University of Alaska Southeast

Ginny Eckert , Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

Eckert

(907) 796-6450

(907) 796-6447

Arts and Sciences - Natural Sciences - Biology
Juneau
Anderson Bldg. 220b


B.A. in Biology, 1990, Dartmouth College
M.S. in Zoology, 1994, University of Florida
Ph.D. in Ecology, 1999, U.C. Santa Barbara


My research addresses the role of reproduction and larval development on population dynamics in benthic marine invertebrates. I am specifically interested in the role of larval dispersal. Many marine organisms have a complex life cycle in which the larval stage disperses in the plankton and the adult stage is benthic and relatively sedentary. I am interested in the coupling between these two stages. I have studied these questions using different methods including field research (intertidal and subtidal), laboratory experiments with larvae and adults, and syntheses of published data.

I am also interested in applied ecological questions and have studied the sea cucumber, P arastichopus parvimensis, in southern California and I am studying the sea cucumber, Parastichopus californicus, in Alaska to provide basic biological information for fishery management. I am currently working on several projects that assess the effectiveness of marine reserves by considering the larval dispersal of species within the reserve. One project is studying the dispersal and recruitment of the Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, within Glacier Bay National Park, a recently designated marine reserve.

Publications


Biology 105  Fundamentals of Biology
Biology 271  Ecology Biology
Biology 305  Invertebrate Zoology
Biology 375  Current Issues in Biology
Biology 396  Field Studies in Behavior & Ecology
Biology 481  Marine Ecology

Other Links:
Crab Lab
Student Research Posters
Family Photos