Prof. Joseph E. Serafy
RSMAS/MBF
University of Miami
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Fax: 305.421.4600
jserafy@rsmas.miami.edu

My current research has two foci: (1) examining the role of the seagrass-mangrove-reef complex in the ontogeny of economically-valuable coral reef fishes (i.e., groupers, snappers, grunts, great barracuda); and (2) furthering our knowledge of the early life history of pelagic gamefishes (especially billfishes) and their relationships with their environment. Other research experience/interests include: conducting empirical field and laboratory research to support ecosystem modeling efforts that seek to link land use, terrestrial hydrology and coastal hydrodynamics with aquatic animal and plant populations; quantifying the functional “costs” of habitat depletion, fragmentation, degradation and/or change for ecologically and economically important organisms; investigating biological responses to episodic stressors with a focus on how stress frequency, magnitude and duration affect community structure and function; exploring how molecular techniques may be applied to tackle basic problems in species and stock identification.