Christopher J. Gobler Professor Ph.D., 1999, Stony Brook University E-mail: Christopher.Gobler@stonybrook.edu Phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms, estuarine ecology, aquatic biogeochemistry Gobler Laboratory page

Research Interests

Research conducted by my lab group focuses on plankton ecology. We are broadly interested in factors which promote phytoplankton growth (organic and inorganic nutrients), as well as factors which are responsible for algal mortality (zooplankton, viruses, filter-feeding bivalves) in diverse aquatic ecosystems including estuaries, the Great Lakes, and the North Atlantic Ocean. A primary focus of my lab within the field of plankton ecology has been the study of harmful algal blooms (HABs), having investigated blooms of brown tide (Aureococcus), cyanobacteria (Microcystis, Anabaena, Synechococcus), dinoflagellates (Cochlodinium, Alexandrium, Gymnodinium, Prorocentrum), and raphidophytes (Heterosigma) both locally and around the US. Our research is largely field-oriented and utilizes traditional, molecular, and experimental techniques to contrast the dynamics and ecological niche of HAB species with those of co-occurring non-harmful species.

Another research focus within my laboratory is on the ecological functioning and trophic status of estuaries. Estuaries represent some of the most productive, biodiverse, and important ecosystems on earth. However, with half of the US population, 90% of New York State counties, and 100% of Long Island townships being located on coastal water ways, a series of environmental problems have arisen in these systems in recent decades. My lab group is engaged in research aimed toward understanding how anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication, overharvesting of fisheries, and salt marsh / shoreline modification may alter the natural biogeochemical and/or ecological functioning of estuarine ecosystems.

A final area of interest of my lab is how phytoplankton influence biogeochemical cycles of organic carbon, nutrients, and trace metals in aquatic ecosystems. Photosynthetic fixation of elements into cellular material by phytoplankton is the primary source of organic matter to the world’s oceans. The synthesis and subsequent processing of this organic matter can have a substantial impact on nutrient cycles, microbial food webs, trace metal availability, the global carbon cycle and global warming. As such, our research in this area is focused on documenting and quantifying biogeochemical processes associated with the production and release of various elements and organic matter by phytoplankton.

Publications

2010:
Tang YZ, Koch, F., Gobler CJ., 2010. Most harmful algal bloom species are vitamin B₁ and B₁₂ auxotrophs.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107: 20756–20761

Talmage SC, Gobler CJ. 2010. Effects of past, present, and future ocean carbon dioxide concentrations on the growth and survival of larval shellfish.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107: 17246-17251

Davis TW, Gobler CJ. 2010. Grazing by mesozooplankton and microzooplankton on toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis in the Transquaking River, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. In press to Journal of Plankton Research doi: 10.1093/plankt/fbq109

Davis, TW, Harke MJ, Marcoval MA, Goleski J.A., Berry, D.L. Gobler CJ. 2010. Effects of nitrogenous compounds and phosphorus on the growth of toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis during cyanobacterial blooms. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 61:149-162

Wurch, L., Haley, S. Orchard, E. Gobler CJ., Dhyrman S.D. 2010. Nutrient-regulated transcriptional responses in the brown tide forming alga Aureococcus anophagefferens.  In press to Environmental Microbiology doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02351.x

Jiang X, Lonsdale DJ, Gobler CJ. 2010.  Grazers and vitamins shape chain formation in a bloom-forming dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides. Oecologia

Goleski JA, Koch F, Marcoval MA, Wall CC, Jochem FJ, Peterson BJ, Gobler CJ. 2010. The role of zooplankton grazing and nutrient loading in the occurrence of harmful marine cyanobacterial blooms in Florida Bay, USA.  Estuaries and Coasts. 33: 1202 - 1215

Jiang X, Lonsdale DJ, Gobler CJ. 2010.  Density-dependent nutritional value of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides to the copepod Acartia tonsa. Limnology and Oceanography 55: 1643–1652

Han Chuan Ong, Steven W. Wilhelm, Christopher J. Gobler, George Bullerjahn, Michael A. Jacobs, Elizabeth H. Sims, Will G. Gillett, Yang Zhou,  Eric Haugen, Gabrielle Rocap, Rose Ann Cattolico. 2010. Analyses of the complete chloroplast genome sequences of two members of the Pelagophyceae:  Aureococcus anophagefferens CCMP1984 and Aureoumbra lagunensis CCMP1507. Journal of Phycology 46, 602–615

Tang YZ, and Gobler CJ. 2010. Allelopathic effects of Cochlodinium polykrikoides isolates and blooms from the estuaries of Long Island, New York, USA on co-occurring phytoplankton. Marine Ecology Progress Series 406:19-31

Hattenrath TK, Anderson DA, Gobler CJ. 2010.  The influence of nutrients and climate on the dynamics and toxicity of Alexandrium fundyense blooms in a New York (USA) estuary. Harmful Algae 9: 402–412

2009:
Caterina Panzeca, Antonio Tovar-Sanchez, Jose Segovio-Zavala, Gordon T. Taylor, Christopher J. Gobler, Sergio Sañudo-Wilhelmy 2009. Cycling of dissolved vitamin B₁₂, trace metals, and inorganic nutrients in a western boundary upwelling system off Mexico. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 85: 223-230

Tang YZ, and Gobler CJ. 2009. Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms and clonal isolates from the northwest Atlantic coast cause rapid mortality in larvae of multiple shellfish species.  Marine Biology 156: 2601-2611

Jiang X, Tang YZ, Lonsdale DJ, Gobler CJ. 2009.  Deleterious consequences of a red tide dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef for the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa Dana.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 390: 105–116

Talmage SC, Gobler CJ. 2009. The effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentrations on the metamorphosis, size, and survival of larval hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), bay scallops(Argopecten irradians),andEastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Limnology and Oceanography 54: 2072–2080

Rose JM, Feng Y, Gobler CJ, Gutierrez R, Hare CE, Leblanc K, Hutchins DA, 2009. The effects of increased pCO₂ and temperature on the North Atlantic Spring Bloom. II. Microzooplankton abundance and grazing. Marine Ecology Progress Series 388: 27–40,

Newell RIE, Tettelbach ST, Gobler CJ, Kimmel DG 2009. Relationships between reproduction in suspension-feeding hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria, and phytoplankton community structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series 387:179-196

Mulholland MR,Morse RE, Boneillo GE, Bernhardt PW, Filippino KC, Procise LA, Blanco J, Marshall HG, Egerton TA, Hunley WS, Moore KA, Berry DL, Gobler CJ. 2009. Understanding the causes and impacts of Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms in the Chesapeake Bay.  Estuaries and Coasts 32: 734-

Baker KM, Gobler CJ, Collier JL, 2009. Diversity of bacteria capable of degrading urea in nonaxenic Aureococcus anophagefferens (Pelagophyceae) cultures, Journal of Phycology 45, 625–634

Davis, T.W., Berry, D.L., Boyer, G.L. Gobler, C.J., 2009. The effects of temperature and nutrients on the growth and dynamics of toxic and non-toxic strains of Microcystis during cyanobacteria blooms. Harmful Algae 8: 715–725

Koch, F., Gobler CJ., 2009. The effects of tidal export from salt marsh ditches on estuarine water quality and plankton communities, Estuaries and Coasts 32: 261-275

Vigil P, Countway PD, Rose J, Lonsdale DJ, Gobler CJ, and Caron DA. 2009. Rapid shifts in dominant taxa among microbial eukaryotes in estuarine ecosystems. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 54: 83–100

Tang YZ, Gobler CJ.  2009. Characterization of the toxicity of Cochlodinium polykrikoides isolates from Northeast US estuaries to finfish and shellfish. Harmful Algae 8:454-462

2008:
Heisler, J. P. Glibert, J. Burkholder, D. Anderson, W. Cochlan, W. Dennison, Q. Dortch, C.J. Gobler, C. Heil, E. Humphries, A. Lewitus, R. Magnien, H. Marshall, K. Sellner, D. Stockwell, D. Stoecker, M. Suddleson. 2008. Eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms: A Scientific Consensus. Harmful Algae 8: 3 - 13

Anderson DM, Burkholder JM, Cochlan WP, Glibert PM, Gobler CJ, Heil CA, Kudela R, Parsons ML, Renseli JEJ, Townsend DW, Trainerk VL, Vargo GA. 2008. Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: Examples of linkages from selected coastal regions of the United States Harmful Algae 8: 39-53

Carroll JC, Gobler CJ, Peterson BP. 2008 Resource limitation of eelgrass in New York estuaries: Light limitation and nutrient stress alleviation by hard clams.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 369:39-50

Smith JK, Lonsdale DL, Gobler CJ, Caron DA. Feeding behavior and development of Acartia tonsa nauplii on the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens. Journal of Plankton Research  30: 937–950

Hotto, A.M., Satchwell, M.F., Berry, D.L., Gobler, C.J., Boyer, G.L. 2008. Spatial and temporal diversity of microcystins and microcystin-producing genotypes in Oneida Lake, NY. Harmful Algae 7: 671–681

Gobler CJ, Davis TW, Deonarine SN, Saxton MA, Lavrentyev PJ, Jochem FJ, Wilhelm SW. 2008. Grazing and viral induced mortality of microbial populations before and during the onset of hypoxia in Lake Erie. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 51: 117–128

Wall, C.C., Peterson, B.J., Gobler, C.J., 2008. The facilitation of seagrass (Zostera marina) productivity by suspension-feeding bivalves. Marine Ecology Progress Series 357: 165–174

Gobler CJ, Berry, D.L., O.R. Anderson, Burson, A., Koch, F., Rodgers, B.S., Moore L.K., Goleski J.A., Allam, B., Bowser, P., Tang, Y., Nuzzi, R. 2008. Characterization, dynamics, and ecological impacts of harmful Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms on eastern Long Island, NY, USA. Harmful Algae 7: 293–307

Rowe JM, Dunlap JR, Gobler, C. J., M. Downes Gastrich, O.R. Anderson, and S.W. Wilhelm. 2008. Isolation of a non-phage-like lytic virus infecting Aureococcus anophagefferens. Journal of Phycology 44: 71–76

2007:
Gobler, C. J., Norman, C., Panzeca, C. Taylor, G.T., Sañudo-Wilhelmy S.A. 2007. Effects of B-vitamins (B1, B12) and inorganic nutrients on algal bloom dynamics in a coastal ecosystem. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 49:181-194 

Frazier AD, Rowe JM, Rentz C, Gobler CJ, Wilhelm SW. 2007. Bacterial lysis of Aureococcus anophagefferens CCMP 1784. Journal of Phycology 43: 461–465

Gobler, C. J., M. Downes Gastrich, O.R. Anderson, and S.W. Wilhelm.  2007. Ecological aspects of viral infection and lysis in the harmful brown tide alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens.  Aquatic Microbial Ecology 47: 25–36

Weiss, M.B., Curran, P.B., Peterson, B.J., Gobler, C.J., 2007. The influence of plankton composition and water quality on hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria L.) populations across Long Island’s south shore lagoon estuaries. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 345:12–25

Gobler, C.J., Davis, T.W., Coyne K.J., Boyer, G.L. 2007. Interactive influences of nutrient loading, zooplankton grazing and microcystin synthetase gene expression on cyanobacterial bloom dynamics in a eutrophic New York lake. Harmful Algae 6: 119–133

2006:
Padilla, DK, Doall MH, Gobler CJ, Hartson A, O’Boyle K. 2006. Brown tide alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens, can affect growth but not survivorship of Mercenaria mercenaria larvae.  Harmful Algae 5:736–748

Clark, L., Gobler, C.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S.A. 2006. Spatial and temporal dynamics of dissolved trace metals, organic carbon, mineral nutrients, and phytoplankton in a coastal lagoon: Great South Bay, NY, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 29: 841–854

Sunda, W.G., Graneli, E., and Gobler, C.J. 2006. Positive feedback and the development and persistence of ecosystem disruptive algal blooms. Journal of Phycology 42: 963-974

Deonarine SN, Gobler CJ, Lonsdale DJ, Caron DA. 2006. The role of zooplankton in the occurrence of harmful brown tide blooms (Aureococcus anophagefferens) in US mid-Atlantic estuaries. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 44: 181–195

Gobler, C. J., Thibault, D.B., Davis, T.W., Curran, P.B., Peterson, B.J., Liddle, L.B. 2006. Algal assemblages associated with Stegastes sp. territories on Indo-Pacific coral reefs: Characterization of diversity and controls on growth.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 336: 135–145

Gobler, C.J., S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy, Buck, N.J, and Sieracki, M.E. 2006. Nitrogen and silicon
limitation of phytoplankton communities across an urban estuary: The East River-Long Island Sound system. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 68: 127-138  

Taylor, G.T., Gobler, C.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A.  2006. Nitrogen speciation and concentrations of nitrogen as determinants of Brown Tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens, pelagophyceae) initiation: An experimental evaluation. Marine Ecology Progress Series 312:67-83

Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A., Gobler, C.J., Okbamichael, M., Taylor, G.T. 2006. Regulation of Phytoplankton Dynamics by Vitamin B₁₂. Geophysical Research Letters 33: L04604

2005: