The Scary Truth of Habitat Degradation: Increased Predation Risk to Coral Reef Fishes
The goal of this research was to understand how foraging activity and fish group size varies with reef quality and how changes in group size reflect predator risk and resource availability. We compared foraging behavior of Saddle Wrasse fish on healthy and degraded reefs, through the use of giving up densities to reveal aspects of habitat quality.
In collaboration with Margaret A. Malone at UIC |
Wetlands Potential to Reduce Nutrient Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Concentration
Frances Crable, Karis Gorak, Samantha Yang, Miquel Gonzalez-Meler, Neil C. Struchio
In this study, water and nutrient dynamics were monitored in a 2500-acre wetland restored from farmland in Hennepin, IL and adjacent areas. Isotopic composition of soil and water (13C, 15N, 2H, 18O) was used to assess the plant, soil, and hydrological dynamics of the constructed wetlands to produce baseline data in order to optimize adaptive management strategies for water quality. |