Mon, 02/13/2023 - 12:40pm Athens Dr. Shelby Ziegler Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Dr. Shelby L Ziegler Website Seminars Please join us Monday, February 13 at 12:40 pm for a seminar by Dr. Shelby Ziegler, a faculty candidate in Marine Conservation and Sustainability in the Department of Marine Sciences. Details are below. Title: Data-driven marine conservation: coastal habitats and fisheries Abstract: Structured coastal habitats can mediate faunal community structure and ecosystem function. Most coastal habitats exist as components of functionally connected mosaics, or seascapes, and the spatial arrangement of these habitats can determine the distribution of and interactions between organisms within an ecosystem. However, coastal habitats, particularly in estuarine systems, are being lost at unprecedented rate due to both human actions and climatic change. This loss of structured habitat can have cascading effects on marine biodiversity and the production of fisheries species calling for a better understanding of how-to best conserve and restore coastal systems in a changing world. In this talk, I will cover three distinct studies that address: 1) How habitat patch dynamics influence estuarine faunal diversity and applications for coastal conservation, 2) What variables influence the efficacy of Marine Protected Areas for fisheries production and 3) What drives spatial patterns in disease dynamics in a coastal foundation species and the implications for ecosystem health. As a whole, my research focuses on combining data-driven computational methods, geospatial and oceanographic data, and large-scale field surveys to address questions related to coastal marine conservation and fisheries management. The speaker (and all upcoming faculty candidates) will be presenting in person in Athens (Room 239), but the talk will be broadcast to the Skidaway Auditorium and available to watch on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/97461643834). As usual, the room will open at 12:20 pm and the talk will begin at 12:40.
