Demopoulos, A.W.J., B. Fry., C.R. Smith. 2007. Food-web structure in exotic and native mangroves: a Hawaii-Puerto Rico comparison, Oecologia. 153:675-686.
Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
I lead the USGS DEEP SEARCH Project, jointly funded by the Environments Program, BOEM, and the NOAA-Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Scientists involved in the project stem from 5 USGS science centers, academic institutions, and NOAA. Complex deep-sea environments, including corals, sponges, and chemosynthetic systems require interdisciplinary science to untangle what makes them tick.
Biography
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, Department of Oceanography, UH Manoa, August 2004
M.S., Biological Oceanography, Department of Oceanography, UH Manoa, December 2000
B.S., Oceanography-Biological emphasis (Minor: Chemistry), College of Oceanography, University of Washington, June 1996
RESEARCH
My research program spans from coastal wetlands to deep-sea environments, where I examine benthic invertebrate community structure and function, including food webs, and impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbance on benthic ecosystem health.
BACKGROUND
Professional Experience
2007-Present Research Ecologist (Benthic), US Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Gainesville, FL.
2004-2006 Postdoctoral Scholar, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
Teaching and Advising
2007-present Courtesy Assistant Professor, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida
2006 Lecturer, Life in the Ocean (ENVI 121), Department of Marine Science and Environmental Studies, University of San Diego.
1999-2006 Invited Lecturer, Benthic Ecology (OCE 628-2-3 lectures/labs per annum), UH Manoa. Designed and presented course lectures and labs on mangrove ecology and invasion biology.
2004 Invited Lecturer, Communication of Research Results (OCN 490), Dept. of Oceanography, UH Manoa
2003 Co-instructor, Benthic Ecology (OCE 628-taught 50 % of the course) Lectured and discussed topics on benthic feeding and dispersal modes, community patterns, data manipulation, environmental sampling, pollution gradients, zonation and biogeography, mangrove ecology and invasion biology. Students participated in discussion sessions relating to above topics.
Research Cruises
Accumulated ~580 days of ship time, including 14 submersible dives.
Science and Products
Date published: August 30, 2019
Status: Active DISCOVRE: Diversity, Systematics and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems
DISCOVRE (DIversity, Systematics and COnnectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is an integrated, multidisciplinary, international effort investigating the unique and fragile deep-sea coral environments from the microscopic level to the ecosystem level.
Date published: June 19, 2019
Status: Active Seeking the Seeps
From June 12 to July 3, 2019, the USGS is sailing onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor with several other partners, seeking methane seeps along the seafloor of several underwater canyons off the coast of Oregon and Washington. On this cruise, USGS scientists will seek to understand how much methane is coming out of these seeps, how it travels through the water column, and its ultimate...
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Date published: June 4, 2019
Status: Active Connectivity of Coral Ecosystems in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico
Connectivity among coral communities influences the probability of speciation and contributes to their ability to adapt to natural and anthropogenic stressors. Results from this study will enhance our understanding of Gulf of Mexcio ecosystems with regional conservation initiatives to inform the restoration of degraded deepwater coral communities and preserve long-term viability of coastal...
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: August 27, 2018
Status: Completed IMMeRSS- Seafloor Methane Seep Environments
Cold seeps, which are locations where chemicals -- including methane and other hydrocarbons, brine, hydrogen sulfide, and sometimes carbon dioxide--leak from the seafloor, occur worldwide on both passive and tectonically-active continental margins. Cold seeps are distinguished from ...
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D., Nancy Prouty
Date published: August 27, 2018
Status: Completed IMMeRSS-- Interagency Mission for Methane Research on Seafloor Seeps
From May 3 to May 11, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the British Geological Survey and with support from these two agencies, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, and the U.S. Department of Energy, will lead an...
Date published: May 6, 2016
Status: Active USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, Ecosystem Connectivity of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats with Emphasis on Canyon and Coral Communities
Deep-sea canyons are complex environments encompassing a range of benthic habitats, including soft sediments along the axis of the canyon, and hard substrates along the canyon walls.
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Date published: April 15, 2016
Status: Active NRDA: Deepwater ROV Sampling to Assess Potential Impacts to Hardbottom Coral Communities and Associates from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
The MC252 oil spill introduced hydrocarbons, dispersants, and drilling muds into the Gulf of Mexico, potentially adversely affecting the seafloor environment surrounding the spill site.
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Date published: April 15, 2016
USGS DISCOVRE: Benthic Ecology, Trophodynamics, and Ecosystem Connectivity – Lophelia II: Continuing Ecological Research on Deep-Sea Corals and Deep Reef Habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
Deep-sea coral habitats are complex ecosystems at the landscape and local level. While these systems may harbor substantial levels of biodiversity, they remain inadequately investigated.
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: April 8, 2016
Status: Active Evaluating Structural and Surface Elevation Recovery of Restored Mangroves
Hydrologic restoration is one of several approaches to rehabilitate mangroves on a large-scale. USGS evaluates how solely restoring tidal hydrologic flows affect the recovery of mangroves in Florida.
Contacts: Ken Krauss, Ph.D., Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Date published: April 5, 2016
Status: Active Exploration of Caribbean Seamounts within the Greater and Lesser Antilles (GA/LA) Transition Zone: Characterization of the Benthic Ecology and Geology
Seamounts may be biodiversity hotspots, oases, islands, and centers for endemism in the deep sea. USGS and partners explore these possibilities within the Greater and Lesser Antilles Transition Zone.
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: March 22, 2016
Status: Active Connectivity of Tropical Marine Ecosystems: Understanding Biodiversity and Trophic Relationships in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Marine reserves and protected areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico encompass a variety of tropical ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, but questions remain regarding how effective these areas are at preserving and protecting the habitats and species they encompass. USGS and collaborators address this question by examining the biodiversity and food web...
Contacts: Amanda Demopoulos, Ph.D.
Year Published: 2020
Submarine canyons influence macrofaunal diversity and density patterns in the deep-sea benthos
Submarine canyons are often morphologically complex features in the deep sea contributing to habitat heterogeneity. In addition, they act as major conduits of organic matter from the shallow productive shelf to the food deprived deep-sea, promoting gradients in food resources and areas of sediment resuspension and deposition. This study focuses on...
Robertson, Craig M.; Demopoulos, Amanda; Bourque, Jill; Mienis, Furu; Duineveld, Gerard; Lavaleye, Mark; Koivisto, R.; Brooke, S.; Ross, S.; Rhode, M.; Davies, A.
Year Published: 2020
Benthic infaunal communities of Baltimore and Norfolk Canyons
The imperative for finding, cataloging, and understanding continental margin diversity derives from the many key functions, goods and services provided by margin ecosystems and by an increasingly deleterious human footprint on our continental slopes (Levin and Dayton 2009). Progress in seafloor mapping technology and direct observation has...
Robertson, Craig M.; Bourque, Jill; Demopoulos, Amanda
Year Published: 2019
Quantifying changes to infaunal communities associated with several deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico and their potential recovery from the DWH oil spill
Extensive information is available about infaunal soft-sediment communities in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) (Pequegnat et al. 1990, Rowe and Kennicutt II 2009, Wei et al. 2010), particularly from the large-scale sampling effort of the Deep Gulf of Mexico Benthos (DGOMB) project in the early 2000s (Rowe and Kennicutt II 2009). Infaunal soft-sediment...
Bourque, Jill R.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.
Year Published: 2019
Estimating the value of mangrove leaf litter in sesarmid crab diets: The importance of fractionation factors
Sesarmid crabs play an important role in organic matter and carbon cycling of mangrove forests. Visual observations and gut content studies have verified that sesarmid crabs are feeding on mangrove leaves, yet stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (13C and 15N) have indicated that leaf litter is not assimilated as a food source. Sesarmid...
MacKenzie, R.A.; Cormier, N.; Demopoulos, Amanda
Year Published: 2019
Examination of Bathymodiolus childressi nutritional sources, isotopic niches, and food-web linkages at two seeps in the US Atlantic margin using stable isotope analysis and mixing models
Chemosynthetic environments support distinct benthic communities capable of utilizing reduced chemical compounds for nutrition. Hundreds of methane seeps have been documented along the U.S. Atlantic margin (USAM), and detailed investigations at a few seeps have revealed distinct environments containing mussels, ...
Demopoulos, Amanda; McClain Counts, Jennifer; Bourque, Jill; Prouty, Nancy; Smith, Brian; Brooke, Sandra; Ross, Steve W.; Ruppel, Carolyn
Year Published: 2019
Molecular characterization of Bathymodiolus mussels and gill symbionts associated with chemosynthetic habitats from the U.S. Atlantic margin
Mussels of the genus Bathymodiolus are among the most widespread colonizers of hydrothermal vent and cold seep environments, sustained by endosymbiosis with chemosynthetic bacteria. Presumed species of Bathymodiolus are abundant at newly discovered cold seeps on the Mid-Atlantic continental slope, however morphological taxonomy is challenging, and...
Coykendall, Dolly (Katharine); Cornman, Robert S.; Prouty, Nancy G.; Brooke, Sandra; Demopoulos, Amanda W. J.; Morrison, Cheryl L.View Citation
Coykendall, D.K., Cornman, R.S., Prouty, N.G., Brooke, S., Demopoulos, A.W.J., and Morrison, C.L., 2019, Molecular characterization of Bathymodiolus mussels and gill symbionts associated with chemosynthetic habitats from the U.S. Atlantic margin: PLoS ONE, v. 14, no. 3, art. e0211616, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211616.
Year Published: 2019
Deep search: Deep sea exploration to advance research on coral/canyon/cold seep habitats
Led by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and OER is an interagency partnership to explore and characterize sensitive deepwater habitats of the U.S. mid- and south Atlantic deep-sea habitats. Sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, the study has brought together scientists...
Cordes, Erik E.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Rasser, Michael; Adams, Caitlin
Year Published: 2019
Stable isotope analysis enhances our understanding of diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin foraging ecology
Dietary studies on generalist predators may provide valuable information on spatial or temporal changes in the structure of ecological communities. We initiated this study to provide baseline data and determine the utility of stable isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate the foraging strategies of an opportunistic reptilian predator, the diamondback...
Denton, Mathew J.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Baldwin, John D.; Smith, Brian; Hart, Kristen M.
Year Published: 2018
The influence of seep habitats on sediment macrofaunal biodiversity and functional traits
Chemosynthetic ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) support dense communities of seep megafaunal invertebrates that rely on endosymbiotic bacteria for nutrition. Distinct infaunal communities are associated with the biogenic habitats created by seep biota, where habitat heterogeneity and sediment geochemistry ...
Demopoulos, Amanda W. J.; Bourque, Jill R.; Durkin, Alanna; Cordes, Erik E.
Year Published: 2018
Macrobenthic infaunal communities associated with deep‐sea hydrocarbon seeps in the northern Gulf of Mexico
There are thousands of seeps in the deep ocean worldwide; however, many questions remain about their contributions to global biodiversity and the surrounding deep‐sea environment. In addition to being globally distributed, seeps provide several benefits to humans such as unique habitats, organisms with novel genes, and carbon regulation. The...
Washburn, Travis W.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Montagna, Paul A.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
View Citation
Washburn, T.W., Demopoulos, A.W.J., and Montagna, P.A., 2018, Macrobenthic infaunal communities associated with deep‐sea hydrocarbon seeps in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Marine Ecology, Early View, https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12508.
Year Published: 2018
Ghost forests of Marco Island: Mangrove mortality driven by belowground soil structural shifts during tidal hydrologic alteration
Land use changes often create in situ stress and eventual mortality in mangroves as unsuitable hydroperiods are created through tidal flow alterations. Here, we document mangrove forest and soil structural changes within transects established in tidally restricted areas on Marco Island (Collier County,...
Krauss, Ken W.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Cormier, Nicole; From, Andrew; McClain-Counts, Jennifer P.; Lewis, Roy R.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
View Citation
Krauss, K.W., Demopoulos, A.W.J., Cormier, N., From, A.S., McClain-Counts, J.P., and Lewis, R.R., III, 2018, Ghost forests of Marco Island: Mangrove mortality driven by belowground soil structural shifts during tidal hydrologic alteration: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, v. 212, p. 51-62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.06.026.
Year Published: 2018
Host feeding ecology and trophic position significantly influence isotopic discrimination between a generalist ectoparasite and its hosts: Implications for parasite-host trophic studies
Despite being one of the most prevalent forms of consumerism in ecological communities, parasitism has largely been excluded from food-web models. Stable isotope analysis of consumers and their diets has been widely used in the study of food webs for decades. However, the amount of information regarding parasite stable isotope ecology is limited,...
Jenkins, William G.; Demopoulos, Amanda W.J.; Sikkel, Paul C.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
View Citation
Jenkins, W.G., Demopoulos, A.W.J., and Sikkel, P.C., 2018, Host feeding ecology and trophic position significantly influence isotopic discrimination between a generalist ectoparasite and its hosts: Implications for parasite-host trophic studies: Food Webs, v. 16, art. e00092, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00092.
Pre-USGS Publications
Cordes EE, Berlet SP, Cardman Z, Dannenberg R, Demopoulos AWJ, Georgian SE, King C, McKean DL, Young DM. 2014. Exploring deep-sea coral communities and the effects of oil and gas inputs to the Gulf of Mexico. Oceanography 27(supplement): 28-29. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2014.supplement.01
ten Brink, U., D.F. Coleman, J. Chaytor, A.W.J. Demopoulos, R. Armstrong, G. Garcia-Moliner, N.A. Raineault, B. Andrews, R. Chastain, K. Rodrigue, M. Mercier-Gingras. 2014. Earthquake, Landslide, and Tsunami Hazards and Benthic Biology in the Greater Antilles. Oceanography 27(supplement): 34-35. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2014.supplement.01
Morrison, C.L., Baco, A.R., Nizinski, M.S., Coykendall, D.K., Demopoulos, A.W.J., Cho, W., Shank, T.M. 2014. Population connectivity of deep-sea corals. In: T.F. Hourigan, P. Etnoyer (Eds). The State of Deep Coral Ecosystems of the United States: NOAA Technical Memorandum. Silver Spring, MD. In Press.
Demopoulos, A.W.J. and C.R. Smith. 2010. Invasive mangroves alter macrofaunal community structure and facilitate opportunistic exotics. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 404:51-67
Fry, B., N. Cormier, and A.W.J. Demopoulos 2009. Adventures in an isotopically ordered world-the chemical ecology of Micronesian mangroves and crabs, Pages 50-56 in N. Yoshida, ed., Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Isotopomers, ISI2008-18, 292 pp.
Demopoulos, A.W.J. 2004. Black Mangrove Benthic Community Structure, Seedling Growth and Survival, and Sediment Characteristics in Anthropogenically Disturbed and Pristine Habitats, NOAA/NERR final report, Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Puerto Rico.
Demopoulos, A.W.J. 2003. Introduced mangroves in the Hawaiian Islands: Their history and impact on Hawaiian coastal ecosystems. In: Global Invasive Species Programme-Invasive Species Report following the conference on the Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts of Invasive Alien Species on Island Ecosystems.
Demopoulos, A.W.J. 2004. Aliens in paradise: a comparative assessment of introduced and native mangrove benthic community composition, food-web structure, and litter-fall production. Ph.D. Thesis. Dept. of Oceanography, University of Hawaii.
Smith, C.R. and A.W.J. Demopoulos. 2003. Ecology of the deep Pacific Ocean floor. In: Ecosystems of the World Volume 28: Ecosystems of the Deep Ocean, P.A. Tyler, ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam, 569 pp.
Demopoulos, A.W.J., C.R. Smith, and P.A. Tyler. 2003. Ecology of the deep Indian Ocean floor. In: Ecosystems of the World Volume 28: Ecosystems of the Deep Ocean, P.A. Tyler, ed., Elsevier, Amsterdam. 569 pp.
Demopoulos, A.W.J., C.R. Smith, D.J. DeMaster and W. Fornes. 2003. Evaluation of excess 234Th activity in sediments as an indicator of food quality for deep-sea deposit feeders. J. Mar. Res. 61:267-284.
Demopoulos, A.W.J. 2000. Evaluation of excess 234Th activity in sediments as an indicator of food quality for deep-sea deposit feeders, M.S. Thesis. Dept. of Oceanography, University of Hawaii.
Levin, L.A., fT.S. Talley, A.A. Larson, A. Jones*. 1997. Faunal composition in the Tijuana River Estuary Intertidal Habitats and the role of life histories in the faunal recovery of Southern California Restored Wetlands. Final Report to the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. NOAA Award, No. NA 670R0237. NOAA.
Levin, L., D. Talley, T. Talley, A. Larson, A. Jones*, G. Thayer, C. Currin, and C. Lund. 1997. Restoration of Spartina marsh function: An infaunal perspective. Conference Proceedings, Society for Ecological Restoration, 1995 International Conference. Seattle, Washington. Sept. 14-16, 1995.
Date published: June 22, 2020
Seafloor Methane Seeps at the Edge of Hydrate Stability
In June 2019, USGS scientists led a 22-day deep-sea research expedition aboard the R/V Falkor to examine methane seep dynamics and processes along the Cascadia Margin offshore of Washington and Oregon.
Date published: June 22, 2020
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems - Interagency Collaborative Efforts Explore Deep Ocean Areas
As state and national interest in offshore renewable energy development and substantial commercial and recreational fishing activities grows, managing offshore habitats becomes increasingly challenging. In response, USGS and BOEM have joined NOAA and several non-Federal partners to initiate...
Date published: October 30, 2019
WaterWords-Aragonite
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
Date published: October 16, 2019
WaterWords-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
Date published: October 16, 2019
WaterWords-Remotely Operated Vehicle
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
Date published: October 16, 2019
WaterWords-Deep Sea
Keep up to speed with the latest USGS deep-sea research cruise with this seafloor syntax.
Date published: October 16, 2019
WaterWords-Telepresence
Keep up to speed with our EXPRESS research cruise with this latest seafloor syntax!
Date published: July 3, 2019
Bringing the Bubbles Home
As our cruise ends, lead scientist Amanda Demopoulos brings it all together and charts the path forward
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Energy & Wildlife, Energy Resources Program, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Date published: June 12, 2019
Seeking the Seeps
We're setting sail onboard the R/V Falkor for 21 days of deepsea science. Lead scientist Amanda Demopoulos shares what she's excited about as we head out into the Pacific.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Energy & Wildlife, Environments Program, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Date published: September 13, 2017
Federal Ocean Partnership Launches DEEP SEARCH Study of Coral, Canyons, and Seeps Off the Mid- and South Atlantic Coast
Scientists beginning a three-week research cruises to study deep-sea corals, canyons and seeps departed from Norfolk, Virginia on September 12 after a one-day delay due to the effects of Hurricane Irma. USGS research oceanographer Amanda Demopoulos is the lead scientist for this cruise, the first of three planned as part of a four-and-a-half year study.
Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: May 31, 2017
Real-Time Public Engagement in Deep-Water Remotely Operated Vehicle Dives at Methane Seeps
Outreach activities were a critical component of the remotely operated vehicle research cruise during which USGS scientists teamed with collaborators to explore the seafloor at methane seeps on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic margin aboard the R/V Hugh R. Sharp.
Date published: May 27, 2015
Pathways to the Abyss
USGS researchers collaborated with academic and private organizations and institutions, BOEM and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct ecosystem-based science to support the responsible exploration and development of the nation’s resources.