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RESEARCH OVERVIEW:
I am currently looking for a new job in research and/or education. My expertise is multidisciplinary but mainly falls into the fields of marine ecology and conservation, invasion biology, oceanography, community ecology, evolutionary biology, and limnology. Research questions of interest are both applied and theoretical. I have conducted research in Africa, Australia, Canada, U.S., and the Galapagos including manipulative field experiments complimented with broad-scale surveys to test theory and better understand drivers of large-scale patterns in nature. I endeavor to identify important biotic and abiotic factors controlling the diversity of an ecosystem in order to better inform managers and policy-makers. My research to date has focused on monitoring, managing and modeling the spread of invasive species. Invasive species are a global, daunting problem causing over $120 billion dollars of damage, each year, in the US alone. They are one of the leading causes for biodiversity loss and the number of invaders exponentially increases each year. I focus on marine invasive species, as marine invasion biology lags behind its counterparts in terrestrial and aquatic systems. I use the Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus) and European green crab (Carcinus maenas) as model organisms. This research has mainly been conducted from New Jersey to Maine, USA. More recently, I expanded my research to tunicates by studying the invasion of the vase tunicate (Ciona intestinalis), which threatens the multimillion dollar mussel industry of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Currently I am researching the biology, ecology, and conservation of sharks, rays, and skates in South Africa.
EDUCATION
2005-2009: Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Biology and Conservation, McGill University, Department of Biology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
2000-2004: Bachelor of Science, Water Environments and Ecosystems – Biological Focus, McGill University, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Research | Study Organisms | Publications & Awards | Media Coverage | Invasive Tracers
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 Photo
credit: Michael Becker |
 Photo
credit: Michael
Becker |
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Study
organisms:
SHARKS: My current research interests are topics in the field of marine biology and conservation. I am currently focusing on the biology, ecology, and conservation of elasmobranch fishes (sharks, rays and skates), applied fisheries biology, and physiological ecology of fishes. More specifically: 1) tracking the abundance and residency of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and bull sharks (Carcharinus leucas) using acoustic telemetry and photo identification; 2) devising strategies to reduce the mortality of released elasmobranch fishes by recreational fishermen and discarded bycatch in commercial fishing operations; 3) documenting diurnal and weekly movement patterns of C. carcharias; and 4) identifying ways to minimize human-shark interactions by understanding the patterns of daily activities for both groups. This information will further research on the species and guide management of elasmobranch fishes, which is critically important since tens of millions are killed every year for consumptive (e.g., meat, shark fin cartilage) and non-consumptive reasons (e.g., their jaws, teeth, or simply a picture of them). Therefore my research answers both pure and applied research question and directly relates to a current global environmental problem.
CRABS: As widely
distributed organisms, Carcinus maenas
and Hemigrapsus sanguineus were
logical choices for this new type of study and
validation towards yielding the data needed for
the progress of marine invasion ecology.
Carcinus maenas has invaded the coasts of
North America, South Africa, Australia, South
America and other places outside of its native
range of the Atlantic coast of Europe and possibly
northwest Africa. Carcinus maenas was
presumably brought to the Atlantic coast of North
America, in 1817, with solid ballast. By 1989, it
started colonizing the Pacific coast of North
America starting in San Francisco Bay. It was
transported accidentally from the east coast by
activities associated with the live food and bait
trade. Establishment and persistence in these
various environments is likely facilitated by its
omnivorous feeding strategy and its ability
to tolerate a wide range of temperatures and
salinities. A single brood of C. maenas
can contain 185,000 - 250,000 eggs. High
fecundity and the characteristics of a generalist
allow C. maenas to inhabit a diverse
range of marine ecosystems and therefore, reduce
beta-diversity.
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Carcinus
maenas
European Green
Crab |
Carcinus
maenas
5 teethed green
crab |
Hemigrapsus
sanguineus
Asian Shore
Crab |
Hemigrapsus
sanguineus
Photo credit: Flickr
Dr.
Jennifer Forman Orth
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Similarly,
H. sanguineus is a generalist, an
omnivore, and a highly invasive brachyuran crab.
Hemigrapsus sanguineus is native to the
western Pacific but has colonized multiple
locations in Europe and during 1988 it was first
detected on the eastern coast of North America, in
New Jersey. Traffic of foreign cargo vessels was
presumably the vector that brought the Asian shore
crab to North America. In its native range, H.
sanguineus inhabits waters that range from
above 30 to below 5 oC. With a high fecundity in
the form of multiple broods of up to 60,000 eggs
each breeding season, H. sanguineus has
expanded its invasive range along the eastern
coast of the United States, and has colonized from
Oregon Inlet, North Carolina to Schoodic
Peninsula, Maine.
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Publications:
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Delaney, D.G., Edwards, P.K., Leung, B. In press. Predicting regional spread of invasive species using oceanographic models - validation and identification of gaps. Marine Biology. http://www.springerlink.com/content/f54337327611028w/
Delaney, D.G., Griffen, B.D., Leung, B. 2011. Does consumer modify invasion impact? Biological Invasions. 12: 2935-2945. PDF
White, P.J, Delaney, D.G., Syncox, D., Akerberg, O.A., Alters, B. 2011. Clicker Technology Implementation for Effective Long Term Sustainability. EDUCAUSE Quarterly 34: 4.
http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/ClickerImplementationModels/242688
Delaney, D.G. and Leung, B. 2010. An empirical probability model of detecting species at low densities. Ecological Applications 20: 1162-1172. PDF
Delaney, D.G. 2009. Monitoring and managing the spread of marine introduced species: development of approaches and application to the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) and the Asian shore crab (Hemigrapsus sanguineus). Ph.D. dissertation, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Delaney, D.G., Sperling, C.D., Adams, C.S. and Leung, B. 2008. Marine invasive species: validation of citizen science and implications for national monitoring networks. Biological Invasions 10: 117-128. PDF
Griffen, B.D. and Delaney, D.G. 2007. Species invasion shifts the importance of predator dependence. Ecology 88: 3012-3021. PDF
Leung, B. and Delaney, D.G. 2006. Managing sparse data in biological invasions: a simulation study. Ecological modeling 198: 229-239. PDF
SUBMITTED PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS 
Delaney, D.G., Johnson R.J., Bester M.B., Gennari E., Meyër, E. Accuracy of using acoustic telemetry data and visual identification of attracted white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) to estimate residency patterns. Submitted to PLoS ONE.
Johnson R.L., Keswick T., Bester M.N., Gennari E., Delaney D.G. Seasonal habitat use and population composition of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) at Dyer Island, South Africa. Submitted to African Journal of Marine Sciences.
NON-PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS 
Delaney, D.G. 2010. The global threat of invasive species. Beyond Blue. PDF
Delaney, D.G. 2009. Report on the European green crab, Carcinus maenas. Center for Agricultural Bioscience International Invasive Species Compendium.
Delaney, D.G. 2008. Verifying the validity of volunteer monitoring to increase its utility: An academic perspective. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s The Volunteer Monitor. PDF
Delaney, D.G. 2007. In the Spotlight: The Marine Invasive Species Monitoring Organization. The National Institute of Invasive Species Science Citizen Science Newsletter.
Delaney, D.G. 2006. Meet the scientists. National Sea Grant’s Nab the Aquatic Invader Website.
Delaney, D.G. 2005. Asian shore crab spreads north. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Newsletter (C.Z. Mail).
Delaney, D.G. and Solecki, A. 2005. Citizen science as a solution to invasive species. Gulf Stream Newsletter: A publication of the Gulf of Maine Marine Educators’ Association.
PEER-REVIEWER OR EXPERT OPINION FOR GOVERNMENTAL DOCMENTS 
Asian Carp in the Great Lakes Region. A summary report for Members of the U.S. Congress. Buck, E.H., Upton, H.F. and Stern, C.V. In Press. Congressional Research Service.
Risk assessment for the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) and the European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in Canadian waters. 2010. Therriault, T.W., Herborg, L.M., Locke, A. and McKindsey, C.W. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Identifying significant range extensions of invasive marine pests – C.C.I.M.P.E. Range Decision Guidelines Project. Darbyshire, R. and Caley, P. 2009. Australian Government’s Bureau of Rural Sciences.
Marine Pest Incursions – A tool to predict the cost of eradication based on expert assessments by Crombie, J., Knight, E. and Barry, S. 2007. Australian Government’s Bureau of Rural Sciences. |
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2009-Present Executive Director: Invasive Tracers, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Recruited and trained over 6,000 volunteers to monitor over 60 sites in New England and New York and participate in my research
- Produced an educational video featuring interviews with Drs. James E. Byers and James T. Carlton (http://madere.biol.mcgill.ca/dgdelaney/)
- Conducted data analysis and produced final reports
- Obtained and renewed collections permits
2010-Present Long-term Substitute Teacher: Hingham High School, Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Taught four level 2 courses on general biology and ecology
- Taught one level 2 course on human anatomy and physiology
- Taught previously designed lesson plans and ones I created.
- Created a productive and positive classroom environment for learning
2010 Senior Educator and Researcher: New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Planned, designed, and implemented a complete curriculum for four different themes of an environmental and marine based educations programs
- Trained students to collect accurate data of native and invasive species for the New England Aquarium, NaGISA, and Census of Marine Life databases.
- Supervised data collection to ensure the protocol was conducted properly.
- Taught on a variety of topics in biology, ecology, and marine sciences
2010 Research Assistant: Mossel Bay Marine Laboratory, Mossel Bay, South Africa
- Conducted photo identification, sighting rate, and mark-recapture methods to establish and monitor the population status and abundance of great white sharks and bottlenose dolphins in Mossel Bay
- Executed genetic and stable isotope sampling to establish genetic relationships of white sharks in South Africa and internationally to map energy flow through the marine ecosystem of Mossel Bay
- Conducted active acoustic tracking to determine habitat use, home range and movement patterns of white sharks in Mossel Bay
2010 Research Assistant: Zavora Marine Laboratory, Zavora, Mozambique
- Conducted visual surveys of recreational scuba divers to establish the impact of divers on manta ray cleaning stations, benthic communities, and the health of coral reefs
- Executed standardised coral reef monitoring protocols (Reef Check) to monitor long term impact on reef structure
- Conducted underwater photo identification of manta rays and whale sharks
2008-2009 Research Assistant: The Tomlinson Project in University-Level Science Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Conducted a study on the sustainability of student response systems (clickers) in undergraduate science classes to determine if it is worth investing up to $500,000 dollars or if a student pays system or an alternative model is feasible
- Created questionnaires to assess the students’ satisfaction with clickers
- Conducted in-class observations to identify effective ways to use clickers
2008-2009 Research Assistant: Teaching and Learning Services, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Evaluate the perception and satisfaction of student response systems by conducting in-class surveys in courses across the Faculty of Science
- Created a database for assessing the effectiveness of using clickers
2004 Research Assistant: Dr. Brian Leung Lab, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Coded a spread model that manages sparse data on biological invasions
- Prepared a successful grant proposal and assisted in writing a peer-reviewed publication
2004 Field Assistant: Charles Darwin Research Institute, Galapagos, Ecuador
- Conducted ethological study on the feeding habits of different species of Darwin’s finches as well as collected finches and other species by mist net, banded, measured them, and recorded morphological and bite force data
- The data was published in Proceedings of Royal Society of London Series B
2002-2004 Educator: New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Planned, designed, and implemented a complete curriculum for four different themes of an environmental and marine based educations programs
- Supervised and maintained group dynamics to optimize work success, efficiency, and enjoyment of the students, parents, and staff
- Taught science in the classroom and at sea (e.g., 90’ schooner, 113’ catamaran)
2003 Consultant: Sierra Club of Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Gathered data from various sources and determined the best ways to overcome sparse data to create an accurate predictive model
- Designed and implemented a statistical model to predict in real time, where and when it is safe to swim in the Lac St. Louis area of Quebec
2001 Paid Intern: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Ride Share Program. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
- Helped implement and expand a state environmental regulation
- Maintained a database in Microsoft Access of pertinent information for all businesses in Massachusetts
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Awards
- 2011 Hingham High School Teacher of the Week Award
- 2009 G.R.E.A.T. / G.T.C. Travel Award ($500)
- 2009 Alma Mater Student Travel Grant Award ($750)
- 2008 Gulf of Maine Visionary Award
- 2007 University of Maine’s Addison E. Verrill Award for Marine Biology ($2,000)
- 2006 McGill Graduate Studies Fellowship Award ($5,000)
- 2005 Co-P.I. on a grant from N.O.A.A.’s National Sea Grant ($205,755)
- 2005 Ecological Society of America’s E.C. Pielou Award ($200)
- 2005 McGill Graduate Studies Fellowship Award ($5,000)
Media coverage
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Last update: August 30,
2011 | |
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