Dr. Jay R. Rooker

Professor & McDaniel Chair of Marine Fisheries Department of Marine Biology (Galveston), Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (College Station)

Texas A&M University

Research Interests

Dr. Rooker’s research centers on the community and population ecology of aquatic organisms, with a special emphasis on marine fishes. He is particularly interested in linkages between habitat selection, individual responses and survival during early life stages (larval through early juvenile). This stage plays a primary role in determining the location and abundance of adult populations and, to date, has not received adequate attention for many species. His work is both laboratory and field-based, and his group typically uses both quantitative and experimental approaches to elucidate the importance of early life processes. The primary aim of his work is to provide insight into the mechanisms that regulate fluctuations in growth and survival, and subsequently year class strength.

His research also employs several novel approaches for understanding population connectivity. Specifically, his group uses otolith chemistry to retrospectively determine the environmental histories and population structure of a broad range of taxa including tunas, billfishes, snappers and several estuarine species. Other natural markers (dietary tracers) and archival tags are currently being used to examine the foraging ecology and dispersive behaviors of both coral reef and pelagic fishes.