The Physical-Biological Interactions Laboratory
Professor Claire B. Paris-Limouzy
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami
Division of Applied Marine Physics
Secondary Appointment: Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149-1098
Tel: 305 421 4219 ; Fax: 305 421 4701
Email: cparis@rsmas.miami.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Specialization

Coastal Oceanography: Physical-Biological Interactions (PBIs);Biophysical modeling; Individual Based Models (IBMs); dispersal and recruitment processes

Ecology: larval behavior; fish early life history stages taxonomy; metapopulation theory and population connectivity

Research Interests

One of the most significant questions facing marine ecology today is to understand the spatial structure of populations and how changes in the environment may affect population persistence and biodiversity in general. Geographically separated populations are connected by the migration of individuals, typically during the larval phase, carrier of parental population genes. Primary interests of the Paris' Lab are in the physical-biological interactions during this critical early life history phase, developing biophysical modeling approaches to understand larval dispersion and the major factors influencing their spatial and temporal recruitment variability. Numerical modeling is complemented by field experiments and innovative in situ methods to observe the behavior of larvae and the related cues. How larval behavior coupled with physical oceanography establishes patterns of dispersal and in turn affects survival and recruitment is of particular interest. Research in the Paris' Lab is focussing on projects that can contribute to a mechanistic understanding of larval dispersal at all scales and have applications in conservation biology. Significant applications of this research are the optimization of MPA networks, the spread of invasive species and diseases in the marine environement, and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.

Lab Members

Lab Thumb Dr. Claire B. Paris-Limouzy

Lab Thumb Dan Holstein, (PhD Candidate)

Andy Thumb Andrew Kough, (PhD Candidate)

Cedric Thumb Cedric Guigand, Senior Research Associate

Research Projects

NSF-SGER - Orientation of coral reef fish larvae

Img Ownfor Thumb Disc Thumb See the web page of this project and the Hermon Slade Foundation.

Population Connectivity

Oceanography Thumb Science Cover Thumb see the Connectivity Modeling System, the Bahamas Complexity Project, and other coastal modeling projects.

Connectivity of disease in marine ecosystems

Lobster Thumb See news on this project

Watershed Analysis for the Mesoamerican Reef

Meso Thumb See the web page of this project.

Fish Larval Taxonomy

Richards Guide Thumb Download the damselfish chapter of this identification guide. Related links: A photographic web guide to the larvae of coral reef fish


Overview of the scientific work in the past five years

Synergistic Activities

Current Collaborating Scientists

Students - Advisor & Thesis Committee Member

Lab Thumb Dan Holstein, RSMAS-MBF (PhD Candidate)

Andy Thumb Andrew Kough, RSMAS-MBF (PhD Candidate)

image Karlisa Callwood, RSMAS-MAF (PhD Candidate)

image Xaymara M. Serrano, RSMAS-MBF (PhD Candidate)

image Dr. Johnathan Kool (University of Miami, PhD 2008); ARC Center of Excellence

image Dr. Jean-Olivier Irisson (University of Perpignan, France, PhD 2008); Laboratoire d'Oceanographie de Villefranche

image Dr. Erwan Roussel (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, France, PhD 2007);

image Dr. Carrie Kappel (Sanford University, PhD 2006); National Center for Ecological Analyses and Synthesis (NCEAS)

image Dr. Manuel Perez-Perez (CINVESTAV, Mexico, PhD 2004); Instituto National de Pesca CRIP


Scientific production

Awards and Professional Memberships

Referee Activities

Refereed Journal Articles & Book Chapters

Proceedings & Technical Reports

Workshops and Invited Talks

Scientific Presentations





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