My research

My graduate research focused largely on the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), the largest and most cosmoplitan of about 20 barracuda species found in the World's oceans. Before finishing my PhD, I extended that work to consider several barracuda species that occur on the prolific reefs of Papua New Guinea.

My graduate work fell into a few main categories, each of them occupying a chapter in my PhD dissertation (and my MS thesis, that was a spin-off from my PhD enrolment):

I've directed greater and greater effort in the last few years toward developing research projects that have more direct conservation benefit, such as reef-monitoring work and biodiversity surveys (as well as ecological queries related to those activities). It's in the area of tropical marine conservation and ecology — particularly in developing nations — that I am focusing most of my energy these days.

My work at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research focuses initially on marine protected areas around Bermuda and the primary thrust of my research effort while I am based in Bermuda will continue to be on inclusive conservation-related work. Educational 'outreach' is another important part of the work that I enjoy so much and has assumed many forms, including talks to various audiences, publication of magazine articles, these barracuda and marine-natural history Web pages, and television work.

By the way, the picture above is more a reflection of my love for Adobe Photoshop (TM) than reality...

...please don't ride the sharks.

To date, my research has been supported by:


  • The School for Field Studies (I was supported as a Visiting Scientist at their Center in the Turks and Caicos Islands)

  • Key Largo Marine Research Laboratory, in the Florida Keys

  • The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (through the Raney Award)

  • The American Museum of Natural History (through two Lerner-Gray Research Awards)

  • NOAA's National Undersea Research Program, administered in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary through the National Undersea Research Center at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (NURC-UNCW)

  • The PADI Foundation

  • Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology, and the Graduate School at the University of Georgia

  • Earthwatch supported my 1997 research in Papua New Guinea.

  • I was fortunate enough to receive corporate sponsorship (in the form of gear donation or other provision) from Sea Quest, Sea & Sea Underwater Photography, Oztex (makers of Diveskins dive suits), and discounts from Air New Zealand and Delta Airways in support of my 1997 research in Papua New Guinea.

  • I was the grateful recipient of three year-long US Environmental Protection Agency STAR Graduate Fellowshis that enabled me to continue with my research for the latter half of my graduate studies.

  • My current work in Bermuda is supported by funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

    • I have or have had memberships in:

    American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

    Animal Behaviour Society

    American Elasmobranch Society

    The Ecological Society of America

    The Society for Conservation Biology

    Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations

    Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

    International Society for Behavioral Ecology

    International Society for Reef Studies

    Neotropical Ichthyological Association

    (Semi-) Random aside...

    By the way, E.O Wilson's autobiography, Naturalist, is well worth a read for anyone who's at all interested in where a scientist comes from and where they can go...it's particularly inspiring for graduate students who might be feeling overwhelmed by conflicting demands.

    "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

    — Albert Einstein

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