Dr. Jonathan H. Cohen

Assistant Professor, Marine Biosciences

Research Interests

Comparative physiology and behavior of marine animals; Neurobiology; Visual ecology; Zooplankton ecology

Current Projects:
Visual ecology of marine invertebrates

We are broadly interested in the structure and function of visual systems in marine animals, particularly invertebrates, and the behaviors that emerge from their ability to sense and respond to light. We are using microscopy, electrophysiology, and behavioral approaches at multiple levels of organization (cells, tissues, whole animals) to explore the ways in which visual systems are used in predator/prey interactions, mating, orientation, and habitat selection. Also of interest are interactions among multiple sensory modalities, such as chemical and visual cues. Current projects include:

Vision in the deep-sea metridinid copepod Gaussia princeps
Mediation of zooplankton photosensitivity by predator kairomones
Sexually dimorphic eye designs in pontellid copepods involved in mate finding
Pupillary responses and lateral assymetry in the squid Lolliguncula brevis
Visual capability in coral planula larvae and its role in habitat selection
Orientation of talitrid amphipods
Vision in crustaceans from cryptic habitats: seagrass beds and sargassum rafts
Visual physiology of Antarctic krill species

Lethal and sublethal effects of MC-252 crude oil & chemical dispersant on zooplankton

This project is examining the lethal and sublethal responses of ecologically important zooplankton taxa to oil, chemical dispersants, and oil/dispersant mixtures. Experiments include mortality, reproduction, swimming and photobehavior assays, which are done at shore-based labs and at sea. This ecotoxicological work is being conducted in conjunction with field sampling of zooplankton by colleagues at the Univ. of South Florida (K. Daly) to better understand impacts of MC-252 oil releases in the Gulf of Mexico on the zooplankton community.

- Baseline for Impact Assessment of Zooplankton and Imaging Oil Droplet Detection on the West Florida Shelf (Year One Block Grant - Florida Institute of Oceanography, Role: Co-Principal Investigator)