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Cheryl L Morrison, Ph.D.

Cheryl Morrison is an emeritus Research Geneticist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center, National Fish Health Laboratory in Kearneysville, WV

Dr. Morrison applies genetic and genomic methods to study biodiversity, determine how species are classified, identify conservation units, and understand how invertebrates and invasive species move across ecosystems. A major part of this work focuses on documenting biodiversity and ecological connections in vulnerable deep-sea habitats along the U.S. continental slope—areas that remain poorly studied but are highly sensitive to both natural and human impacts. Another key area of research involves using environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect important species, evaluate habitat conditions, and enhance understanding of food web dynamics.

 

Professional Experience

  • 2026-present: Emeritus Research Geneticist, USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center

  • 2013-2025: Supervisory Research Geneticist, USGS Leetown Science Center

  • 2011-2013: Research Geneticist, USGS Leetown Science Center

  • 2006-2010: Geneticist, USGS Leetown Science Center

  • 2002-2006: Biologist, USGS Leetown Science Center

  • 2000-2001: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary

  • 1999-2000: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary

  • 1997-1999: Post-doctoral Res

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 1997, Florida State University

  • B.S., 1991, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Major: Marine Biology

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 2018-Present, Affiliate Faculty, Environmental Science and Policy Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. 

  • George Mason University 2018-2021

Honors and Awards

  • The U.S. Department of the Interior's Partnership Conservation Award, 2007 (Chemo III Study: Investigations of Chemosynthetic Communities on the Lower Continental Slope of the Gulf of Mexico)

  • The National Oceanographic Partnership Program’s Excellence in Partnering for 2011 (Lophelia II Study: Exploration and Research of Northern Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Natural and

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 50

Workshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna Workshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna

Two workshops with subject matter experts in the appropriate fields, were held in November and December 2021 to elicit guidance and feedback from the broader mesophotic and deep benthic scientific community. These workshops focused on best practices/approaches and identifying data gaps relative to habitat assessment and evaluation goals of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community (MDBC)
Authors
Rachel Bassett, Stacey L. Harter, Randy Clark, Ian Zink, Katherine Hornick, Jennifer Hartman, Hanna Bliska, Melissa Carle, Tracey Sutton, Amanda Demopoulos, Andy David, Kristopher Benson, Jill Bourque, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Stephanie M. Sharuga, Alicia Caporaso, Jennifer Le, Jennifer Herting, Cheryl L. Morrison, Matthew Poti
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Gulf of America

Genetic and morphological characterization of the freshwater mussel clubshell species complex (Pleurobema clava and Pleurobema oviforme) to inform conservation planning Genetic and morphological characterization of the freshwater mussel clubshell species complex (Pleurobema clava and Pleurobema oviforme) to inform conservation planning

The shell morphologies of the freshwater mussel species Pleurobema clava (federally endangered) and Pleurobema oviforme (species of concern) are similar, causing considerable taxonomic confusion between the two species over the last 100 years. While P. clava was historically widespread throughout the Ohio River basin and tributaries to the lower Laurentian Great Lakes, P. oviforme was...
Authors
Cheryl L. Morrison, Nathan A. Johnson, Jess W Jones, Michael S. Eackles, Aaron Aunins, Daniel Bruce Fitzgerald, Eric M. Hallerman, Timothy L. King
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Paleoclimate ocean conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal composition through deep time Paleoclimate ocean conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal composition through deep time

Identifying how past environmental conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal traits provides a framework for predicting their persistence and that of their non-calcifying relatives under impending global warming and ocean acidification. Here we show that ocean geochemistry, particularly aragonite–calcite seas, drives patterns of morphological evolution in anthozoans...
Authors
Andrea M. Quattrini, Eliana Rodriguez-Burgueno, B. C. Faircloth, P. Cowman, M. R. Brugler, G. Farfan, M. E. Hellberg, M. V. Kitahara, Cheryl L. Morrison, D. A. Paz-Garcia, J. D. Reimer, C. S. McFadden
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region

Red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) are abundant in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, from the glacial fjords of Southeast Alaska where they emerge to as shallow as 6 m, to the continental shelf edge and seamounts where they are more commonly found at depths greater than 150 – 500 m. This keystone species forms large thickets, creating habitat for many associated species, including economically...
Authors
Rhian G. Waller, Robert P. Stone, Lauren Rice, Julia Johnstone, Ashley M. Rossin, Elise Hartill, Keri Feehan, Cheryl Morrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Windows to the deep 2018: Exploration of the southeast US Continental margin Windows to the deep 2018: Exploration of the southeast US Continental margin

Windows to the Deep 2018: Exploration of the Southeast US Continental Margin was a 36-day expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to acquire data on priority exploration areas identified by the ocean management and scientific communities. This expedition involved high-resolution multibeam sonar mapping and ROV dives, ranging from 340 m to 3,400 m depth, across the southeast US...
Authors
Leslie R Sautter, Cheryl L. Morrison, Kasey Cantwell, Derek Sowers, Elizabeth Lobecker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Molecular characterization of Bathymodiolus mussels and gill symbionts associated with chemosynthetic habitats from the U.S. Atlantic margin 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 their phylogenetic affinities remain...
Authors
Dolly Coykendall, Robert S. Cornman, Nancy G. Prouty, Sandra Brooke, Amanda W. J. Demopoulos, Cheryl L. Morrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The complete maternal mitochondrial genome sequences of two imperiled North American freshwater mussels: Alasmidonta heterodon and Alasmidonta varicosa (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae) The complete maternal mitochondrial genome sequences of two imperiled North American freshwater mussels: Alasmidonta heterodon and Alasmidonta varicosa (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae)

The freshwater mussels Alasmidonta heterodon and A. varicosa historically inhabited rivers along the North American Atlantic coast from the Carolinas, U.S.A., to New Brunswick, CA. However, many populations have been extirpated, and A. heterodon is now federally listed in the U.S.A. as endangered, and both A. heterodon and A. varicosa are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. To...
Authors
Aaron Aunins, Cheryl L. Morrison, Heather Galbraith, Michael S. Eackles, W. Bane Schill, Tim L. King
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparison of microbiomes of cold-water corals Primnoa pacifica and Primnoa resedaeformis, with possible link between microbiome composition and host genotype Comparison of microbiomes of cold-water corals Primnoa pacifica and Primnoa resedaeformis, with possible link between microbiome composition and host genotype

Cold-water corals provide critical habitats for a multitude of marine species, but are understudied relative to tropical corals. Primnoa pacifica is a cold-water coral prevalent throughout Alaskan waters, while another species in the genus, Primnoa resedaeformis, is widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean. This study examined the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene after amplifying and
Authors
Dawn B. Goldsmith, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Michael A. Gray, Robert P. Stone, Rhian G. Waller, Sandra D. Brooke, Steve W. Ross
By
Land Management Research Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory

Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is a herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles worldwide. Single-locus typing has previously shown differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific strains of this virus, with low variation within each geographic clade. However, a lack of multi-locus genomic sequence data hinders understanding of the rate and mechanisms of ChHV5
Authors
Cheryl L. Morrison, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Thierry M. Work, Elizabeth Fahsbender, Mya Breitbart, Cynthia R. Adams, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Lakyn Sanders, Mathias Ackermann, Robert S. Cornman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico

The deep sea is a rich environment composed of diverse habitat types. While deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered within each ocean basin, knowledge about the ecology of these habitats and associated inhabitants continues to grow. This report presents information and results from the Lophelia II project that examined deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lophelia II...
Authors
Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Steve W. Ross, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Jill R. Bourque, Julie P. Galkiewicz, Michael A. Gray, Marcus J. Springmann, D. Katharine Coykendall, Andrew Miller, Mike Rhode, Andrea Quattrini, Cheryl L. Ames, Sandra D. Brooke, Jennifer P. McClain-Counts, E. Brendan Roark, Noreen A. Buster, Ryan M. Phillips, Janessy Frometa
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) revisited: Molecular species delineation using a mitochondrial DNA gene reveals multiple conspecifics and undescribed species The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) revisited: Molecular species delineation using a mitochondrial DNA gene reveals multiple conspecifics and undescribed species

The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) represent approximately one-third of freshwater mussel diversity in North America. Species identification within this group is challenging due to morphological convergence and phenotypic plasticity. Accurate species identification, including characterisation of currently unrecognised taxa, is required to develop effective conservation strategies...
Authors
Kentaro Inoue, David M. Hayes, John L. Harris, Nathan A. Johnson, Cheryl L. Morrison, Michael S. Eackles, Tim King, Jess W. Jones, Eric M. Hallerman, Alan D. Christian, Charles R. Randklev
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Deep-sea coral research and technology program: Alaska deep-sea coral and sponge initiative final report Deep-sea coral research and technology program: Alaska deep-sea coral and sponge initiative final report

Deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems are widespread throughout most of Alaska’s marine waters. In some places, such as the central and western Aleutian Islands, deep-sea coral and sponge resources can be extremely diverse and may rank among the most abundant deep-sea coral and sponge communities in the world. Many different species of fishes and invertebrates are associated with deep-sea...
Authors
Chris Rooper, Robert P. Stone, Peter Etnoyer, Christina Conrath, Jennifer Reynolds, H. Gary Greene, Branwen Williams, Enrique Salgado, Cheryl L. Morrison, Rhian G. Waller, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Duffy, J.E., Morrison, C.L., and Rios, R., 2000, Multiple origins of eusociality among sponge-dwelling shrimps (Synalpheus): Evolution v. 54, no 2, p. 503-516.
Morrison, C.L., Harvey, A.W., Lavery, S., Tieu, K., Huang, Y., and Cunningham, C.W., 2002, Mitochondrial gene rearrangements confirm parallel evolution of the crab-like form: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B v. 269, no. 1489, p. 345-350. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2001.1886
Duffy, J.E., Morrison. C.L., and Macdonald, K., 2002, Colony defense, division of labor, and productivity in the eusocial shrimp Synalpheus regalis: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology v. 51, p. 488-495. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-002-0455-5
Morrison, C.L., Duffy, J.E., and Rios, R., 2004, Phylogenetic hypothesis suggests rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus): Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 30, p. 563-581. DOI: 10.1016/s1055-7903(03)00252-5
Carlsson, J., Morrison, C.L., and Reece, K.S., 2006, A wild population and aquaculture strain of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) compared using microsatellite markers: Journal of Heredity, v. 97, no. 6, p. 595-598. DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esl034
Hare, M.P., Allen, S.K., Bloomer, P., Camara, M.D., Carnegie, R.B., Murfree, J., Luckenbach, M., Meritt, D., Morrison, C.L., Paynter, K., Reece, K.S., and Rose, C., 2006, A genetic test for recruitment enhancement after supplementation with a disease tolerant oyster strain (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay: Conservation Genetics, v. 7, no. 5, p. 717-734. DOI: 10.1007/s10592-005-9108-3

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Filter Total Items: 13
Colonies of the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa off the coast of South Carolina

Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

This study utilizes genetics and genomics techniques to characterize biodiversity and genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats and cold seeps in and near submarine canyons and will use environmental DNA techniques to characterize plankton diversity and to identify key contributors to carbon export from surface waters that sustain sensitive benthic communities. The proposed genetics and...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

This study utilizes genetics and genomics techniques to characterize biodiversity and genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats and cold seeps in and near submarine canyons and will use environmental DNA techniques to characterize plankton diversity and to identify key contributors to carbon export from surface waters that sustain sensitive benthic communities. The proposed genetics and...
Learn More
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Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 50

Workshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna Workshops report for mesophotic and deep benthic community fish, mobile invertebrates, sessile invertebrates and infauna

Two workshops with subject matter experts in the appropriate fields, were held in November and December 2021 to elicit guidance and feedback from the broader mesophotic and deep benthic scientific community. These workshops focused on best practices/approaches and identifying data gaps relative to habitat assessment and evaluation goals of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community (MDBC)
Authors
Rachel Bassett, Stacey L. Harter, Randy Clark, Ian Zink, Katherine Hornick, Jennifer Hartman, Hanna Bliska, Melissa Carle, Tracey Sutton, Amanda Demopoulos, Andy David, Kristopher Benson, Jill Bourque, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Stephanie M. Sharuga, Alicia Caporaso, Jennifer Le, Jennifer Herting, Cheryl L. Morrison, Matthew Poti
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Gulf of America

Genetic and morphological characterization of the freshwater mussel clubshell species complex (Pleurobema clava and Pleurobema oviforme) to inform conservation planning Genetic and morphological characterization of the freshwater mussel clubshell species complex (Pleurobema clava and Pleurobema oviforme) to inform conservation planning

The shell morphologies of the freshwater mussel species Pleurobema clava (federally endangered) and Pleurobema oviforme (species of concern) are similar, causing considerable taxonomic confusion between the two species over the last 100 years. While P. clava was historically widespread throughout the Ohio River basin and tributaries to the lower Laurentian Great Lakes, P. oviforme was...
Authors
Cheryl L. Morrison, Nathan A. Johnson, Jess W Jones, Michael S. Eackles, Aaron Aunins, Daniel Bruce Fitzgerald, Eric M. Hallerman, Timothy L. King
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Paleoclimate ocean conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal composition through deep time Paleoclimate ocean conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal composition through deep time

Identifying how past environmental conditions shaped the evolution of corals and their skeletal traits provides a framework for predicting their persistence and that of their non-calcifying relatives under impending global warming and ocean acidification. Here we show that ocean geochemistry, particularly aragonite–calcite seas, drives patterns of morphological evolution in anthozoans...
Authors
Andrea M. Quattrini, Eliana Rodriguez-Burgueno, B. C. Faircloth, P. Cowman, M. R. Brugler, G. Farfan, M. E. Hellberg, M. V. Kitahara, Cheryl L. Morrison, D. A. Paz-Garcia, J. D. Reimer, C. S. McFadden
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region

Red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) are abundant in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, from the glacial fjords of Southeast Alaska where they emerge to as shallow as 6 m, to the continental shelf edge and seamounts where they are more commonly found at depths greater than 150 – 500 m. This keystone species forms large thickets, creating habitat for many associated species, including economically...
Authors
Rhian G. Waller, Robert P. Stone, Lauren Rice, Julia Johnstone, Ashley M. Rossin, Elise Hartill, Keri Feehan, Cheryl Morrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Windows to the deep 2018: Exploration of the southeast US Continental margin Windows to the deep 2018: Exploration of the southeast US Continental margin

Windows to the Deep 2018: Exploration of the Southeast US Continental Margin was a 36-day expedition aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to acquire data on priority exploration areas identified by the ocean management and scientific communities. This expedition involved high-resolution multibeam sonar mapping and ROV dives, ranging from 340 m to 3,400 m depth, across the southeast US...
Authors
Leslie R Sautter, Cheryl L. Morrison, Kasey Cantwell, Derek Sowers, Elizabeth Lobecker
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Molecular characterization of Bathymodiolus mussels and gill symbionts associated with chemosynthetic habitats from the U.S. Atlantic margin 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 their phylogenetic affinities remain...
Authors
Dolly Coykendall, Robert S. Cornman, Nancy G. Prouty, Sandra Brooke, Amanda W. J. Demopoulos, Cheryl L. Morrison
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

The complete maternal mitochondrial genome sequences of two imperiled North American freshwater mussels: Alasmidonta heterodon and Alasmidonta varicosa (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae) The complete maternal mitochondrial genome sequences of two imperiled North American freshwater mussels: Alasmidonta heterodon and Alasmidonta varicosa (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae)

The freshwater mussels Alasmidonta heterodon and A. varicosa historically inhabited rivers along the North American Atlantic coast from the Carolinas, U.S.A., to New Brunswick, CA. However, many populations have been extirpated, and A. heterodon is now federally listed in the U.S.A. as endangered, and both A. heterodon and A. varicosa are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. To...
Authors
Aaron Aunins, Cheryl L. Morrison, Heather Galbraith, Michael S. Eackles, W. Bane Schill, Tim L. King
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center

Comparison of microbiomes of cold-water corals Primnoa pacifica and Primnoa resedaeformis, with possible link between microbiome composition and host genotype Comparison of microbiomes of cold-water corals Primnoa pacifica and Primnoa resedaeformis, with possible link between microbiome composition and host genotype

Cold-water corals provide critical habitats for a multitude of marine species, but are understudied relative to tropical corals. Primnoa pacifica is a cold-water coral prevalent throughout Alaskan waters, while another species in the genus, Primnoa resedaeformis, is widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean. This study examined the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene after amplifying and
Authors
Dawn B. Goldsmith, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Michael A. Gray, Robert P. Stone, Rhian G. Waller, Sandra D. Brooke, Steve W. Ross
By
Land Management Research Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory

Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis Genomic evolution, recombination, and inter-strain diversity of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 from Florida and Hawaii green sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis

Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is a herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles worldwide. Single-locus typing has previously shown differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific strains of this virus, with low variation within each geographic clade. However, a lack of multi-locus genomic sequence data hinders understanding of the rate and mechanisms of ChHV5
Authors
Cheryl L. Morrison, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Thierry M. Work, Elizabeth Fahsbender, Mya Breitbart, Cynthia R. Adams, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Lakyn Sanders, Mathias Ackermann, Robert S. Cornman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, National Wildlife Health Center

Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico

The deep sea is a rich environment composed of diverse habitat types. While deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered within each ocean basin, knowledge about the ecology of these habitats and associated inhabitants continues to grow. This report presents information and results from the Lophelia II project that examined deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lophelia II...
Authors
Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Steve W. Ross, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Jill R. Bourque, Julie P. Galkiewicz, Michael A. Gray, Marcus J. Springmann, D. Katharine Coykendall, Andrew Miller, Mike Rhode, Andrea Quattrini, Cheryl L. Ames, Sandra D. Brooke, Jennifer P. McClain-Counts, E. Brendan Roark, Noreen A. Buster, Ryan M. Phillips, Janessy Frometa
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) revisited: Molecular species delineation using a mitochondrial DNA gene reveals multiple conspecifics and undescribed species The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) revisited: Molecular species delineation using a mitochondrial DNA gene reveals multiple conspecifics and undescribed species

The Pleurobemini (Bivalvia: Unionida) represent approximately one-third of freshwater mussel diversity in North America. Species identification within this group is challenging due to morphological convergence and phenotypic plasticity. Accurate species identification, including characterisation of currently unrecognised taxa, is required to develop effective conservation strategies...
Authors
Kentaro Inoue, David M. Hayes, John L. Harris, Nathan A. Johnson, Cheryl L. Morrison, Michael S. Eackles, Tim King, Jess W. Jones, Eric M. Hallerman, Alan D. Christian, Charles R. Randklev
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Deep-sea coral research and technology program: Alaska deep-sea coral and sponge initiative final report Deep-sea coral research and technology program: Alaska deep-sea coral and sponge initiative final report

Deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems are widespread throughout most of Alaska’s marine waters. In some places, such as the central and western Aleutian Islands, deep-sea coral and sponge resources can be extremely diverse and may rank among the most abundant deep-sea coral and sponge communities in the world. Many different species of fishes and invertebrates are associated with deep-sea...
Authors
Chris Rooper, Robert P. Stone, Peter Etnoyer, Christina Conrath, Jennifer Reynolds, H. Gary Greene, Branwen Williams, Enrique Salgado, Cheryl L. Morrison, Rhian G. Waller, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Duffy, J.E., Morrison, C.L., and Rios, R., 2000, Multiple origins of eusociality among sponge-dwelling shrimps (Synalpheus): Evolution v. 54, no 2, p. 503-516.
Morrison, C.L., Harvey, A.W., Lavery, S., Tieu, K., Huang, Y., and Cunningham, C.W., 2002, Mitochondrial gene rearrangements confirm parallel evolution of the crab-like form: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B v. 269, no. 1489, p. 345-350. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2001.1886
Duffy, J.E., Morrison. C.L., and Macdonald, K., 2002, Colony defense, division of labor, and productivity in the eusocial shrimp Synalpheus regalis: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology v. 51, p. 488-495. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-002-0455-5
Morrison, C.L., Duffy, J.E., and Rios, R., 2004, Phylogenetic hypothesis suggests rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus): Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, v. 30, p. 563-581. DOI: 10.1016/s1055-7903(03)00252-5
Carlsson, J., Morrison, C.L., and Reece, K.S., 2006, A wild population and aquaculture strain of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) compared using microsatellite markers: Journal of Heredity, v. 97, no. 6, p. 595-598. DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esl034
Hare, M.P., Allen, S.K., Bloomer, P., Camara, M.D., Carnegie, R.B., Murfree, J., Luckenbach, M., Meritt, D., Morrison, C.L., Paynter, K., Reece, K.S., and Rose, C., 2006, A genetic test for recruitment enhancement after supplementation with a disease tolerant oyster strain (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay: Conservation Genetics, v. 7, no. 5, p. 717-734. DOI: 10.1007/s10592-005-9108-3

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Filter Total Items: 13
Colonies of the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa off the coast of South Carolina

Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

This study utilizes genetics and genomics techniques to characterize biodiversity and genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats and cold seeps in and near submarine canyons and will use environmental DNA techniques to characterize plankton diversity and to identify key contributors to carbon export from surface waters that sustain sensitive benthic communities. The proposed genetics and...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities. Part II: Genetic Connectivity and Oceanomic Studies

This study utilizes genetics and genomics techniques to characterize biodiversity and genetic connectivity among deep-sea coral habitats and cold seeps in and near submarine canyons and will use environmental DNA techniques to characterize plankton diversity and to identify key contributors to carbon export from surface waters that sustain sensitive benthic communities. The proposed genetics and...
Learn More
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*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

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