Dr. Donald C. Behringer
ProfessorAFFILIATIONS
University of Florida
School of Forest Resources and Conservation–Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program
Emerging Pathogens Institute
UF School of Natural Resources and the Environment (affiliated faculty)
UF College of Veterinary Medicine–Aquatic Animal Health Program (affiliated faculty)
EDUCATION
Ph.D. 2003 Old Dominion University, Ecological Sciences.
B.S. 1991 University of Florida, Zoology.
Download my CV
CONTACT
Phone: (352) 273-3634
Email: behringer@ufl.edu
Address: University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653
Postdocs
Current Students
Liz Duermit Moreau
Doctoral StudentEDUCATION
M.S. College of Charleston
B.S. Michigan State University
CONTACT
Email: duermite@ufl.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am interested in disease ecology in fished crustaceans. For my dissertation research I am focused on identifying behavioral and life history characteristics of crustaceans that impact their susceptibility to disease-causing pathogens and parasites. I am further examining how habitat degradation and fishing pressure affect pathogen communities in stone crab, spiny lobster, and other important benthic invertebrates in the hard-bottom habitat of the Florida Keys.
Find my publications on Google Scholar and Researchgate.
Kate Rose
MASTERS STUDENTEDUCATION
B.S. University of Florida
CONTACT
Email: kate.rose0210@ufl.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
After growing up in New Jersey I followed my love of seafood down to Florida. My master’s thesis is a collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that seeks to quantify the impact that soak times gave on the physiology of the Florida stone crab. Before that, I worked with the Behringer Lab Group to evaluate sponge restoration efforts in Florida Bay following harmful cyanobacteria blooms. I also have experience with small scale tilapia aquaculture operations and habitat mapping off the coast of California.
Erin Walters
MASTERS STUDENTEDUCATION
B.S. University of South Florida
CONTACT
Email: erin.walters@ufl.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I enrolled in the Master’s of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program in the Spring of 2019. As a biologist for the state I am fortunate to work on research projects pertaining to blue crab and stone crab which seeded the development of my thesis. The ability to successfully manage our natural resources in an ever changing environment and be able to adapt our research to meet the needs of these changes is such an integral part of current research. In terms of accurately representing the current state of our resources, it is amazing the amount of data and knowledge we lack to support annual reports and assessments which drive regulation. Florida blue crab stock assessments lack pertinent data such as discard mortality rates and the inability to successfully age a blue crab. The focus of my project aims on filling in some of the unknowns regarding discard mortality within the commercial Florida blue crab fishery through the use of the Reflex Action Mortality Predictor (RAMP) method. The RAMP method is designed to assess reflex actions of crabs to predict the likelihood of mortality from a generated relationship between reflex impairment and mortality. This method has been successful in predicting mortality in other crustacean fisheries and we hope its adaptation to the Florida blue crab is just as effective.
Thomas W. Allain
Doctoral StudentEDUCATION
B.S. University of Florida
CONTACT
Email: thomasallain@ufl.edu
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research stems from a fascination with aquatic diseases and pathogen dynamics. My previous work involves an understudied family of dsDNA viruses found in arthropods, the Nudiviruses. I will begin work on a Nemertean egg parasite of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster in the Summer of 2021.
Find my publications on Google Scholar and Researchgate.
Staff
Former Students
Abbey Scro
Masters Student
Amy Oxton
Masters Student
Lucas Jennings
Biological Scientist
Dr. Jamie Bojko
Postdoctoral Associate
Dalton Goss
MFAS University of Florida 2020
Laela Booshehri
M.S. University of Florida 2019
Erica Ross
Ph.D. University of Florida 2019
Stephen Tracy
MFAS University of Florida 2019
Devon Pharo
M.S. University of Florida 2018
Daniel Veras
M.S. University of Florida 2018
Megan Lamb
M.S. University of Florida 2018
Abigail Clark
Ph.D. University of Florida 2017
Nathan Berkebile
M.S. University of Florida 2017
Michael Dickson
M.S. University of Florida 2014
Danielle Puls
M.S. University of Florida 2015
Matthew Smukall
M.S. University of Florida 2014
Elliot Hart
M.S. University of Florida 2014
Andrew Barbour
Ph.D. University of Florida 2013