Main
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: 480
h-index: 13
i10-index: 15
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
Manuscripts in preparation
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
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
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
G.P. Schmahl
Superintendent
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
N/A
- +1 (409) 621–5151
- george.schmahl@noaa.gov