People
Dr. John M Carroll Associate Professor of Biology
Graduate Program Director
Department of Biology
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
Office: Biology Building 3332
Office: 912 478-4587
email: jcarroll@georgiasouthern.edu
I am a benthic ecologist, broadly interested in how shellfish interact with other species and their environments, and how that impacts their populations and resilience. In particular, my focus has been on how changing habitats - primarily due to anthropogenic impacts - affect the recruitment, survival, and growth of a number of commercially important shellfish species. My research program seeks to bridge basic ecological theory and applied problems in order to better manage and restore shellfish populations.
Recent projects have included examining habitat and predation related issues for bay scallop restoration, how habitat setting impacts oyster recruitment, growth and survival, the impacts of boring sponges on oysters. The future direction of my lab research will be to focus on how species interactions and ecosystem engineering might change with human-induced stressors and to investigate potential strategies for improving/maintaining ecosystem function.
I did my PhD under the advisement of Dr. Bradley Peterson and my postdoc under the advisement of Dr. Christopher Finelli.
Current Graduate Students
Wil Atencio - I am a graduate student in the Carroll Benthic Ecology Lab working towards earning my master’s degree in biology. I have always been inspired by the intimate relationships that form among species to structure biological communities. This has motivated me to further my understanding for how environmental change and anthropogenic impacts may compromise the integral role foundation species play within ecosystems and use this insight to inform coastal habitat management, restoration and conservation efforts. My research is focused on assessing how water quality influences the demographics and disease dynamics of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, on Sapelo Island, GA. This project will be accomplished through collaboration with NOAA and the National Estuarine Research Reserve’s System-wide Monitoring Program that has been collecting water quality data on Sapelo since 2004.
Kyle Mundy - I am a new grad student pursuing a Biology Master’s degree and excited to begin working in the Carroll Lab. Prior to attending grad school, I worked for several years as an aquarium biologist in the culture of jellies and other planktonic organisms for display and nutrition. My research interests include sustainable aquaculture practices like Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), marine conservation, and ecosystem restoration. I am particularly interested in how the addition of macroalgae species to shellfish and finfish aquaculture can have synergistic effects on the health of cultured species while contributing to bioremediation of wastes and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Allie Raduege - I’m a biology Master’s student in the Carroll CRABEY Lab, and I’m interested in coastal restoration and invertebrate ecology. I am particularly passionate about all things echinoderm and marine invertebrates and the ways that interspecies interactions can help inform holistic ecosystem restoration. I started a path of restoration research doing novel forest restoration studies in the maple-basswood forests of Minnesota, and I am applying my restoration theories to oyster aquaculture research at Georgia Southern. Growing up on the Washington coast during the sea star wasting syndrome epidemic ignited my love for the less-charismatic marine species and opened my eye to the number of vital animals in the world who are never given a second thought, which is insight I hope to bring to my future research endeavors including my projects with the CRABEY Lab.
Brielle Robbins - I am a Master’s student in biology currently working in the Carroll Lab. My interests reside in geospatial ecological analysis with a focus on mitigating the effects of climate change within marine environments. I will be conducting research in collaboration with Georgia Southern University, Florida International University, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to garner insights regarding sea grass die-off events in the Florida Bay. My previous work has spanned from bat migration to spider behavior where I developed my concern for changing animal movement and a dedication to invertebrates.
Luke Sundquist - I am a new graduate student pursuing my master's degree in biology and working in the Carroll Lab. I became interested in animals and wildlife during my undergraduate studies at Harvard University, then completed internships in wildlife rehabilitation and zookeeping after graduation. I transitioned to field work and joined projects around the country, working with desert tortoises and four species of sea turtles. I enjoy being outdoors and contributing to the synthesis of research, education, and wildlife conservation. After several years working in the field, I am back in school to complete my thesis research with nesting sea turtles in Georgia, evaluating factors that contribute to the success and outcomes of their nests. I have a short note from green sea turtle predation in Herpetological Review (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344406965_Chelonia_Mydas_Green_Sea_Turtle_Predation) .
Former Graduate Students
Raven Hurt - Assessing the Utility of Environmental DNA Techniques to Monitor White Shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) Abundance on the Georgia Coast. During Raven's time in the lab, she was awarded a Georgia Sea Grant Research traineeship and also had a publication from her undergraduate research come out in Limnology and Oceanography Letters. Raven is currently an Associate Scientist with BioMason.
Billy Annis - Assessing Habitat Sutiabiligy of Ribbed Mussels (Guekensia demissa) in Georgia Salt Marshes by Examining Predicted Densities and Mussel Population Parameters. While Billy was in the lab, he was awarded a Georgia Sea Grant Research Traineeship. He is now at Clemson University for his PhD working with Dr. Brandon Peoples.
Nicole Kleinas - The effects of boring sponge infestation on condition, growth and sex change in Crepidula fornicata. During her time in the lab, Nicole conducted her field research in New York. In her final year as a student, Nicole was a graduate assistant at the Georgia Southern University Botanic Garden, where she developed lesson plans and was involved in outreach with school groups. Nicole currently works as a Garden Educator with the Green Heart Project in Charleston, SC.
Mattie Whitesell - Environmental Factors Affecting Hatch Success in the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) During her time in the lab, Mattie received a National Geographic Young Explorer grant to conduct her research and was hired by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for her second field season. Mattie is now an Endangered Species Observer on commercial vessels, particularly dredging vessels.
Jessica Watts - Disease Prevalence, Intensity, and Kin Structure Within the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, in Oyster Creek, Georgia. During her time in the lab, Jessica published 2 manuscripts from prior research and was awarded the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies Graduate Student Researcher of the Year. Jess is currently a Clinical Research Associate with Syneos Health.
Undergraduates
Abigail McKenna - groundwater and oysters - Abigail is now an educational interpreter with the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.
Ryan Dashiell - sponge/pea crabs on oysters
Taylor Kiss - boring worms and oyster condition
Matt Windham - marsh snail climbing height - Matt is a paramedic
Emma Venable - oyster density and condition - Emma is currently in PA school
Johanna Dieudonne - sponge/tidal height interactive effects on oysters- Johanna was a McNair Scholar, a Chandler Scholar and a CERF RisingTIDES recipient
Walker (Kovach) De La Torre - effects of groundwater on oyster growth - Walker is currently with the Alaska State Virology lab
Tori Defoe - effects of oil on marsh snail behavior
Carmela Ciccone - porcelain crab food choice - Carmela is now a graduate student at Savannah State University
Megan Novak - porcelain crab/oyster spat interactions - Megan was an REU student from University of North Florida and works with the Springfield Legacy Foundation
Nicholas Holmes - white shrimp eDNA - Nick is currently a graduate student at Savannah State University
Savannah Rhoades - porcelain crab impacts on oyster recruitment - Savannah was an REU student from University of South Florida
Percy Henderson - effects of water quality on oyster health in Georgia - Percy was a Chandler Scholar COUR recipient
Madison Sardine - nutrients impacts on boring sponge erosion - Madison was an REU student from Florida Gulf Coast University