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.
Recent Publications
(last five years)
Gobler, C.J., Davis, T.W., Coyne K.J., Boyer,
G.L. Interactive influences of nutrient loading, zooplankton grazing
and microcystin synthetase gene expression on cyanobacterial bloom
dynamics in a eutrophic New York lake. In press to Harmful
Algae
Padilla, DK, Doall MH, Gobler CJ,
Hartson A, O’Boyle K. Brown tide alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens, can
affect growth but not survivorship of Mercenaria mercenaria larvae. In
press, Harmful Algae
Sunda, W.G., Graneli, E., and Gobler, C.J. 2006.
Positive feedback and the development and persistence of ecosystem
disruptive algal blooms. In press, Journal of Phycology
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. In press, Estuaries and Coasts
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., and
Sunda, W.G. 2006. Brown tides. In: Graneli, Turner, J.T.
(eds), The
Ecology of Harmful Algae, Springer-Verlag, pages 111-123
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
Gobler, C.J., Lonsdale,
D.J., Boyer, G.L. 2005.
A synthesis and review of causes and impact of harmful brown tide
blooms caused by the alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens. Estuaries 28:
726-749
Gobler, C. J.,
Cullison, L., Koch, F., Harder, T. and Krause, J.W. 2005. Influence
of freshwater flow, ocean exchange, and seasonal cycles on phytoplankton – nutrient
dynamics in a temporarily open estuary. Estuarine, Coastal, and
Shelf Science. 65: 275-288
Buck, N.J,
Gobler, C.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S.A. 2005.
Dissolved Trace Element Concentrations in the East River-Long Island
Sound System: Relative Importance of Autochthonous versus Allochthonous
Sources. Environmental Science and Technology 39: 3528-3533
Gobler,
C.J., Deonarine, S.N., Leigh-Bell, J., Gastrich, M.D.,
Anderson, O.R., Wilhelm, S.W. 2004. Ecology of phytoplankton communities
dominated by Aureococcus anophagefferens: The role of viruses,
nutrients, and microzooplankton grazing. Harmful Algae 3: 471-483
Kana, T.M.,
Lomas, M.W., MacIntyre, H.L., Cornwell, J.C., Gobler,
C.J. 2004.
Stimulation of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens,
by selective nutrient additions to in situ mesocosms. Harmful
Algae 3:377–388
Caron, D.A.,
Gobler, C.J., Buck, N.J., Lonsdale, D.J., Cerrato, R.M., Schaffner,
R.A, Rose, J., Taylor, G.T., Boissonneault, K.R. .Mehran, R.
2004. Microbial herbivory on the brown tide algal, Aureococcus
anophagefferens: results from natural ecosystems, mesocosms and
laboratory experiments. Harmful Algae 3:439–457
Sieracki, M.E., Gobler,
C.J., Cucci, T., Thier, E., Hobson,I.
2004. Pico- and nanoplankton dynamics during bloom initiation of
Aureococcus in a Long Island, NY bay. Harmful Algae 3:459-470
MacIntyre H.L.,
Lomas, M.W., Cornwell, J., Suggett, D.J., Gobler, C.J., Koch,
E.W., Kana, T.M. 2004. Mediation of benthic-pelagic coupling
by microphytobenthos: An energy- and material-based model for
initiation of blooms of Aureococcus anophagefferens. Harmful
Algae 3: 403–437
Lomas, M.W.,
Gobler, C.J.. 2004. A Brief History of Brown Tide
Research: Executive summary of this special issue. Harmful Algae
3: 273-277
Gobler,
C.J., Boneillo, G.E., Debenham C., Caron, D.A. 2004. Nutrient
limitation, organic matter cycling, and plankton dynamics during
an Aureococcus anophagefferens bloom. Aquatic Microbial Ecology
35:31-43
Gastrich, M.D.,
Bell, J.L., Gobler, C.J., Anderson, O.R., Wilhelm, S.W. 2004. Viruses as Potential Regulators of Regional Brown
Tide Blooms Caused by the Alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens: A
comparison of bloom years 1999-2000 and 2002. Estuaries 27:
112-119
Gobler,
C.J.,
Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S.A. 2003. Cycling
of colloidal organic carbon and nitrogen during estuarine plankton
blooms. Limnology and Oceanography 48: 2314 - 2320
Gobler,
C.J.,
Boneillo, G.E. 2003. Impacts of anthropogenically-influenced
groundwater seepage on water quality and phytoplankton dynamics
within a coastal marine ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 255:101-114
Szekielda,
K-H, Gobler, C.J., Gross, B., Moshary, F., Samir, A. Nichols,
K. 2003. Spectral reflectance measurements of estuarine waters. Ocean
Dynamics 53: 98-102
Caron, D.A.,
Schaffner, R.A., Moran, D.M., Dennett, M.R., Lonsdale, D.J.,
Gobler, C.J., Nuzzi, R., McLean, T.I. 2003. Development
and application of a monoclonal antibody technique for the counting
Aureococcus anophagefferens, an alga causing recurrent brown tides
in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Applied and Environmental
Microbiology 69: 5492 - 5502
Popels, L.C.,
Coyne, K.J., Forbes, R., Pustizzi, F., Gobler, C.J., Cary, S.C.,
Hutchins, D.A. 2003. The Use of Quantitative
Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection and Enumeration of
the Harmful Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens in Environmental Samples
Along the United States East Coast. Limnology and Oceanography
Methods 1:92-102
Mulholland,
M.R., Gobler, C.J., Lee C. 2002. Peptide hydrolysis,
amino acid oxidation and N uptake in communities seasonally dominated
by Aureococcus anophagefferens. Limnology and Oceanography 47: 1094-1108
Gobler,
C.J.,
Donat, J.R., Consolovo, J.A., Sañudo-Wilhelmy,
S.A. 2002. Physicochemical speciation of iron during coastal
algal blooms. Marine Chemistry 77: 71-89
Gobler,
C.J.,
Buck.N.J., Renaghan, M.J. 2002. Impacts of
nutrients and grazing mortality on the abundance of Aureococcus
anophagefferens during a New York Brown Tide bloom. Limnology
and Oceanography 47: 129-141
Lin, S., Gobler,
C.J., Carpenter, E. J. 2001. Cytological and biochemical response
of in Dunaliella tertiolecta (Volvocales, Chlorophyta)
to iron stress. Phycologia. 40: 403-410
Gobler,
C.J.,
Sañudo-Wilhelmy,
S.A. 2001. Temporal variability of groundwater seepage and Brown
Tide bloom in a Long Island embayment. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 217: 299-309
Sañudo-Wilhelmy,
S.A., Kustka, A., Gobler, C.J., Yang, M., Hutchins, D.A., Burns,
J., Capone, D., Raven, J.H., Carpenter, E.J. 2001. Phosphorus
Limitation of Nitrogen Fixation by Trichodesmium in the Central
Atlantic Ocean. Nature 411: 66 – 69
Gobler,
C.J.,
Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S.A. 2001. Effects of organic
carbon, organic nitrogen, inorganic nutrients, and iron additions
on the growth of phytoplankton and bacteria during a Long Island
Brown Tide bloom. Marine Ecology Progress Series 209: 19-34
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