I am interested in fundamental concepts of fish
biology and in applying this knowledge to scientific issues and to societal
concerns of fisheries management and conservation. My scientific work has
focused on field studies of fish behavior and ecology. I have worked in a
variety of habitats world-wide where fishes are a significant component of
the fauna. This comparative approach has provided opportunities to examine
how diverse fish lineages have adapted to various environmental histories.
In recent years, I have applied my scientific expertise to contemporary problems
in conservation biology and environmental protection.
My research has examined three topics in fish
biology: 1) Reproductive behavior and timing relative to physical oceanographic
variables; 2) Predator-prey relationships with emphasis on herbivores and
their role in coral reef ecology, including the phenomenon of ciguatera; 3)
Species identification and biogeography, including descriptions of new species
of fishes from coral reefs and an African freshwater lake. I have also explored
other topics including: visual ecology, ecology of exotic fish introduction,
nature and lore of fishes, and buoyancy adjustment in fish.
My current research focus is on fish bioacoustics.
Although many fishes produce distinct sounds while courting or calling mates
has long been
recognized for some economically important species (e.g., cod) and some
coastal species (e.g., toadfish, damselfish), lack of technology has stifled
research. Past research has generally concentrated on the identification
of sound-producing fishes and the neurophysiology of sound production.
Currently, I am also the chief scientist for the marine ecological monitoring
program and director of the marine laboratory on Johnston Atoll. This atoll
is 800 miles southwest of Hawaii and an important US military base where
the first chemical weapons demilitarization facility is operating. Our mission
is to study the reef environment and to determine if the military activities
cause any adverse environmental impacts.
