MERL Staff and Students

Research Interests: Ecosystem studies, system production and respiration as measured by oxygen and carbon, carbon cycling, benthic-water column interaction, functional role of higher trophic level, climate trends.

EMAIL: coviatt@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6661 Fax: (401) 874-6613

Dr. D. Christopher Melrose

NOAA/NMFS

University of Rhode Island, Ph.D., 2004

Florida Insitute of Technology, B.S., 1997

Research Interests: Underway profiling of photosynthesis in Narragansett Bay, RI, using a fast repetition rate fluorometer; summer hypoxia events.

Email: chris.melrose@noaa.gov

Telephone: (401) 782-3350

Linda A. Auker

Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of New Hampshire.

University of Rhode Island, M.S., 2006

Southampton College of Long Island University, B.S., 2001

Research Interests: The effects of the invasive colonial tunicate Didemnum sp. on native species in Narragansett Bay; labrid ontogenetic dietary shifts.

Email: l.auker@unh.edu

Christopher Calabretta

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Entered GSO in Fall 2002

Gettysburg College, B.S., 1997

Research Interests: Estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Current research involves the effects of anthropogenic influence on benthic macrofaunal communities within Narragansett Bay and the usage of benthic faunal assemblages as an indicator of ecosystems status.

Email: chrisc@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6656

Jason Krumholz

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Entered GSO in Fall 2004

Lawrence University, B.S., 2001

Research Interests: Fisheries and ecosystems.

Email: jkrumholz@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6188

Brooke Longval

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Entered GSO in Fall 2002

Boston University, B.A., 1999

Research Interests: My research interests focus on ecosystem dynamics in Narragansett Bay.  I am constructing biomass size

spectra of organisms from phytoplankton to fish and hope to correlate properties of these spectra with environmental factors

to develop indicators of ecosystem status and to evaluate changes in ecosystem structure over time.

Email: brooke@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6657

Kimberly Whitman Hyde

NOAA/NMFS

University of Rhode Island, Ph.D., 2006

Creighton University, M.S., 2000

Creighton University, B.S., 1998

Research Interests: Interannual and seasonal phytoplankton variability in Massachusetts Bay from remote and in situ measurements: using a combination of SeaWiFS and in situ data collected as part of the MWRA's Massachusetts Bay project to analyze the fluctuations of phytoplankton biomass and productivity.
Email: khyde@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6108

Heather Stoffel

Marine Research Assistant

University of Rhode Island, M.M.A., 2003

University of Massachusetts, B.S., 1994

Research Interests: Monitoring and analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of seasonal hypoxia throughout Narragansett Bay using real-time, continuous water quality monitoring systems measuring surface and bottom conditions. Data collected allows for more informed decision making with regard to emergency response and nutrient management.

Email: stoffelh@hotmail.com

Telephone: (401) 874-6860

Leslie Smith

Graduate Student (Ph.D. Candidate)

Entered GSO in Fall 2006

Davidson College, B.S., 2006

Research Interests:
Email: leslie.smith@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6188

Matthew Schult

Graduate Student (M.S. Candidate)

Entered GSO in Fall 2006

University of Pittsburgh, B.S., 2002

Research Interests: Marine reserves.
Email: mschult@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6188

Edwin Requintina

Marine Research Scientist

Research Interests: Narragansett Bay buoy network.
Email: edwinr@gso.uri.edu

Telephone: (401) 874-6122

Taylor Crockford

Research Assistant

Research Interests:
Email:

Telephone: (401) 874-6652

Page Updated: November 20, 2007