Estuarine Ecology
Danielle Keller
Grauduate Student
Justin Ridge
Graduate Student
Martin Benavides
Graduate Student
Shelby Ziegler
Graduate Student
Ian Kroll
Graduate Student
Danielle Keller
Graduate Student
Martin Benavides
Graduate Student
Shelby Ziegler
Graduate Student
Principle Investigator
Dr. Joel Fodrie is a Professor at the Institute of Marine Sciences (UNC-CH), where he studies the population and community ecology of coastal fishes, shellfish, seagrasses, and saltmarshes. Dr. Fodrie has worked along all three major U.S. coastlines, examining: 1) linkages between coastal habitat quality and fishery production; 2) landscape ecology; 3) novel approaches for habitat restoration; 4) marine population connectivity; and 5) effects of harvest pressure and climate variability on long-term population trends of fishery species (using multi-decade data sets). Dr. Fodrie earned his Ph.D. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006) and was a post-doctoral researcher at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. He has contributed 100+ peer-reviewed articles and manuscripts that explore mechanisms of population variability for fishery species. These articles appear in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Ecology, and Bioscience.
​Graduate Students
Bowdoin Col, BA (2017) Nick is broadly interested in natural resource conservation issues as he begins his graduate work at UNC. In 2021, he will explore the ecological consequences of oyster "relay" practices.
Univ. Alabama, BS (2020) Alexis is interested in the landscape dynamics of spawning and nursery habitats within temperate and subtropical estuaries.
Carleton College, BA (2018) Tyler is interested in the ecological and socioecological impacts of expanding shellfish mariculture operations in North Carolina. His research will focus on oyster lease-seagrass interactions and the optimization of new lease placement to maximize ecosystem service delivery.
Univ. Virgina, BS (2018) Bekah is initially interested in applied ecosystem-based management.
SMU, BS & BA (2022) Madeline is initially interested in applied ecosystem-based management.
Univ. Florida, BS (2022) Kamya is interested in restoration ecology, and will be focused on a NCSG-funded project attempting to restore seagrass in NC via seed-based subsidies.
Univ. South Carolina, BS (2023) Heather is interested in animal-plant interactions that impact the structure and function of coastal marine biogenic habitat.
GCSU, BS (2022) Nadya is interested in the landscape and trophic ecology of estuarine seagrass meadows and oyster reefs.
Univ. Missouri, BS (2016) Moss Landing Marine Lab, MS (2021)
Univ. South Carolina, BS (2023)
Whittenberg, BS (2023)
Alumni
Dr. Rebecca Gaesser, 2018-2022 (UNC-CH); “Marine ecosystems through the lens of soundscape ecology: how biological processes, landscape structure, and anthropogenic activity affect spatiotemporal soundscape patterns”; Transitioned to: Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Stacy Zhang, 2020-2022 (Post-doctoral researcher); Research Theme: “Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of decadal-scale changes in estuarine fish alpha and beta diversity from local to biogeographic scales”. Transitioned to: Assistant Professor, North Carolina State University
Dr. Joseph Reustle, 2020-2022 (Post-doctoral researcher, SPIRE program); Research Topic: “Interactions of larval population connectivity and microbiome development in oyster-reef communities”. Transitioned to: Assistant Professor, Hampton University
Dr. Jeff Plumlee, 2018-2022 (UNC-CH); “Trophic ecology of estuarine landscapes connected by large mobile predators”; Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Dr. Chris Baillie, 2022 (Post-doctoral researcher); Research theme: “Shellfish mariculture planning”. Transitioned to: Researcher at North Carolina Coastal Federation
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Abigail Poray, 2010-2021 (Lab Manager), Abigail participated in many research projects and also performed critical administrative tasks related to lab safety, human resources, and data management
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Dr. Amy Yarnall, 2016-2021 (PhD Student), Research theme: “Community structure and dynamics in estuarine seagrass systems across habitat configurations, environmental gradients, and spatial scales”; Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher with ORISE program
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Jonathan Lucas, 2018-2021 (Masters Student); “Relative importance of substrate availability, recruitment, and post-settlement processes in determining oyster restoration trajectories across an estuarine salinity gradient”; Transitioned to: Research technician/lab manager, North Carolina State University
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Dr. Shelby Ziegler, 2015-2020 (PhD Student); Research theme: "Effects of marsh landscape orientation and environmental setting on the habitat use and productivity of estuarine fishes". Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at Moss Landing Marine Lab
Dr. Martin Benavides, 2015-2020 (PhD Student); Research theme: "Variability in coastal shark populations across multiple spatiotemporal scales". Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at Smithsonian
Owen Mulvey-Mcferron, 2017-2020 (Masters Student); "Effects of landscape-scale oyster-reef restoration on nekton in a temperate estuary". Transitioned to: North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries Biologist
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Dr. Jim Morley, 2017-2019 (Post-doctoral researcher); Research theme: “Ecosystem effects of shellfish mariculture”. Transitioned to: Assistant Professor at East Carolina University
Dr. Matthew Kenworthy, 2015-2019 (PhD Student); "Movement ecology and of large estuarine fishes"; Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at Savannah State University
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Dr. Chris Baillie, 2018 (Post-doctoral researcher); Research theme: “Shellfish mariculture planning”. Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at East Carolina University
Max Tice-Lewis, 2016-2018 (Masters Student); "Natural and anthropogenic drivers of oyster reef community dynamics"; Transitioned to: Oregon First Nations Oyster Biologist
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Dr. Danielle Keller, 2013-2018 (PhD Student); "How the structure and spatial components of habitat affect estuarine communities"; Transitioned to: USACE Biologist
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Dr. Justin Ridge, 2012-2017 (PhD Student; co-advised with AB Rodriguez); “Landscape connectivity influences growth and accretion in temperate biogenic reefs and adjacent saltmarshes”; Transitioned to: Post-doctoral researcher at Duke University
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Dr. Ian Kroll, 2012-2017 (PhD Student); “Assessing estuarine-scale population connectivity and dynamics for the management of commercial marine fisheries”; Transitioned to: Scientist, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
Dr. Michelle Brodeur, 2009-2016 (Masters and PhD Student); Research theme: “Consumers mitigate effects of heat stress and nutrient enrichment on eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) communities at its southern range limit” and “Interspecific competition and predation control euhaline oyster reef distribution”. Transitioned to: Communications Lead, North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve
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Dr. Lauren Yeager, 2013-2014 (Post-doctoral Researcher); Research theme: “Landscape ecology of NC seagrass meadows”. Transitioned to: Assistant Professor, University of Texas
Sara Coleman, 2011-2014 (Masters Student); “Effects of boring sponge on oyster soft tissue, shell integrity, and predator-related mortality”; Transitioned to: staff researcher with The Nature Conservancy, Rhode Island
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Technicians:
Cole Castillo (UNC-CH) 2023; Transitioned to: UNC-CH undergraduate student
Noelle Keister (UNC-CH) 2023; Transitioned to: UNC-CH undergraduate student
Caitlin O’Brien (UNC-CH) 2022; Transitioned to: UNC-CH undergraduate student
Kayla Shotwell (UNC-CH) 2022; Transitioned to UNC-CH undergraduate student
Savannah Paliotti (NCSU) 2021-2023; Transitioned to: NCSU graduate student
Shayla Birath (UNC-CH) 2020-2021; Transitioned to: UCLA law student
Creed Branham (CoC) 2020-2021; Transitioned to: LSU graduate student
Savannah Swinea (UNC-CH) 2019-2020; Transitioned to: NEU graduate student
Ellie Kremer (UNC-CH) 2020; Transitioned to: UNC-CH undergraduate
Karli Meckler (UNC-CH) 2020; Transitioned to: UNC-CH undergraduate
Marianna Miller (UNC-CH) 2018-2020; Transitioned to: NCDEQ biologist
Grace Roskar (UM & FAU) 2019-2020; Transitioned to: Knauss Fellow
Mary Conroy (RWU) 2018-2019; Transitioned to: NEFMC biologist
Jade Danford-Klein (UNC-CH) 2019; Transitioned to: UNC undergraduate student
Cori Lopazanski (UNC) 2017-2019; Transitioned to: UCSB graduate student
Andrew McMains (UWM) 2018-2019; Transitioned to: NCDMF biologist
Eliza Schlein (UVA) 2018; Transitioned to: NEU graduate student
Rich Mahoney (UWSP) 2015-2018; Transitioned to: UCF graduate student
Lauren Clance (UNC-CH) 2017-2018; Transitioned to: DISL Graduate student
Francesca Peay (UNC-CH) 2017-2018; Transitioned to: Cape Lookout National Seashore guide
Emory Wellman (GU) 2018; Transitioned to: ECU graduate student
Owen Mulvey-McFerron (Stockton) 2017; Transitioned to: UNC graduate student
Molly Bost (UNC-CH) 2016-2017; Transitioned to: UNC graduate student
Tessa Pfeifer (UNCW) 2017; Transitioned to: CofC graduate student
Lexie Weber (UNC-CH) 2017; Transitioned to: Researcher
Julie Geyer (Cornell) 2015-2017; Transitioned to: UNC graduate student
Carson Miller (UNC-CH) 2016-2017; Transitioned to: UNC graduate student
Quin Walker (UNC-CH) 2015-2016; Transitioned to: NOAA researcher
Mariah Livernois (NEU) 2014; Transitioned to: DISL graduate student
Gray Redding (UNC-CH) 2013-2014; Transitioned to: CBL graduate student
Stacy Zhang (UNC-CH) 2013-2014; Transitioned to: Duke graduate student
Laura Alexander (UDel) 2010-2014; Transitioned to: Scientist with NC Coastal Federation
Alexia Pool (URI) 2012-2014; Transitioned to: UNCW graduate student (in education)
Chris Baillie (UNC-CH) 2010-2012; Transitioned to: NEU graduate student
Kenny Namkoong (UNC-CH) 2012; Transitioned to: NCSU graduate student (in medicine)
Erin Voigt (St. Mary’s) 2011-2012; Transitioned to: SDSU graduate student
Sara Gutekunst (U Miami) 2011; Transitioned to: Undergraduate student
Josh Hancock (UNC-CH) 2011; Transitioned to: UNC graduate student (in accounting)
Sam Fuller (NCSU) 2010-2011; Transitioned to: United States Coast Guard Rescue Diver
Xan Chandler (UNC-W) 2010; Transitioned to: Undergraduate student
Olivia Rhoades (Brown) 2009-2010; Transitioned to: UC-Davis graduate student
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NSF REUs:
Rachel Bouchillon, 2012 (UF)
Riley Brady, 2013 (USC)
Taylor Burns, 2014 (LUNO)
UNC-CH Undergraduate Independent Research (IE Field Site):
Ruslan Grigoriev, 2009
Allison Davis, 2010
Kelsey Ellis, 2011
Parker Ellis, 2012
Madelyn Roycroft, 2013
Danielle Doucett, 2014
Matthew Dwinell, 2014
Kayla Pehl, 2015
Marianna Miller, 2016
Lexie Weber, 2016
Lily Olmo, 2017
Connor Albretch, 2017
Savannah Swinea, 2018
EmmaLi Tsai, 2018
Rachael Rankin, 2019
Ellie Kremer, 2020
Karli Meckler, 2020
Logan Timm, 2021
Rebecka McMorris, 2021
Noelle Keister, 2022
Sophia Palmieri, 2022
Katrina Borgen, 2023
Abby Glazener, 2023
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