Sean P. Powers

Senior Marine Scientist 
Associate Professor, University of South Alabama

Ph.D., 1997, Texas A&M University

Email

Fisheries Ecology Lab

Research Interests

My research focuses on the ecology of coastal/estuarine fishes and benthic invertebrates, particularly those that support commercial and recreational fisheries.  The ultimate goal of my research program is to provide scientifically sound information to direct conservation and restoration efforts of marine fisheries and the habitats that these species rely upon.  Within this context, I have investigated the effects of environmental variables (e.g. hydrodynamics, hypoxia/anoxia), host-parasite interactions, benthic-pelagic coupling, resource competition, predation and recruitment on the distribution and abundance of marine fishes and invertebrates.  I use a variety of techniques to examine these processes including field experimentation & sampling, food-web modeling, stable isotope analysis, otolith chemistry and hydro-acoustic tracking of fish.  My current research focus can be separated into four topics: quantifying linkages between benthic habitats and demersal fish & invertebrates, conservation and restoration of marine biogenic habitats, recruitment of marine fish and invertebrates, and ecosystem/trophic transfer studies.

Current Research Projects - Please visit http://fisherieslab.disl.org/projects.htm

Selected Publications

Powers, S. P., M. A. Bishop, S. Moffit, and G. H. Reeves.  2007.  Variability in freshwater, estuarine and marine residence of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) within the Copper and Bering River Deltas, Alaska . In: C. A. Woody, editor.  Sockeye salmon ecology, evolution, and management.  American Fisheries Society Symposium 54: 87-99.  

Myers, R. A., J. Buam, T. A. Sheperd, S. P. Powers and C. H. Peterson.  2007.  Cascading effects of the loss of apex predatory sharks from the coastal ocean. Science 315:1846-1850.  

Coen, L. D., Mike, R. D. Brumbaugh, D. Bushek, R. Grizzle, M. W. Luckenbach, M.  H. Posey, S. P. Powers, and S. G. Tolley.  2007.  AS WE SEE IT: Ecosystem services related to oyster restoration.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 341:304-307.  

Powers, M. J., H. C. Summerson, C. H. Peterson, and S. P. Powers.  2007.  Macroalgal growth on bivalve aquaculture netting enhances nursery habitat for mobile invertebrates and juvenile fishes.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 339:100-122.  

Powers, S. P., M. A. Bishop, J. H. Grabowski and C. H. Peterson.  2006.  Distribution of the invasive bivalve Mya arenaria L. on intertidal flats of southcentral Alaska .  Journal of Sea Research 55:207-216.  

Bishop, M. J., S. P. Powers, H. J. Porter and C. H. Peterson.  2006.  Benthic biological effects of seasonal hypoxia in a eutrophic estuary predate rapid coastal development.  Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 70:415-426.  

Powers S. P., C. H. Peterson, R. R. Christian , E. Sullivan, M. J. Powers, M. Bishop and C. P. Buzzelli.  2005.  Effects of eutrophication on bottom habitat and prey resources of demersal fishes. Marine Ecology Progress Series 302: 233-243.  

Grabowski, J. H. and S. P. Powers.  2004.  Habitat complexity mitigates trophic transfer on oyster reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series 277:291-295.

Powers, S. P., J. Grabowski, C. H. Peterson, and W. J. Lindberg.  2003.  Estimating enhancement of fish production by offshore artificial reefs: uncertainty exhibited by divergent scenarios. Marine Ecology Progress Series 264:267-279.

Sperduto, M., S. P. Powers and M. Donlan.  2003.  Scaling restoration actions to achieve quantitative enhancement of loon, seaduck, and seabird populations. Marine Ecology Progress Series 264:221-233.  

Powers, S. P. and J. N. Kittinger.  2002.  Hydrodynamic mediation of predator-prey interactions: differential patterns of prey susceptibility and predator success explained by variation in water flow.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 273: 171-187.  

C. H. Peterson, F. J. Fodrie, H. C. Summerson and S. P. Powers.  2001.  Site-specific and density-dependent extinction of prey by schooling rays: generation of a population sink in top-quality habitat for bay scallops.  Oecologia 129:349-356.  

Powers, S. P. and C. H. Peterson.  2000.  Conditional density dependence: The flow trigger to expression of density-dependent emigration in bay scallops.  Limnology and Oceanography 45:727-732.