Kevin Lafferty
Dr. Keving Lafferty is a Senior Ecologist with the Western Ecological Research Center.
His main interest lies in how parasites affect ecosystems and, in turn, how ecosystems affect parasites. He is also involved in research on the conservation of marine resources, investigating strategies for protecting endangered shorebirds, fish and abalone. He has also assessed the effects of marine reserves.
Dr. Lafferty received his Ph. D. in Ecological Parasitology in 1991 at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and took a post doc with the National Marine Sanctuary and a research position at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is presently a Marine Ecologist for the USGS at the Channel Islands Field Station. As a UCSB adjunct faculty member, the university's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology generously provides for Dr. Lafferty's office and laboratory space in the Marine Lab. He advises graduate students in Marine Ecology, but has no formal teaching assignments.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Conservation biology
- Invasive species ecology
- Nearshore marine ecology
- Parasite ecology
- Wetland ecology
Professional Experience
Marine Ecologist, USGS, Western Ecological Science Center, Jul 1998-Present
Assistant Adj. Prof., UCSB, Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, Jul 1998-Present
Assist. Research Biologist, UCSB Marine Science Institute, Jun 1996-Jul 1998
Assist. Research Biologist, UCLA, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Jun 1994-Jul 1998
Assist. Research Biologist, UCSB, Marine Science Institute, Jan 1993-May 1994
Post Doctoral Researcher, National Marine Sanctuaries Program, Jan 1992-Dec 1992
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 1991
M.A., Zoology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 1988
B.A., Aquatic Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 1985
Affiliations and Memberships*
Amercian Society of Parasitologists
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
California Botanical Society
Ecological Society of America
Ecological Society of America
Natural Areas Association
Western Society of Naturalists
Science and Products
Host specificity of Sacculina carcini, a potential biological control agent of the introduced European green crab Carcinus maenas in California
Host diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts
Host diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts
Trematodes in snails near raccoon latrines suggest a final host role for this mammal in California Salt Marshes
The introduced ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) in Estero de Punta Banda, Mexico: Interactions with the native cord grass, Spartina foliosa
Trematodes associated with mangrove habitat in Puerto Rican salt marshes
Look what the cat dragged in: do parasites contribute to human cultural diversity?
The role of infectious disease in natural communities: what introduced species tell us
Trematode parasites as estuarine indicators: opportunities, applications and comparisons with conventional community approaches,
Are diseases increasing in the ocean?
The rising tide of ocean diseases: Unsolved problems and research priorities
Habitat of endangered white abalone, Haliotis sorenseni
Science and Products
- Science
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Filter Total Items: 230
Host specificity of Sacculina carcini, a potential biological control agent of the introduced European green crab Carcinus maenas in California
The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is an introduced marine predator established on the west coast of North America. We conducted laboratory experiments on the host specificity of a natural enemy of the green crab, the parasitic barnacle Sacculina carcini, to provide information on the safety of its use as a possible biological control agent. Four species of non-target, native California craAuthorsJeffrey H. R. Goddard, Mark E. Torchin, Armand M. Kuris, Kevin D. LaffertyHost diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts
An unappreciated facet of biodiversity is that rich communities and high abundance may foster parasitism. For parasites that sequentially use different host species throughout complex life cycles, parasite diversity and abundance in ‘downstream’ hosts should logically increase with the diversity and abundance of ‘upstream’ hosts (which carry the preceding stages of parasites). Surprisingly, this lAuthorsRyan F. Hechinger, Kevin D. LaffertyHost diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts
An unappreciated facet of biodiversity is that rich communities and high abundance may foster parasitism. For parasites that sequentially use different host species throughout complex life cycles, parasite diversity and abundance in 'downstream' hosts should logically increase with the diversity and abundance of 'upstream' hosts (which carry the preceding stages of parasites). Surprisingly, this lAuthorsR. F. Hechinger, K. D. LaffertyTrematodes in snails near raccoon latrines suggest a final host role for this mammal in California Salt Marshes
Of the 18 trematode species that use the horn snail, Cerithidea californica, as a first intermediate host, 6 have the potential to use raccoons as a final host. The presence of raccoon latrines in Carpinteria Salt Marsh, California, allowed us to investigate associations between raccoons and trematodes in snails. Two trematode species, Probolocoryphe uca and Stictodora hancocki, occurred at higherAuthorsK. D. Lafferty, E. J. DunhamThe introduced ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa) in Estero de Punta Banda, Mexico: Interactions with the native cord grass, Spartina foliosa
Introduced populations of Guekensia demissa occur on the west coast of North America. They have been reported in San Francisco Bay, four southern California wetlands, and in Estero de Punta Banda (EPB), Baja California Norte, Mexico. We randomly sampled benthic invertebrates in four habitat types within EPB: marsh, channel, mudflat and pan. Geukensia demissa was the most abundant bivalve in the weAuthorsMark E. Torchin, Ryan F. Hechinger, Todd C. Huspeni, Kathleen L. Whitney, Kevin D. LaffertyTrematodes associated with mangrove habitat in Puerto Rican salt marshes
Batillaria minima is a common snail in the coastal estuaries of Puerto Rico. This snail is host to a variety of trematodes, the most common being Cercaria caribbea XXXI, a microphallid species that uses crabs as second intermediate hosts. The prevalence of infection was higher (7.1%) near mangroves than on mudflats away from mangroves (1.4%). Similarly, there was a significant positive associationAuthorsKevin D. Lafferty, R. F. Hechinger, J. Lorda, L. SolerLook what the cat dragged in: do parasites contribute to human cultural diversity?
If human culture emerges from the modal personality of a population, can global variation in parasitism that affects personality lead to cultural diversity among nations? The answer could help explain why people seem to vary so much from one land to another. Thomas et al. (2005) review how parasites manipulate behaviour, including human behaviour. To quote them, “The rabies virus lives in the braiAuthorsKevin D. LaffertyThe role of infectious disease in natural communities: what introduced species tell us
No abstract available at this timeAuthorsK. D. Lafferty, K.F. Smith, M.E. Torchin, A. P. Dobson, A. M. KurisTrematode parasites as estuarine indicators: opportunities, applications and comparisons with conventional community approaches,
No abstract available at this timeAuthorsT.C. Huspeni, R. F. Hechinger, K. D. LaffertyAre diseases increasing in the ocean?
Many factors (climate warming, pollution, harvesting, introduced species) can contribute to disease outbreaks in marine life. Concomitant increases in each of these makes it difficult to attribute recent changes in disease occurrence or severity to any one factor. For example, the increase in disease of Caribbean coral is postulated to be a result of climate change and introduction of terrestrialAuthorsKevin D. Lafferty, James W. Porter, Susan E. FordThe rising tide of ocean diseases: Unsolved problems and research priorities
New studies have detected a rising number of reports of diseases in marine organisms such as corals, molluscs, turtles, mammals, and echinoderms over the past three decades. Despite the increasing disease load, microbiological, molecular, and theoretical tools for managing disease in the world's oceans are under-developed. Review of the new developments in the study of these diseases identifies fiAuthorsDrew Harvell, Richard Aronson, Nancy Baron, Joseph Connell, Andrew P. Dobson, Steve Ellner, Leah R. Gerber, Kiho Kim, Armand M. Kuris, Hamish McCallum, Kevin D. Lafferty, Bruce McKay, James Porter, Mercedes Pascual, Garriett Smith, Katherine Sutherland, Jessica WardHabitat of endangered white abalone, Haliotis sorenseni
Surveys with a submersible at offshore islands and banks in southern California found that white abalone were most abundant at depths between 43 and 60 m. This is deeper than estimates taken when white abalone were more abundant. Densities were highest at sites far from fishing ports. Controlling for depth and site found that white abalone were significantly more abundant in areas with Laminaria fAuthorsKevin D. Lafferty, M.D. Behrens, G.E. Davis, P.L. Haaker, D.J. Kushner, D. V. Richards, I. K. Taniguchi, M. J. Tegner - News
*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