Ruth H. Carmichael, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Ruth H. Carmichael is a Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and a Professor of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama.  She came to Alabama from Maine, where she was an Assistant Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maine-Machias.  Carmichael holds an MA (1998) and PhD (2004) from Boston University at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA.  She is a population and trophic ecologist who uses traditional ecological techniques coupled with elemental and telemetry methods to understand how organisms respond to environmental perturbations, from physiological responses to changes in growth and survival or movement patterns.

She is Director of DISL’s Manatee Sighting Network and operates the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network.  She is Co-chair of the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program’s Science Advisory Committee and Member-At-Large for the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.  She has served as an editor for four scientific journals and is a past President of the Gulf Estuarine Research Society.  She has more than 50 publications in Marine Ecology and is an editor of the recent book, Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York.

Download Dr. Ruth Carmichael's CV

Education

2004    Ph.D.   Marine Biology, B.U. Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory
1998    M.A.   Marine Biology, B.U. Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory
1993    B.A.    Biology with honors, University of Chicago

Courses

Marine Conservation Biology
Invertebrate Zoology
Scientific Communication
Stable Isotope Ecology Seminar
Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs

In the News

• ALMMSN
• Carmichael Lab
• Manatee Sighting Network 

Research Interest

My research focuses on marine ecosystem responses; understanding relationships between organisms and their environment and specific biological and physiological responses to environmental change.  In particular, I am interested in the mechanisms by which anthropogenic-driven perturbations affect coastal habitats and species.  I give special focus to commercially important coastal bivalves, horseshoe crabs, manatees and dolphins. I use a variety of approaches to make these assessments.  I measure how perturbations affect habitat and food quality for consumers, and then determine the extent to which these effects may be transferred up coastal food webs in terms of change in growth, survival, and physiology.  I also employ natural abundance stable isotopes to trace N and C sources from consumers to their food sources and ultimately to N and C sources from land.  I use this information to discern trophic interactions, define linkages between anthropogenic factors and organism responses, assess nutritional importance of food sources, discern physiological state of organisms, and historically trace responses to environmental change.

Current Research Grants:

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - Alabama Marine Mammal Conservation and Recovery Program. 2015-2020
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries - Aerial mapping of manatee thermal refugia in Alabama waters: Defining essential habitat. 2015-2017
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Decadal scale documentation of endangered West Indian manatee habitat use in the northern Gulf of Mexico west of Florida. 2016-2018
WHOI Sea Grant Program - A history of mercury impacts to Waquoit Bay, MA clams. 2014-2017 

Past Research Grants:

MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium - A circulation and transport model for fishery management in Mobile Bay and eastern Mississippi Sound. 2014-2017
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) - Determining sources, history and status of eutrophication at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 2014-2015 
MS Water Resources Research Institute (MWRRI) - Water quality in Bangs Lake: Effects of recurrent phosphate spills to a coastal estuary: Years 1 and 2. 2014-2015 
Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries - Population ecology, movements, habitat use and diet of West Indian Manatees in Alabama waters.  Various projects 2009-2015
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - Support for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network. 2014 
NOAA, National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) - Data Management in Support of NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment for the Gulf of Mexico: Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Data Management Center. Various projects 2007-2013 
NOAA, Prescott Fund, Fisheries Protected Resources Program - Establishing a regionally cooperative dolphin stranding network for Alabama. 2011-2012 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) - A cooperative marine mammal stranding network for Alabama. 2011-2012 
BP-GoMRI - Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Recovery: Sentinel macrofauna (MESC).  2011-2012 Effects of oil contaminants on sentinel benthic and pelagic species in Mobile Bay, AL (NGI). 2010-2011
NOAA, National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System - National Science Collaborative, Legacy effects of land-use change and nitrogen source shifts on a benchmark system: Building capacity for collaborative research leadership at the Grand Bay Reserve. 2010-2013 
NOAA, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Program - Proposed data collection plan to assess injury to West Indian manatees from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill outside of Florida. 2010 
Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Program - Quantification of direct and indirect nitrogen removal by oysters (Crassostrea virginica). 2009-2011 
Richard C. Shelby Center for Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management - From Mobile Bay to nGOM fisheries: The trophic importance of land-derived organic matter. 2009-2011 
MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium - Use of stable isotope ratios to link wastewater sources to effects on shellfish and human health: Defining relevant and effective spatial and temporal scales for management. 2008-2010

Projects

• Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network
• Population Ecology of West Indian manatees in Alabama waters
• Effects of hypoxia on oyster growth and survival in Mobile Bay, AL
• Bivalve enhanced N removal from coastal waters
• The effects of nutrient enrichment on oyster ecology in Mobile Bay
• Use of telemetry and GPS to monitor West Indian manatee movements in Alabama waters
• A pilot study of the extralimital West Indian Manatee population in Mobile Bay, AL
• Development and integration of metadata and research data retention at DISL
• The trophic importance of land-derived organic matter
• Use of N stable isotope ratios in bivalve shell to trace anthropogenic N sources
• Marine Mammal Research Program

Publications

• 2023

  Cloyed, C.S., C. Johnson, K.P. DaCosta, L.R. Clance, M.L. Russell, C.D. Clark, E.E. Hieb, and R.H. Carmichael. Effects of tissue decomposition on stable isotope ratios and implications for use of stranded animals in research. Ecosphere. 14(2). doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4385.

  

• 2022

  Cloyed, C.S., E.E. Hieb, K.P. DaCosta, M. Ross, and R.H. Carmichael. Habitat selection and abundance of West Indian manatees Trichechus manatus at the margins of their expanding range. Mar Ecol Prog Ser. Vol. 696: 151–167. doi.org/10.3354/meps14116.

• Bloodgood, J.C.G., M.L. Russell, C. D. Clark, E.E. Hieb, D. P. Mooe, T.R. Madgrigal, S. Carmichael, and R. H. Carmichael. From Monitoring to Final Disposition: Collaborative Response to the First Live Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Stranding in Alabama, USA. Aquatic Mammals, 48(6), 485-494, DOI 10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.485.

  

• Russell, M.L., J.C.G. Bloodgood, and R.H. Carmichael. Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns of cetacean strandings in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management. 23 (p. 171-182.

  

• Carmichael, R.H., M.R. Hodanbosi, M. L. Russell, and N. L. Wingers. Human influence on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) strandings in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Front. Environ. Sci. 10:951329. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.951329.

  

• 2021

  Groet, T.M., E. E. Hieb, E. S. Darrow, and R. H. Carmichael. Our Wastewater Footprint: Protecting Water Quality Through Comprehensive Coproduction of Knowledge. Case Studies in the Environment (2021) 5 (1): 1425563. doi.org/10.1525/cse.2021.1425563.

  

• Grace, M.K., H.R. Akcakaya, E.L. Bennett, T.M. Brooks, A. Heath, et al. Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact. Conservation Biology. 2021;1–17. DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13756.

  

• Botton, M. L., B. A. John, R. H. Carmichael, F. Mohamad, P. Bhadury, J. Zaldivar-Rae, P. K. S. Shin, J. T. Tanacredi, and S. G. Cheung. Horseshoe crabs: ‘Living fossils’ imperiled in the Anthropocene. In: D. A. DellaSala and M. I. Goldstein (eds.), Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier. doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00103-3. www.sciencedirect.com/science/

• Cloyed, Carl S., B.C. Balmer, L.H. Schwacke, R.S. Wells, E.J. Berens McCabe, A.A. Barleycorn, J.B. Allen, T.K. Rowles, C.R. Smith, R. Takeshita, F.I. Townsend, M.C. Tumlin, E.S. Zolman, and R.H. Carmichael. Interaction between dietary and habitat niche breadth influences cetacean vulnerability to environmental disturbance. Ecosphere. 12 (9):e03759. 10.1002/ecs2.3759.

  

• Cloyed, C.S., E. E. Hieb, K. DaCosta, M.Ross, and R. H. Carmichael. West Indian Manatees Use Partial Migration to Expand Their Geographic Range Into the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Front. Mar. Sci. doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.725837

  

• Estes, Jr, M.G., R.H. Carmichael, X. Chen, and S.C. Carter. Environmental factors and occurrence of horseshoe crabs in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico PLoS ONE 16(1): e0243478. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243478.

  

• Gancel, H. N., R. H. Carmichael, J. Du, and K. Park. Use of settlement patterns and geochemical tagging to test population connectivity of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica. Mar Ecol Prog. Ser 673:85-105. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13796.

  

• Hieb, E.E., E.A. Eniang, L.W. Keith-Diagne, and R.H. Carmichael. In‐Water Bridge Construction Effects on Manatees with Implications for Marine Megafauna Species. The Journal of Wildlife Management 1–12; 2021; DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22030.

• Cloyed, C.S., R.M. Wilson, B.C. Balmer, A.A. Hohn, L.H. Schwacke, E.S. Zolman, M.C. Tumlin, R.S. Wells, A.A. Barleycorn, J.B. Allen, and R.H. Carmichael. Specialization of a mobile, apex predator affects trophic coupling among adjacent habitats. Sci Rep 11, 19611. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99017-1.

  

• Cloyed, C.S., B.C. Balmer, L.H. Schwacke, R. Takeshita, A. Hohn, R.S. Wells, T.K. Rowles, J.T. Saliki, C.R. Smith, M.C. Tumlin, E.S. Zolman, D.A. Fauquier, and R.H. Carmichael. Linking morbillivirus exposure to individual habitat use of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) between geographically different sites. J Anim Ecol. 2021;00:1–14. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13446

• Frith, A., J. Henseler, S. Badri, K.R. Calci, A. Stenson, and R.H. Carmichael. Multiple Indicators of Wastewater Contamination to Shellfish Farms Near a Tidal River. Estuaries and Coasts. doi.org/10.1007/s12237-021-01033-x.

  

• 2020

  Cloyed, C.S., K.P. DaCosta, M.R. Hodanbosi, and R.H. Carmichael. The effects of lipid extraction on δ13C and δ15N values and use of lipid-correction models across tissues, taxa and trophic groups. Methods Ecol Evol. 00:1-12. DOI: 10.1111/2041-210X.13386.

  

• Deming, A.C., N.L. Wingers, D. P. Moore, D. Rotstein, R. S. Wells, R. Ewing, M. R. Hodanbosi, and R. H. Carmichael. Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Front. Vet. Sci.. Vol. 7(235). doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00235.

  

• 2019

  Collins, M.K., R.H. Carmichael, D.S. Rotstein, J.H. Byrd, and A.C. Deming. Suspected broadhead arrow injuries in two common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the Alabama Coast. Marine Mammal Science. DOI: 10.1111/mms.12667.

  

• Hays, G.C., H. Bailey, S.J. Bograd, W.D. Bowen, C. Campagna, R.H. Carmichael, and et. al.. Translating Marine Animal Tracking Data into Conservation Policy and Management Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 2491. doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.009.

• Gancel, H.N., R.H. Carmichael, K. Park, J.W. Krause, and S. Rikard. Field Mark-Recapture of Calcein-Stained Larval Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in a Freshwater-Dominated Estuary. Estuaries and Coasts. doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00582-6.

• Sequeira, A.M.M., M.R. Heupel, M.-A. Lea, V.M. Eguiluz, C.M. Duarte, M.G. Meekan, M. Thums, H.J. Calich, R.H. Carmichael, D.P. Costa, L.C. Ferreira, J. Fernandez-Garcia, R. Harcourt, A.-L. Harrison, I. Jonsen, C.R. McMahon, D.W. Sims, R.P. Wilson, and G.C. Hays. The importance of sample size in marine megafauna tagging studies. Ecological Applications. 0(0). e01947.

  

• Cloyed, C.S., E.E. Hieb, M.K. Collins, K.P. DaCosta, and R.H. Carmichael. Linking use of ship channels by West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) to seasonal migration and habitat use. frontiers in Marine Science. 6:318. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00318.

  

• Murray, R., R.H. Carmichael, M.K. Collins, M.L. Russell, and A.C. Deming. Dead or Alive: Use of Elemental Analysis to Determine Status of Stranded Perinate Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Gulf and Caribbean Research. Vol. 30 (1)

  

• 2018

  Patterson, H.K. and R.H. Carmichael. Dissolved oxygen concentration affects Delta 15N values in oyster tissues: implications for stable isotope ecology Ecosphere. Volume9(3). Article e02154.

  

• Grüss, A., M.D. Drexler, C.H. Ainsworth, J.J. Roberts, R.H. Carmichael, N.F. Putman, P.M. Richards, E. Chancellor, E.A. Babcock, and M.S. Love.. Improving the spatial allocation of marine mammal and sea turtle biomasses in spatially explicit ecosystem models. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 602: 255–274.

  

• D'Ambra, I., W.M. Graham, R.H. Carmichael, F.J. Hernandez, Jr.. Dietary overlap between jellyfish and forage fish in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Vol. 587; 31-40.

  

• Sequeira, A. M. M., J. Rodríguez, V. Eguíluz, R. Harcourt, M. Hinde, D. Sims, C. Duarte, D. Costa, Fernández-Gracia, L. Ferreira, G. Hays, M. Heupe, M. Meekan, A. Aven, F. Bailleul, A. Baylis, M. Berumen, C. Braun, J. Burns, J. Caley, R. Campbell, R. H. Carmichael, et al.. Convergence of marine megafauna movement patterns in coastal and open oceans PNAS. p.201716173.

  

• 2017

  Darrow, E. S., R. H. Carmichael, C. F. T. Andrus, H. E. Jackson. From middens to modern estuaries, oyster shells sequester source-specific nitrogen. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 202:39-56

  

• Krause, J., E. Darrow, R. Pickering, R. H. Carmichael, A. Larson, J. Basaldua. Reactive Silica Fractions in Coastal Lagoon Sediments from the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Cont. Shelf Res. 151(2017):8-14. doi: 10.1016/j.csr.2017.09.014

• Hohn, A., L. Thomas, C. Booth, R. H. Carmichael, J. Litz, D. Shannon, S. Shippee, C. Sinclair, S. Smith, T. R. Speakman, M. Tumlin, E. Zolman.. Assigning Stranded Dolphins to Stock using Stable Isotope Ratios following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Endanger. Species Res. 33:235-252.

  

• Hieb, E.E., R.H. Carmichael, A. Aven, C. Nelson-Seely, N. Taylor. . Sighting demographics of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the north central Gulf of Mexico. Endangered Species Research 32:321-332

  

• Fauquier, D. A., J. Litz, S. Sanchez, K. Colegrove, L. Schwacke, L. Hart, J. Saliki, C. Smith, T. Goldstein, S. Bowen-Stevens, W. McFee, E. Fougeres, B. Mase-Guthrie, E. Stratton, R. Ewing, S. Venn-Watson, R. H. Carmichael, C. Clemons-Chevis, D. Shannon, S. Shippee, S. Smith, L. Staggs, M. Tumlin, N. Wingers, T. Rowles. Evaluation of Morbillivirus Exposure in Cetaceans from the Northern Gulf of Mexico 2010-2014. Endangered Species Research, 33:211-220.

  

• 2016

  Oczkowski, A., T. Gumbley, B. Carter, R. Carmichael, A. Humphries. . Frontiers in Marine Science Frontiers Mar Sci. DOI:10.3389/fmars.2016.00079.

  

• Colegrove, K., S. Venn-Watson, J. Litz, M. J. Kinsel, K. A.Terio, E. Fougeres, Ruth Ewing, D. A. Pabst, W. A. McLellan, S. Raverty, J. Saliki, S. Fire, G. Rappucci, S. Bowen-Stevens, L. Noble, A. Costidis, M. Barbieri, C. Field, S. Smith, R. H. Carmichael, C. Chevis, W. Hatchett, D. Shannon, M. Tumlin, G. Lovewell, W. McFee, T. Rowles. Fetal distress and in utero Brucella pneumonia in perinatal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during the Northern Gulf of Mexico unusual mortality event: 2010 through 2013 Dis. Aquat. Org. 119:1-16

  

• Darrow, E. S., R. H. Carmichael, K. R. Calci, W. Burkhardt III. Land-use related changes to sedimentary organic matter in tidal creeks of the northern Gulf of Mexico Limnol. Oceanogr. 10.1002/lno.10453

  

• Patterson H. K., R. H. Carmichael. The effect of lipid extraction on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in oyster tissues: Implications for glycogen‐rich species Rapid Commun. Mass Sp. 30(24):2594-600.

  

• 2015

  Dalrymple, J. D., R. H. Carmichael. Effects of age class on N removal capacity of oysters and implications for bioremediation. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 528:205-220.

  

• Venn-Watson, S., K. Colegrove, J. Litz, M. Kinsel, K. Terio, J. Saliki, S. Fire, R. H. Carmichael, C. Chevis, W. Hatchett, J. Pitchford, M. Tumlin, C. Field, S. Smith, R. Ewing, D. Fauquier, G. Lovewell, H. Whitehead, D. Rotstein, W. McFee, E. Fougeres, T. Rowles. Adrenal gland and lung lesions in Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) found dead following Deepwater Horizon oil spill. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0126538.

  

• Venn-Watson, S., L. Garrison, J. Litz, E. Fougeres, B. Mase, G. Rappucci, E. Stratton, R. H. Carmichael, D. Odell, D. Shannon, S. Shippee, S. Smith L. Staggs, M. Tumlin, H. Whitehead, T. Rowles. Demographic clusters identified within the northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) unusual mortality event: January 2010-June 2013 PLoS ONE 10(2): e0117248.

  

• Estes, M. G., Jr., R. H. Carmichael, P. D. M. Macdonald, A. Brady, J. McFadyen. Molts reveal life-history patterns for juvenile American horseshoe crabs in fringe habitats. Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York.

• D'Ambra, I., W. M. Graham, R. H. Carmichael, F. J. Hernandez, Jr. . Fish rely on scyphozoan hosts as a primary food source: evidence from stable isotope analysis Mar. Biol. 162:247-252

  

• Botton, M., R. H. Carmichael, P. Shin, S. Cheung. Emerging issues in horseshoe crab conservation: A perspective from the IUCN species specialist group Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York

• Aven, A.M., R. H. Carmichael, M. J. Ajemian, S. P. Powers.. Addition of passive acoustic telemetry mitigates lost data from satellite-tracked manatees. Marine and Freshwater Research. 66:371-374

  

• Carmichael, R. H., E. Hieb, G. Gauvry, C.N. Shuster, Jr. . Examination of large exuviae with mating scars: Do female American horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, molt after sexual maturity? Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York

• Hieb, E. E., J. Baggett, A. Aven, R. H. Carmichael. Effects of sediment type and tank shape on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) growth and survival in culture Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York

• Gauvry, G., R. H. Carmichael. Young Voices: Through the Arts, Future Environmental Stewards Have a Global Voice Changing Global Perspectives on Biology, Conservation, and Management of Horseshoe Crabs, Springer, New York

• Mortazavi, B., A. Ortmann, L. Wang, R. Bernard, C. Staudhammer, D. J. Dalrymple, R. H. Carmichael, A. Kleinhuizen. Evaluating the impact of oyster (Crassostrea virginica) gardening on sediment nitrogen cycling in a subtropical estuary Bull. Mar. Sci. 91:323-341(19)

  

• 2014

  D’Ambra, I., R. H. Carmichael, W. M. Graham. Determination of δ13C and δ15N and trophic fractionation in jellyfish: implications for food web ecology Mar. Biol. 161: 473 -480.

  

• Kellogg,L., A. Smyth, M. W. Luckenbach, R.H. Carmichael, B. L. Brown, J.C. Cornwell, Michael F. Piehler, M. S. Owens, D. J. Dalrymole, C. Higgins.. Use of oysters to mitigate eutrophication in coastal waters. Est Coast Shelf Sci. 151:156 -168.

  

• Litz, J., M. Baran, R. H. Carmichael, K. Colegrove, S. Fire, E. Fougeres, R. Hardy, S. Holmes, W. Jones, B. Mase‐Guthrie, D. Odell, P. Rosel, D. Shannon, J. Saliki, S. Shippee, S. Smith, E. Stratton, S. Bowen‐Stevens, M. Tumlin, H. Whitehead, G. Worthy, T. Rowles. . A review of historical unusual mortality events in the Gulf of Mexico (1990-2009): providing context for the complex and long-lasting Northern Gulf of Mexico Cetacean UME Dis. Aquat. Org. 112:161-175.

  

• Patterson H. K., A. Boettcher, R.H. Carmichael.. Biomarkers of dissolved oxygen stress in oysters: A tool for restoration and management efforts. PLos ONE 9(8): e104440. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.00104440.

  

• Martin, J., H. Edwards, F. Bled, C. Fonnesbeck, J. Dupuis, B. Gardner, S. Koslovsky, A. Aven, L. Ward-Geiger, R.H. Carmichael, D. Faga, M. Ross, and J. Royle.. Estimating upper bounds for occupancy and maximum number of manatees in areas potentially affected by the Gulf oil spill. PLos ONE 9(3): e91683. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091683

  

• 2013

  D'Ambra, I., W. M. Graham, R. H. Carmichael, A. Malej, V. Onofri. . Predation patterns and prey quality of medusae in a semi -enclosed marine lake: implications for food web energy transfer in coastal marine ecosystems. J. Plankton Res. 35(6):1305 -1312.

  

• 2012

  Carmichael, R. H., W. Graham, A. Aven, G. Worthy, S. Howden.. Unusual cold and Deepwater Horizon: Were multiple stressors a 'perfect storm' for bottlenose dolphins in 2011? PloS ONE 7(7): e41155. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041155

  

• Carmichael, R. H., W. Walton, and H. Clark.. Bivalve enhanced N removal from coastal estuaries. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 69: 1131 -1149.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., A. C. Shriver, I. Valiela. Bivalve Response to Estuarine Eutrophication: The Balance Between Enhanced Food Supply and Habitat Alterations. Journal of Shellfish Research. 31(1):1 -11.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., E. Brush. Three Decades of Horseshoe Crab Rearing: A Review of Condition for Captive Growth and Survival. Reviews in Aquaculture 4:32–43.

  

• Drymon, J.M., Powers, S.P., Carmichael, R.H.. Trophic plasticity in the Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 95:21-35.

  

• Carmichael, R. H. A. Jones, H. Patterson, W. Walton, A. Pérez-Huerta, E. Overton, M. Dailey, K. Willett. Assimilation of oil -derived elements by oysters due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46: 12787 -12795.

  

• Prado, P., R.H. Carmichael, S. Watts, J. Cebrian, K. Heck.. Diet -dependent Δ13C and Δ15N fractionation among sea urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) tissues: Implications for food web models. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 462: 175 -190.

  

• 2011

  Biancani, J., R. H. Carmichael, J. Daskin, W. Burkhardt, K. Calci.. Seasonal and Spatial Effects of Wastewater Effluent on Growth, Survival, and Accumulation of Microbial Contaminants by Oysters in Mobile Bay, Alabama. Estuaries and Coasts 35:121 -131.

  

• 2010

  Carmichael, R. H. and C. Kovacs. Comment on Watanabe et al. (2009).
  Mar. Pollut. Bull. 60:314-315

  

• Graham, W., E. D. Condon, R. H. Carmichael, I. D’Ambra, H. K. Patterson, F. J. Hernandez, Jr. . Oil Carbon Entered the Coastal Planktonic Food Web During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Environ. Res. Lett. 5(045301):1 -6.

  

• Kovacs, C., J. Daskin, H. Patterson, R. H. Carmichael. . Crassostrea virginica shells record local variation in wastewater inputs to a coastal estuary. Aquat. Biol. 9: 77 -84.

  

• 2009

  Carmichael, R. H., E. Gaines, Z. Sheller, A. Tong, A. Clapp, I. Valiela. . Diet composition of juvenile horseshoe crabs: Implications for growth and survival of natural and cultured stocks. p.521 -534. In J.T. Tanacredi et al. (eds.), Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs. Springer

  

• Smith, D., M. Millard, R. H. Carmichael. . Comparative status and assessment of Limulus polyphemus with emphasis on the New England and Delaware Bay populations. p.361 -386. In J.T. Tanacredi et al. (eds.), Biology and Conservation of Horseshoe Crabs. Springer

  

• Pabody, C., R. H. Carmichael, L. Rice, M. Ross. . West Indian manatees in Mobile Bay, Alabama: A new sighting network adds to twenty years of historical data on extralimital populations Gulf of Mexico Science. 1:52 -61.

  

• 2008

  Daskin, J. H., K. Calci, W. Burkhardt, III, R. H. Carmichael. . Use of N stable isotope and microbial analyses to define wastewater influence in Mobile Bay, AL. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 56: 860 -868.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., T. Hattenrath, I. Valiela, R. H. Michener. . Nitrogen stable isotopes in the shell of Mercenaria trace wastewater inputs from watersheds to estuarine ecosystems. Aquat. Biol. 4:99 -111. Feature Article.

  

• 2007

  Bowen, J., K. Kroeger, G. Tomasky, W. J. Pabich, M. L. Cole, R. H. Carmichael, and I. Valiela. A review of land -sea coupling by groundwater discharge pf nitrogen to New England estuaries: Mechanisms and effects. Applied Geochemistry. 22: 175 -191.

  

• 2005

  Carmichael, R. H., I. Valiela. . Coupling of near -bottom seston and surface sediment composition: Changes with nutrient enrichment and implications for estuarine food supply and biogeochemical processing. Limnol. Oceanogr. 50: 97 -105.

  

• 2004

  Carmichael, R. H. Effects of eutrophication on Mya arenaria and Mercenaria mercenaria: Growth, survival, and physiological responses to changes in food supply and habitat in estuaries receiving different N loads.

• Rutecki, D., R. H. Carmichael, I. Valiela. . Magnitude of harvest of Atlantic horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, in Pleasant Bay, MA. Estuaries 27: 179 -187.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., A. Shriver, I. Valiela. . Changes in shell and soft tissue growth, tissue composition, and survival of quahogs, Mercenaria mercenaria, and softshell clams, Mya arenaria, in response to eutrophic -driven changes in food supply and habitat. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 313: 75 -104.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., B. Annette, I. Valiela. . N loading to Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod: Application of models and stable isotopes to detect incipient nutrient enrichment of estuaries.
  Mar. Pollut. Bull. 48: 137 -143.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., D. Rutecki, B. Annett, E. Gaines, I. Valiela. . Position of horseshoe crabs in estuarine food webs: N and C stable isotopic study of foraging ranges and diet composition. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 299: 231 -253.

  

• 2003

  O'Connell, C. W., S. P. Grady, A. S. Leschen, R. H. Carmichael, I. Valiela. Stable isotopic assessment of site loyalty and relationships between size and trophic position of the Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, in Cape Cod estuaries. Biol. Bull. 205: 254 -255.

  

• Carmichael, R. H., D. Rutecki, I. Valiela. . Abundance and population structure of the Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, in Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 246: 225 -239.

  

• 2002

  Weiss, E., R. H. Carmichael, I. Valiela. . The effect of nitrogen loading on the growth of quahogs and softshell clams through changes in food supply. Aquaculture 211:275 -289.

  

• Shriver, A. C., R. H. Carmichael, I. Valiela. . Growth, condition, reproductive potential, and mortality of bay scallops, Argopecten irradians, in response to eutrophic -driven changes in food resources. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 279: 21 -40.

  

• Gaines, E., R. H. Carmichael, S. P. Grady, I. Valiela. Stable isotopic evidence for changing nutritional sources of juvenile horseshoe crabs. Biol. Bull. 203: 228 -230.

  

• Suggs, D., R. H. Carmichael, S. P. Grady, I. Valiela. . Effects of individual size on pairing in horseshoe crabs.
  Biol. Bull. 203: 225 -227.

  

• 2001

  Grady, S., D. Rutecki, R. H. Carmichael, I. Valiela. . Age structure of the Pleasant Bay population of Crepidula fornicata: A possible tool for estimating horseshoe crab age. Biol. Bull. 201: 296 -297.

  

• Fila, L., R. H. Carmichael, A. Shriver, I. Valiela. . Stable N isotopic signatures in Bay scallop tissue, feces, and pseudofeces in Cape Cod estuaries subject to different N loads. Biol. Bull. 201: 294 -296.

  

Who We Are

Current Opportunities

Volunteers: We periodically select undergraduates for 2-3 month volunteer internships. Please contact ehieb@disl.org if you are interested in an intern position.

Prospective students: Students are accepted through the University of South Alabama.  All students must meet the requirements for admission to the University of South Alabama graduate school and Marine Sciences Department.  Qualified applicants may send GRE scores, GPA, current CV, and a brief statement, indicating specific topics of interest, to rcarmichael@disl.org.

Current Personnel

	Elizabeth Hieb, Research Technician	M.S. University of South Alabama. Manatee Sighting Network Manager.
	Mackenzie Russell, Research Technician	M.S. University of North Carolina-Wlimington. Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Stranding Coordinator.
	Cristina Clark, Research Technician	Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Assistant Stranding Coordinator
	Dr. Jennifer Bloodgood, DVM, Post-doc	Ph.D. University of Georgia. Marine Mammal Research Program Veterinarian
	Dr. Carl Cloyed, Research Senior Marine Scientist I	Ph.D. University of Louisville. Consortium for Advanced Research of Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARMMHA)
	Dr. Thibaut Bouveroux, Post-doc	Ph.D. University Catholic of Louvain, Belgium. "Assessment of Alabama estuarine bottlenose dolphin population and health"
	Kayla DaCosta, Ph.D. candidate	"Population connectivity and habitat utilization of the West Indian manatee in the northern Gulf of Mexico determined by elemental and genetic analyses"
	Matt Hodanbosi, Ph.D. candidate	"Influence of freshwater influx on the diet and body condition of the common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, in Mobile Bay, Alabama"
	Sophia Corde, Ph.D. student
	Anika Knight, M.S. student	"Elemental indicators of anthropogenic pollution in bivalve shell"
	Akela Yuhl, M.S. student
	Ania Brown, Ph.D. student	"Effects of water quality on dolphin health and the implications for human health in a changing climate"
	Joe Hansen, M.S. student	"The impacts of environmental variations on the common bottlenose dolphin microbiome"
	Joseph Pavelites, M.S. student	"Cadmium isotope fractionation in Eastern oyster shells"
	Emily Pepple, M.S. student	Marine Conservation and Resource Management

Interns:

2022
Sarah Rice (University of Alabama)
Phoebe Stewart (UAB) 
Bailey Walkinshaw (University of West Florida)

2021
Taylor Strickland (University of South Alabama)
Maria Tran (University of South Alabama)
Rebecca Well (University of South Alabama)
Asher Simmons (University of South Alabama)
Erin Casellas (Florida Institute of Technology)
Joe Hansen (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
Lillie Black (University of Alabama)
Kira Babiarz (Spring Hill College)
Harrison Carrell (Auburn University)
Sarah Thiesen (Wittenberg University)
Chloe Ray (University of South Alabama)

2020
Elizabeth "Biz" Nasharr (University of Alabama)
Jessica Veo (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Maureen Goretti (North Carolina State University)
Audrey McQuagge (University of Florida)

2019
Tori McMahon (University of South Alabama)
Kaiya McGhaw (Auburn University)
Paige Gordy (University of South Alabama)
Andrea Mason (University of Arizona)
Cayman Travis Gardner (University of North Alabama)
Abigail Thomas (Auburn University)

2018
Heather Lane (Auburn University)
Kassey Trahanas (Olivet Nazarene University)
Deryn Hill (Southeastern Louisiana University)
Matthew Harrison (Texas State University)
Clara Zubrick (University of Mobile)
Dakota Bilbrey (University of South Alabama)
Jesse Harris (University of South Alabama)
Jorgine Gentry

2017
Grace Forster (University of South Alabama)
Pray Stott (Spring Hill College)
Stephanie Bulls (University of South Alabama)
Chris Williams (University of South Alabama)
Beatriz Tintore (University of Vic, Barcelona)
Matt Hondabosi (M.S. Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi)
Meagan Machholz (University of West Alabama)
Mary-Sophia Golden (Auburn University)
Amelia Grider (Auburn University)
Carley Amox  (Auburn University)
Ruma Chatterji (M.S. Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi)

2016
Angel Gray (University of North Alabama)
Alex Patterson (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Beth Tuttle (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Dorothy Mitchell (Auburn University)
Merrit McCall (Auburn University)
Tano Buhring (Auburn University)
Gen Kirstein (Troy University)
Kindall Brown (University of Alabama)
Kirsten Humphris (Jacksonville State University)
Kim Killen (University of Mobile)
Victoria Drumm (Brandeis University)
Catherine Reynolds (University of South Alabama)
Jamie Thompson (Abilene Christian University)
Audrey Palombo (University of Florida)
Kaitlyn Witlicki (University of Southern Mississippi)
Tori Brackett (University of South Alabama)
Rachel Chamberlain (University of South Alabama)
Neil Berglund (Tulane University)

2015
Anna Henrikson (University of South Alabama)
Maren Stinson (Texas A&M University)
Diego Calderon-Arrieta (Rhodes College)
Deryn Hill (Southeastern Louisiana University)
Lauren Willis (University of Alabama)
Kristine Alford (University oif South Alabama)
Ashley Frith (Brown University)
Casey Fulford (Florida State University)
Jessica Kinsella (University of North Carolina - Wilmington)
Yishen Li (University of Miami)
Autumn Nitz (University of South Alabama)
Rebecca Dudley (University of Sheffield)
 
2014
Ethan Cantin (University of South Alabama)
Morgan Waites (University of South Alabama)
Hailey Boeck (University of North Alabama)
Josh Millwood (University of West Alabama)
Hannah Shirley (University of West Alabama)
Adam Forkner (University of Alabama)
Emily Parker (University of Alabama)
Rachel Valencia (University of Mobile)
James Landry (University of Alabama)
Alayna Lawson (Spring Hill College)
Kristin Reints (University of South Alabama)

2013
Renee Edwards (University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne)
Jake Hall (University of North Alabama)
Megann Santana (University of South Alabama)
Amanda Ellenburg (University of South Alabama)
Holly Bell (University of Mobile)
Caitlin Collins (Troy University)
Ariel Reed (University of North Alabama)
Cara Whalen (University of South Alabama)
Morgan Frank (University of South Alabama)
Andrew Morin (Warren Wilson College, NC)
Ben Nagel (Iowa State)

2008-2012
Jessica Lajoie (University of Massachusetts-Amherst)
Kristin Marino (University of Vermont)
Pavel Dimens (SUNY, NY)
Margaret Gilroy (MS, Duke University)
Elizabeth Lauss (Florida Institute of Technology)
Thomas Bilbo (Denison University)
Emily Strauss (Spring Hill College)
Carolyn Kovacs (College of William & Mary)
Allen Aven (NGI Intern, University of Tennessee)

Directed study students:

Dakota Bilbrey (University of South Alabama; spring 2020)
Chris Williams (University of South Alabama; summer 2017)
Amber Simpson (University of South Alabama; summer 2016)
Anna Henrikson (University of South Alabama; summer 2015)
Emily Baker (Jacksonville State University; summer 2013)
Marie Barton (University of Alabama; fall 2013)
Tyler Mason (University of South Alabama; summer 2012)
John McFadyen (University of Alabama; summer 2011)
Erik Brush (Auburn University, AL; summer 2010)
Maury Estes (Alabama A&M; summer 2009)
Heather Juedes (University of Alabama; summer 2008)
Lauren Waters (Auburn University, AL; summer 2007)
Isabella D’Ambra (University of South Alabama; fall 2007)

REU students:

Evan Marth (Athens State University; summer 2022)
Yasmine Hall (Auburn University; summer 2022)
Kahylin Nesbitt (Oakwood University, AL; summer 2021)
Che'Isha Johnson (Talladega College, AL; summer 2021)
Ti-Ara Turner (Judson College, AL; summer 2020)
Ryanne Murray (Eckerd College, FL; summer 2019)
Hanae Togami (Haverford College, PA; summer 2017)
Elizabeth Thompson (Harding University, AR: summer 2016)
Angie Garelick (CSU Channel Islands, CA; summer 2016)
Sean Carter (Colorado College, CO; summer 2015)
Amanda Jones (Rutgers University, NJ; summer 2011)
Katie Interlichia (Vassar College, NY; summer 2010)
Joshua Daskin (Brandeis University, MA; summer 2007)

Undergraduate/High School career shadowing:

Jordan Sergey (Prattville High School, AL; spring 2021)
Cody J. Weinberger (University of Chicago, IL; spring 2013)
Steven Vickery (University of Chicago, IL; spring 2011)

High school interns:

Sophie Davis (Davidson High School; fall 2016-spring 2018)
Nic Klinge (Daphne High School; summer 2013)
Emil Johnson (W. P. Davidson High School, AL; spring 2010)
Jacy Baggett (Murphy High School, AL; summer 2010)
Cameron Welch (Benjamin Russell High School, AL; summer 2007)

Former Post-docs:

Alissa Deming (DVM, Ph.D. University of Florida)
LaTina Gambles (DVM, Tuskegee University, AL; Tufts University, MA; summer 2012)
Pat Prado (Co-advisor under Dr. K. Heck)

Former technicians:

Merri Collins (MS/Ohio University)
Noel Wingers (BS/Florida Gulf Coast University)
Jessica Delo (MS/Samford University)
Ryan Crim (MS/Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver)
Courtney Miller (BS/University of South Alabama)
Nicole Taylor (BS/Memphis State University)
Claire Pabody (MA/University of Alabama)

Former students:

Lauren Clance, M.S. 2022
"Evaluating stable isotopes and contaminants in bottlenose dolphins in Mobile Bay"
Ashley Frith, M.S. 2020
"Environmental effects on histamine production in decomposing fish"
Toni Thomason M.S. 2020
Marine Conservation and Resource Management
Haley Gancel, Ph.D. 2020
"Larval oyster (Crassostrea virginica) settlement, distribution, and growth in a freshwater dominated and human-influenced estuary"
Kim Peter, M.S. 2020
"Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) as retrospective bioindicators to detect oil contamination in the marine environment"
Allen Aven, Ph.D. candidate
Natalie Santini, M.S. 2018
Marine Conservation & Resource Management
Elizabeth S. Darrow Condon, Ph.D. 2015
“Evaluating historical and spatial anthropogenic impacts in a coastal estuary system using chemical and microbial indicators”
Jessica Frank, M.S. 2015 (co-advised by Dr. A. Robertson)
"Investing potential domoic acid exposure in West Indian manatees stranded in coastal Alabama"
Heather Patterson, Ph.D. 2014
“Use of stable isotope ratios and protein regulation to detect dissolved oxygen stress in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica”
Joe Dalrymple, M.S. 2013
“Effects of ontogeny on nitrogen sequestration and removal capacity of oysters”
Isabella D’Ambra 2012 (co-advised with Dr. M. Graham)
“Application of stable isotopes in the analysis of trophic interactions between gelatinous Zooplankton and fish”
Peter Biancani, M.S. 2010
“Seasonal and spatial effects of wastewater effluent on oyster growth, survival, and accumulation of pathogens in Mobile Bay, AL
”

In the News

Carmichael Lab

Manatee Sighting Network

Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network