia pertusa coral reefs off the southerastern U.S.: Blake Plateau, Straits of Florida, and Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science, 78(2): 343-375.

Reed, J. K., S. A. Pomponi, D. Weaver, C. K. Paull and A. E. Wright. 2005. Deep-water sinkholes and bioherms of south Florida and the Pourtales Terrace- habitat and fauna. Bulletin of Marine Science, 77(2):267-296.

Mallinson, D., A. C. Hine, B. Halley, E. Shinn, D. Naar, B. Donahue and D. Weaver. 2003. Development of small carbonate banks on the south Florida platform margin: response to sea level and climate change. Marine Geology 3333(2003):1-19.

Weaver, D., G. Dennis and K. Sulak. 2001. Community structure and trophic ecology of demersal fishes of the Pinnacles Reef Tract. USGS Biol. Sciences Report 2001-08. 145 pp.

Weaver, D. and G. Sedberry. 2001. Trophic subsidies in the twilight zone: Food web structure of reef fishes on the continental slope of the southeastern United States. American Fisheries Society Symposium 25:137-152.

Weaver, D. and K. Sulak. 2001. Food web structure and plankton availability for reef fishes along the Mississippi-Alabama outer continental shelf. Proceedings of the 2000 MMS ITM Meeting. Kendall, LA.

Weaver, D. and K. Sulak. 1999. Trophic ecology of reef fishes along the Mississippi-Alabama outer continental shelf. Proceedings of the 1998 MMS ITM Meeting. Kendall, LA.

Weaver, D. and K. Sulak. 1998. Community Structure of Fishes of the Lower St. John’s River. Final Report to St. John’s Water Management District. 84 pp.

Weaver, D. et al. 1998. Community structure of demersal reef fishes along the Mississippi-Alabama outer continental shelf. Proceedings of the 1997 MMS ITM Meeting. New Orleans, LA.

Weaver, D. 1996. Feeding ecology and ecomorphology in three sea basses (Pisces:Serranidae) in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. M. S. Thesis. University of Florida, Gainesville. 94 pp.

Burkhead, N., H. Jelks, F. Jordan, D. Weaver, and J. Williams. 1994. The comparative ecology of Okaloosa (Etheostoma okaloosae) and brown darters (E. edwini) in Boggy and Rocky Bayou stream systems, Choctawhatchee Bay, Florida. Final Report to Eglin Air Force Base. 90 pp.

Presentations:

Over 40 oral research papers have been given at regional, national and international meetings as first author/speaker.