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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

Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus) Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus)

A common challenge in reconstructing phylogenies involves a high frequency of short internal branches, which makes basal relationships difficult to resolve. Often it is not clear whether this pattern results from insufficient or inappropriate data, versus from a rapid evolutionary radiation. The snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus, which contains in excess of 100 species and is a prominent...
Authors
C.L. Morrison, R. Rios, J.E. Duffy

Glugea pimephales Fantham, Porter, and Richardson, 1941, n comb (Microporidia: Glugeidae) in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas Glugea pimephales Fantham, Porter, and Richardson, 1941, n comb (Microporidia: Glugeidae) in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

A microsporidan parasite, fitting the description of Nosema pimephales Fantham, Porter and Richardson, 1941, was found in fry of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, from the Wray Fish Hatchery near Fort Morgan, Colorado. More detailed studies proved it to be a typical species of Glugea Thélohan, 1891, to which genus it was transferred. Presence of a delicate sporophorous...
Authors
C. Morrison, G. L. Hoffman, V. Sprague
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science 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
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Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 50

Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus) Phylogenetic evidence for an ancient rapid radiation of Caribbean sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps (Synalpheus)

A common challenge in reconstructing phylogenies involves a high frequency of short internal branches, which makes basal relationships difficult to resolve. Often it is not clear whether this pattern results from insufficient or inappropriate data, versus from a rapid evolutionary radiation. The snapping shrimp genus Synalpheus, which contains in excess of 100 species and is a prominent...
Authors
C.L. Morrison, R. Rios, J.E. Duffy

Glugea pimephales Fantham, Porter, and Richardson, 1941, n comb (Microporidia: Glugeidae) in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas Glugea pimephales Fantham, Porter, and Richardson, 1941, n comb (Microporidia: Glugeidae) in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas

A microsporidan parasite, fitting the description of Nosema pimephales Fantham, Porter and Richardson, 1941, was found in fry of the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, from the Wray Fish Hatchery near Fort Morgan, Colorado. More detailed studies proved it to be a typical species of Glugea Thélohan, 1891, to which genus it was transferred. Presence of a delicate sporophorous...
Authors
C. Morrison, G. L. Hoffman, V. Sprague
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science 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
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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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