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For the past 7 years, our lab (led by principal investigator Dr. Rita Mehta) has been studying California moray eels (Gymnothorax mordax) on Santa Catalina Island in the California Channel Islands, where the eels are found in high densities. Based out of the University of Southern California Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, we have been maininting a number of projects exploring different aspects of the morays' demographics, morphology, feeding behavior, diet, and ecological impact. This fascinating fish is an apex predator in its ecosystem, yet we know very little about the size of the population, their predation impact on the ecosystem, their mode and timing of reproduction, and even how they get to southern California from source populations in Mexico. Our lab is intent on uncovering the many mysteries of these kelp forest inhabitants.
Relevant Publications (from the Mehta Lab):
Dale KE, Hallisey R, & Mehta RS (2021). Coloration is related to habitat in Gymnothorax mordax, an elongate kelp forest predator. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 677:67-79.
Higgins BA & Mehta R (2018). Distribution and habitat associations of the California moray (Gymnothorax mordax) within Two Harbors, Santa Catalina Island, California. J Environ Biol Fishes 101:95–108.
Mehta RS, Dale KE, & Higgins BA (2020). Marine protection induces morphological variation in the California moray, Gymnothorax mordax. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 60(2):522-34.
Harrison JS, Higgins B, & Mehta R (2017). Scaling of dentition and prey size in the California moray (Gymnothorax mordax). Zoology 122:16–26
Diluzio AR, Baliga VB, Higgins BA, & Mehta RS (2017). Effects of prey characteristics on the feeding behaviors of an apex marine predator, the California moray (Gymnothorax mordax). Zoology 122:80–89
Higgins BA, Pearson D, & Mehta RS (2017). El niño episodes increase California moray recruits around Santa Catalina Island. J Fish Biol 90:1570–1583
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