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Ryan Eckert

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Ryan J. Eckert

Coral reef ecology, mesophotic coral ecosystems, molecular ecology

Education

Ph.D. Candidate in Integrative Biology

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL

Present - 2019

  • Dissertation: Population genetics, community ecology, and larval dispersal in shallow and mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Tropical Western Atlantic
  • Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss

M.Sc. in Biological Sciences

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL

2019 - 2017

  • Thesis: Population genetics and algal symbiont communities of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef
  • Advisor: Dr. Joshua Voss

B.Sc. in Biological Sciences

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

2009 - 2005

  • Thesis: Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense
  • Advisor: Dr. Nora Underwood

Research Experience

Graduate Research Assistant

FAU, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Fort Pierce, FL

Present - 2017

  • Coral Reef Health and Molecular Ecology Lab

Research Specialist

NOAA’s Flower Garden Banks NMS

Galveston, TX

2017 - 2009

  • Science Division

Research Assistant

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

2009 - 2007

  • Underwood Lab

Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant / Lecturer

FAU / FIO

Long Key, FL

2022

  • FIO Summer Marine Field Studies

Graduate Teaching Assistant

FAU, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Fort Pierce, FL

2017

  • Marine Biodiversity

Guest Lecturer

Texas A&M University at Galveston

Galveston, TX

2014 - 2013

  • Scientific Diving Field Survey Methods

Instructor

Galveston Independent School District

Galveston, TX

2010

  • 21st Century ACE

Students Mentored

Emily Chei

Link fellowship intern
Assessing population connectivity of the coral Montastraea cavernosa along the northern Florida Reef Tract

N/A

2018

  • Presently a Ph.D. student at The University of Hong Kong

Ashley Reaume

Link fellowship intern
Optimized extraction and amplification of algal symbiont DNA from TRIzol preserved corals

N/A

2017

  • Presently a Ph.D. student at The University of Central Florida

Refereed Publications











  • Citations: 593

  • h-index: 14

  • i10-index: 19

23. Assesment of nutrient amendments on stony coral tissue loss disease in Southeast Florida

Front Mar Sci (2024). doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1384534

N/A

2024

Carreiro AM, Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Ingalls TC, Combs IR, Walker BK, Voss JD

22. Cryptic diversity of shallow and mesophotic Stephanocoenia intersepta corals across Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Heredity (2024). doi:10.1038/s41437-024-00698-x

N/A

2024

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD

21. Algal symbiont genera but not coral host genotypes correlate to stony coral tissue loss disease susceptibility among Orbicella faveolata colonies in South Florida

Front Mar Sci (2024). doi:10.3389/fmars.2024.1287457

N/A

2024

Klein, AM, Sturm AB, Eckert RJ, Walker BK, Neely KL, Voss JD

20. Does depth divide? Variable genetic connectivity patterns among shallow and mesophotic Montastraea cavernosa coral populations across the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean

Ecol Evol (2023). doi:10.1002/ece3.10622

N/A

2023

Sturm AB, Eckert RJ, Carreiro AM, Klein, AM, Studivan MS, Dodge Farelli D, Simões N; González-Díaz P, González Méndez J, Voss JD

19. Porites astreoides coral populations demonstrate high clonality and connectivity in southeast Florida

Coral Reefs (2023). doi:10.1007/s00338-023-02417-0

N/A

2023

Shilling EN, Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Voss JD

18. Stony coral tissue loss disease intervention with amoxicillin leads to a reversal of disease-modulated gene expression pathways

Mol Ecol (2023). doi:10.1111/mec.17110

N/A

2023

Studivan MS, Eckert RJ, Shilling EN, Soderberg N, Enochs IC, Voss JD

17. Diet and Feeding Ecology of the Whitespotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) from Florida Coastal Waters Revealed via DNA Barcoding

Fishes (2023). doi:10.3390/fishes8080388

N/A

2023

Cahill BV, Eckert RJ, Bassos-Hull K, Ostendorf TJ, Voss JD, DeGroot BC, Ajemian MJ

16. Coral disease outbreak at the remote Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Front Mar Sci (2023). doi:10.3389/fmars.2023.1111749

N/A

2023

Johnston MA, Studivan MS, Enochs IC, Correa AMS, Besemer N, Eckert RJ, Edwards K, Hannum R, Hu X, Nuttall MF, O’Connel K, Palacio-Castro AM, Schmahl GP, Sturm AB, Ushijima B, Voss JD

15. Depth-dependent genetic structuring of a depth-generalist coral and its Symbiodiniaceae algal communities at Campeche Bank, Mexico

Front Mar Sci (2022). doi:10.3389/fmars.2022.835789

N/A

2022

Sturm AB, Eckert RJ, Carreiro AM, Simões N, Voss JD

14. Population genetic structure of a broadcast spawning coral, Montastraea cavernosa, demonstrates refugia potential of upper mesophotic populations in the Florida Keys

Coral Reefs (2022). doi:10.1007/s00338-021-02112-y

N/A

2022

Sturm AB, Eckert RJ, Carreiro AM, Voss JD

13. Quantifying impacts of stony coral tissue loss disease on corals in Southeast Florida through surveys and 3D photogrammetry

PLoS ONE (2021). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252593

N/A

2021

Combs IR, Studivan MS, Eckert RJ, Voss JD

12. Population genetic structure of the great star coral,
Montastraea cavernosa, across the Cuban archipelago with
comparisons between microsatellite and SNP markers

Sci Rep (2020). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72112-5

N/A

2020

Sturm AB, Eckert RJ, González Méndez J, González-Díaz P, Voss JD

11. Depth influences Symbiodiniaceae associations among
Montastraea cavernosa corals on the Belize Barrier Reef

Front Microbiol (2020). doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.00518

N/A

2020

Eckert RJ, Reaume AM, Sturm AB, Studivan MS, Voss JD

10. Population structure of the scleractinian coral, Montastraea cavernosa, in Southeast Florida

Bull Mar Sci (2020). doi:10.5343/bms.2019.0074

N/A

2020

Dodge DL, Studivan MS, Eckert RJ, Chei E, Beal J, Voss JD

9. Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef lack vertical connectivity

Sci Rep (2019). doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43479-x

N/A

2019

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD

8. The Mesoamerican Reef

In: Loya Y, Puglise KA, Bridge TCL (eds) Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of the World. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 71–84 (2019). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_5

N/A

2019

Gress E, Voss JD, Eckert RJ, Rowlands G, Andradi-Brown DA

7. Coral bleaching and recovery from 2016 to 2017 at East and West Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Coral Reefs (2019). doi:10.1007/s00338-019-01788-7

N/A

2019

Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Nuttall MF, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Schmahl GP

6. Localized coral reef mortality event at East Flower Garden Bank, Gulf of Mexico

Bull Mar Sci (2019). doi:10.5343/bms.2018.0057

N/A

2019

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Blakeway RD, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Lee MT, MacMillan J, Embesi JA

5. Seasonal variability of carbonate chemistry and decadal changes in waters of a marine sanctuary in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

Mar Chem (2018). doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2018.07.006

N/A

2018

Hu X, Nuttall MF, Wang H, Yao H, Staryk CJ, McCutcheon MR, Eckert RJ,
Embesi JA, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Manzello D, Enochs IC, DiMarco S, Barbero L

4. Persistence of coral assemblages at East and West Flower
Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico

Coral Reefs (2016). doi:10.1007/s00338-016-1452-x

N/A

2016

Johnston MA, Embesi JA, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

3. Rapid invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfishes Pterois volitans
(Linnaeus, 1758) and P. miles (Bennett, 1828) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, documented in multiple data sets

BioInvasions Rec (2016). doi:10.3391/bir.2016.5.2.09

N/A

2016

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Sterne TK, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

2. Lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles
[Bennett, 1828]) records within mesophotic depth ranges on
natural banks in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico

BioInvasions Rec (2014). doi:10.3391/bir.2014.3.2.09

N/A

2014

Nuttall MF, Johnston MA, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

1. Flower Garden Banks – A refuge in the Gulf of Mexico?

In: Yellowlees D, Hughes TP (eds) Proceedings of the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium (2012).

N/A

2012

Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP, Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Embesi JA, Eckert RJ

Manuscripts in preparation

Population genetics of the giant barrel sponge, Xestospongia muta, reveal distinct, hybridizing lineages across the Florida Reef Tract

(in review)

N/A

N/A

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Voss JD

Genetic insights of key habitat-forming coral and sponge populations in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

(in prep)

N/A

N/A

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Pantoni GS, Herrera S, Voss JD

Coral genetic lineages do not predict disease resistance or survivorship: a multi-species restoration experiment to assess stony coral tissue loss disease susceptibility

(in revision)

N/A

N/A

Bell SL, Shilling EN, Pantoni GS, Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Sharp WC, Muller EM, Gilliam DS, Lirman D, Bourque AS, Voss JD

Technical Reports

Stetson Bank Long-term monitoring: 2016 annual report

Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-19-02. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, FGBNMS, Galveston, TX. (2018).

N/A

2018

Nuttall MF, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Hu X, Sinclair J, Hickerson EL, Embesi JA, Johnston MA, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2016 annual report

Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-17-09. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, FGBNMS, Galveston, TX. (2017).

N/A

2017

Johnston MA, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Embesi JA, Walker RD, Hu X, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at Stetson Bank, Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary, 2015 annual report

Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-17- 06. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, FGBNMS, Galveston, TX. (2017).

N/A

2017

Johnston MA, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Embesi JA, Walker RD, Hu X, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2013–2015, volume 1: technical report

U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, LA. OCS Study BOEM 2017-058. (2017).

N/A

2017

Johnston MA, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Sterne TK, Embesi JA, Manzello DP, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks: 2015 annual report

U.S. Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series ONMS-16-02. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Galveston, TX. (2016).

N/A

2016

Johnston MA, Eckert RJ, Sterne TK, Nuttall MF, Hu X, Embesi JA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary: 2014 annual report

U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, FGBNMS, Galveston, TX. (2015).

N/A

2015

Johnston MA, Sterne TK, Eckert RJ, Nuttall MF, Embesi JA, Walker RD, Hu X, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary, 2011–2012, volume 1: technical report

U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study BOEM 2015-027. (2015).

N/A

2015

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Slowey NC, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Long-term monitoring at East and West Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary: 2013 annual report

U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA, FGBNMS, Galveston, TX. (2014).

N/A

2014

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA.

Long-term monitoring at the East and West Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 2009–2010, volume 1: technical report

U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, New Orleans, Louisiana. OCS Study BOEM 2013-214. (2013).

N/A

2013

Johnston MA, Nuttall MF, Eckert RJ, Embesi JA, Slowey NC, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP

Presentations

Cryptic diversity of Stephanocoenia intersepta corals throughout Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys

2024 AAUS Diving for Science Symposium

Fort Pierce, FL

2024

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Pantoni GS, Klein AM, Voss JD
Poster presentation

Cryptic diversity of Stephanocoenia intersepta corals throughout Southeast Florida and the Florida Keys

52nd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

Charleston, SC

2024

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Pantoni GS, Klein AM, Voss JD
Poster presentation

Genetically divergent mesophotic and shallow Stephanocoenia intersepta populations in the Florida Keys

51st Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

Miami, FL

2023

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD
Poster presentation

Genetically divergent mesophotic and shallow Stephanocoenia intersepta populations in the Florida Keys

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem Gordon Research Conference

Ventura, CA

2023

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD
Poster presentation
Best overall student presentation

Stephanocoenia intersepta corals in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary exhibit depth-dependent genetic structure

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem Gordon Research Symposium

Ventura, CA

2023

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Genetic connectivity and algal symbiont communities of shallow and mesophotic Stephanocoenia intersepta populations in the Florida Keys

15th International Coral Reef Symposium

Bremen, Germany.

2022

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Genetic connectivity and genetic diversity of shallow and mesophotic Stephanocoenia intersepta populations throughout Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

50th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

Portsmouth, NH.

2022

Eckert RJ, Sturm AB, Carreiro AM, Klein AM, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Genetically distinct depth-stratified Montastraea cavernosa coral populations on the Belize Barrier Reef harbor relatively
homogenous Symbiodiniaceae communities

48th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

St. John’s, NL, Canada.

2019

Eckert RJ, Reaume A, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Populations of the coral species Montastraea cavernosa lack
vertical connectivity on the Belize Barrier Reef

ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting

San Juan, PR.

2019

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Poster presentation

Affordable and ecologically relevant graduate research on the world’s second largest barrier reef? You better Belize it!

HBOI Science Seminar

Ft. Pierce, FL.

2018

Eckert RJ and Studivan MS
Oral presentation

Connected corals: population genetics of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef

HBOI Ocean Discovery Center Marine Science Friday

Ft. Pierce, FL.

2018

Eckert RJ
Oral presentation

Breaking point: population genetics reveal a lack of vertical
connectivity of Montastraea cavernosa on the Belize Barrier Reef

47th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting

Corpus Christi, TX.

2018

Eckert RJ, Studivan MS, Voss JD
Oral presentation

Ciguatera fish poisoning in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

66th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference

Corpus Christi, TX

2013

Eckert RJ, Loeffler C, Robertson A, Johnston MA, Hickerson EL, Schmahl GP
Poster presentation

Associational resistance and susceptibility in Solanum carolinense

Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference

Gainesville, FL.

2009

Eckert RJ, Kim T, Underwood N
Poster presentation

Funding

Smithsonian NMNH Research Fellowship

$16,000

N/A

2023

FAU GPSA Travel Awards

$3,023

N/A

2023 - 2017

PADI Foundation Grant

$4,377

N/A

2021

FAU Presidential Fellowship

$10,000

N/A

2021 - 2019

FAU Thesis Award

$500

N/A

2018

PADI Foundation Grant

$4,973

N/A

2018

Bess H. Ward Honors Thesis Award

$1,000

N/A

2009

Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholarship

$14,850

N/A

2009 - 2005

Florida State University Freshman Academic Scholarship

$8,000

N/A

2009 - 2005

Florida State University Freshman AP Scholarship

$500

N/A

2005

Awards

Florida Atlantic University Presidential Fellow

N/A

N/A

2021 - 2019

Florida Atlantic University Student Publishing Award

Awarded for 3 publications in 2019

N/A

2020

Florida State University Dean’s List

N/A

N/A

2009 - 2006

Florida State University President’s List

N/A

N/A

2005

Certifications

AAUS Scientific Diver

100 m, CCR, Trimix

N/A

N/A

TDI Technical SCUBA Diver

Advanced Nitrox, Decompression Procedures, Trimix 100 m, Closed-Circuit Rebreather, Advanced Mixed Gas CCR

N/A

N/A

PADI Trimix Gas Blender

N/A

N/A

N/A

DAN Oxygen delivery, First Aid, and CPR for scuba diving injuries

N/A

N/A

N/A

USCG Licensed Merchant Mariner

100 GRT

N/A

N/A

USFWS Motorboat Operator Certification Course

N/A

N/A

N/A

Sea-Bird Electronics technician

N/A

N/A

N/A

NOAA Working SCUBA Diver

N/A

N/A

N/A

Skills

DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, Gel electrophoresis, NGS library preparation, Agilent Bioanalyzer (DNA, RNA)

N/A

N/A

N/A

Bioinformatic analyses, multivariate statistics, and data visualization

R statistical software, Python, Bash, PRIMER7, and CPCe

N/A

N/A

Coral sampling, benthic surveys, fish surveys, photography,
navigation and mapping

N/A

N/A

N/A

Offshore field research cruise planning, logistics, and execution

N/A

N/A

N/A

Technical SCUBA diving, closed-circuit rebreather diving, operation of Nitrox compressor systems, and Trimix blending

N/A

N/A

N/A

Setup, operation, and maintenance of oceanographic equipment

Sea-Bird Electronics, Onset HOBO, YSI

N/A

N/A

Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop

N/A

N/A

N/A

Operation, navigation, and handling of small boats

Marlinspike, and mooring buoy construction/installation/maintenance

N/A

N/A

Membership and Service

Mesophotic.org

Content Editor

N/A

Present - 2020

International Coral Reef Society

N/A

N/A

Present - 2019

Benthic Ecology Meeting Society

N/A

N/A

Present - 2017

Reviewer for:

Scientific Reports, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Marine Ecology Progress Series

N/A

N/A

HBOI Graduate Student Association

Vice President

Ft. Pierce, FL

2022

HBOI Graduate Student Association

Secretary

Ft. Pierce, FL

2021, 2019

Association for the Studies of Limnology and Oceanography

N/A

N/A

2019 - 2018

References

Dr. Joshua Voss

Ph.D. Advisor
Florida Atlantic University

N/A

N/A

Dr. Adrienne Correa

Assistant Professor
UC Berkeley

N/A

N/A

G.P. Schmahl

Superintendent
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

N/A

N/A

Disclaimer



This curriculum vitae was made with the R package pagedown.

Last updated on 2025-02-27.