Dr. Just Cebrian

The main lines of research in my lab are: (1) examination of the controls of plant composition, primary production and consumption by heterotrophs in diverse marine systems, including microalgal (phytoplankton and microphytobenthos) and macrophytic (macroalgal beds, seagrass meadows and marshes) communities; (2) comparative analyses of the nature and controls of the fate of primary production (i.e. herbivory, decomposition, export and accumulation) in aquatic and terrestrial communities; and (3) elucidation of anthropogenic effects, such as eutrophication, on autotrophic composition and fate of production in marine communities.

Current Research Project:
Effects of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill on the nursery role of coastal marshes in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NOAA,NGI,ADCNR)

GoMRI-funded projects:

• Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Releases on the Functional Integrity of Salt Marshes and Seagrass Meadows and Associated Fauna (Year One Block Grant The Alabama Marine Environmental Science Consortium, Role: Co-Principal Investigator)
• An Ecosystem Modeling Framework to Examine Ecological Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Year One Block Grant - The Northern Gulf Institute, Role: Co-Principal Investigator)
• Extend Sulis Toolkit (Year One Block Grant - The Northern Gulf Institute, Role: Co-Principal Investigator)
• Impacts of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill on Ecosystem Structure and Function in Alabama's Marine Waters (Year One Block Grant - The Northern Gulf Institute, Role: Task Co-Lead)
• Potential Impacts of the DWH Oil Spill on Fishery Resources: Will There be Reduced Recruitment of Economically Important Shrimp, Crabs, and Finfish in Seagrass and Marsh Nursery Habitats of the North Central Gulf of Mexico? (Year One Block Grant - The Northern Gulf Institute, Role: Co-Principal Investigator)