Dr. Darryl L. Felder

Biology of Marine Decapod Crustaceans

Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico Biodiversity

My interests encompass evolution, phylogenetics, molecular genetics, diversity, ecology, physioecology, development, systematics, and functional morphology of marine decapod crustaceans (crabs, shrimp and lobsters). My students, postdoctoral associates and I are currently investigating evolution and radiation in burrowing thalassinidean shrimp and their associates, dispersal and conservation issues related to this group, molecular genetics and systematics of both estuarine-dependent and outer shelf decapods (especially portunids, pinnotherids, grapsoids, xanthoids, porcellanids, diogenids, and selected groups of alpheoid shrimp), anaerobic adaptations of burrowing decapods, and lipid metabolism in decapods as related to reproduction. I am also conducting long-term studies of endemism among Gulf decapods, particularly those assemblages on deep hard banks throughout the Gulf, and more recently those on hydrocarbon seeps. A major project concerns compilation of a color illustrated monograph on the crabs and lobsters of the Gulf of Mexico. Coupled with this are ecological and taxonomic studies at various sites in the Gulf of Mexico, coastal Atlantic, Caribbean, and eastern Pacific. Some of this work is conducted in collaboration with colleagues at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, where I hold an associate scientist affiliation, or at the Smithsonian Marine Laboratory in Ft. Pierce, Florida, where I have long maintained collaborative research projects in the Indian River Lagoon. Other recent or currently active studies involve field work in Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. Most funding for my program has come from the US Dept. of Energy, the US Geological Survey, Sea Grant, and the National Science Foundation.

GoMRI-funed projects:

- Coastal Waters Consortium (CWC Consortium, Year 2-4 Consortia Grants (RFP-I), Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Task Co-Lead, Task Data Contact, Data Team)

- The Effect of Sediment Bioturbators on the Biological Degradation of Petroleum in Coastal Ecosystems (Year 3-5 Investigator Grants (RFP-II), Role: Co-Principal Investigator)

- Stop-Gap Sampling to Assess the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact on Macroalgae and Macrocrustaceans in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (Bridge Grants (RFP-III), Role: Co-Principal Investigator)