Research Interests

Research conducted by my lab group focuses on plankton ecology.  We are broadly interested in factors which promote phytoplankton growth (organic and inorganic nutrients), as well as factors which are responsible for algal mortality (zooplankton, viruses, filter-feeding bivalves) in diverse aquatic ecosystems including estuaries, the Great Lakes, and the North Atlantic Ocean.  A primary focus of my lab within the field of plankton ecology has been the study of harmful algal blooms (HABs), having investigated blooms of brown tide (Aureococcus), cyanobacteria (Microcystis, Anabaena, Synechococcus), dinoflagellates (Cochlodinium, Alexandrium, Gymnodinium, Prorocentrum), and raphidophytes (Heterosigma) both locally and around the US.  Our research is largely field-oriented and utilizes traditional, molecular, and experimental techniques to contrast the dynamics and ecological niche of HAB species with those of co-occurring non-harmful species.

Another research focus within my laboratory is on the ecological functioning and trophic status of estuaries.  Estuaries represent some of the most productive, biodiverse, and important ecosystems on earth.  However, with half of the US population, 90% of New York State counties, and 100% of Long Island townships being located on coastal water ways, a series of environmental problems have arisen in these systems in recent decades.  My lab group is engaged in research aimed toward understanding how anthropogenic activities such as eutrophication, overharvesting of fisheries, and salt marsh / shoreline modification may alter the natural biogeochemical and/or ecological functioning of estuarine ecosystems.

Recent Publications

Carroll JC, Gobler CJ, Peterson BP. 2008 Resource limitation of eelgrass in New York estuaries: Nutrient stress alleviation by hard clam.  In press to Marine Ecology Progress Series

Smith JK, Lonsdale DL, Gobler CJ, Caron DA. Feeding behavior and development of Acartia tonsa nauplii on the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens. In press to Journal of Plankton Research

Hotto, A.M., Satchwell, M.F., Berry, D.L., Gobler, C.J., Boyer, G.L. 2008. Spatial and temporal diversity of microcystins and microcystin-producing genotypes in Oneida Lake, NY. Harmful Algae 7: 671–681

Gobler CJ, Davis TW, Deonarine SN, Saxton MA, Lavrentyev PJ, Jochem FJ, Wilhelm SW. 2008. Grazing and viral induced mortality of microbial populations before and during the onset of hypoxia in Lake Erie. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 51: 117–128

Wall, C.C., Peterson, B.J., Gobler, C.J., 2008. The facilitation of seagrass (Zostera marina) productivity by suspension-feeding bivalves. Marine Ecology Progress Series 357: 165–174

Gobler CJ, Berry, D.L., O.R. Anderson, Burson, A., Koch, F., Rodgers, B.S., Moore L.K., Goleski J.A., Allam, B., Bowser, P., Tang, Y., Nuzzi, R. 2008. Characterization, dynamics, and ecological impacts of harmful Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms on eastern Long Island, NY, USA. Harmful Algae 7: 293–307

Rowe JM, Dunlap JR, Gobler, C. J., M. Downes Gastrich, O.R. Anderson, and S.W. Wilhelm. 2008. Isolation of a non-phage-like lytic virus infecting Aureococcus anophagefferens. Journal of Phycology 44: 71–76

Gobler, C. J., Norman, C., Panzeca, C. Taylor, G.T., Sañudo-Wilhelmy S.A. 2007. Effects of B-vitamins (B1, B12) and inorganic nutrients on algal bloom dynamics in a coastal ecosystem. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 49:181-194 

Frazier AD, Rowe JM, Rentz C, Gobler CJ, Wilhelm SW. 2007. Bacterial lysis of Aureococcus anophagefferens CCMP 1784. Journal of Phycology 43: 461–465

Gobler, C. J., M. Downes Gastrich, O.R. Anderson, and S.W. Wilhelm.  2007. Ecological aspects of viral infection and lysis in the harmful brown tide alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens.  Aquatic Microbial Ecology 47: 25–36

Weiss, M.B., Curran, P.B., Peterson, B.J., Gobler, C.J., 2007. The influence of plankton composition and water quality on hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria L.) populations across Long Island’s south shore lagoon estuaries. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 345:12–25

Gobler, C.J., Davis, T.W., Coyne K.J., Boyer, G.L. 2007. Interactive influences of nutrient loading, zooplankton grazing and microcystin synthetase gene expression on cyanobacterial bloom dynamics in a eutrophic New York lake. Harmful Algae 6: 119–133

Padilla, DK, Doall MH, Gobler CJ, Hartson A, O’Boyle K. 2006. Brown tide alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens, can affect growth but not survivorship of Mercenaria mercenaria larvae.  Harmful Algae 5:736–748

Clark, L., Gobler, C.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S.A. 2006. Spatial and temporal dynamics of dissolved trace metals, organic carbon, mineral nutrients, and phytoplankton in a coastal lagoon: Great South Bay, NY, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 29: 841–854

Sunda, W.G., Graneli, E., and Gobler, C.J. 2006. Positive feedback and the development and persistence of ecosystem disruptive algal blooms. Journal of Phycology 42: 963-974

Deonarine SN, Gobler CJ, Lonsdale DJ, Caron DA. 2006. The role of zooplankton in the occurrence of harmful brown tide blooms (Aureococcus anophagefferens) in US mid-Atlantic estuaries. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 44: 181–195

Gobler, C. J., Thibault, D.B., Davis, T.W., Curran, P.B., Peterson, B.J., Liddle, L.B. 2006. Algal assemblages associated with Stegastes sp. territories on Indo-Pacific coral reefs: Characterization of diversity and controls on growth.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 336: 135–145

Gobler, C.J., S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy, Buck, N.J, and Sieracki, M.E. 2006. Nitrogen and silicon
limitation of phytoplankton communities across an urban estuary: The East River-Long Island Sound system. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 68: 127-138  

Taylor, G.T., Gobler, C.J., Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A.  2006. Nitrogen speciation and concentrations of nitrogen as determinants of Brown Tide (Aureococcus anophagefferens, pelagophyceae) initiation: An experimental evaluation. Marine Ecology Progress Series 312:67-83

Sañudo-Wilhelmy, S. A., Gobler, C.J., Okbamichael, M., Taylor, G.T. 2006. Regulation of Phytoplankton Dynamics by Vitamin B12. Geophysical Research Letters 33: L04604

Buck, N.J, Gobler, C.J.. S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy.  2005. Dissolved Trace Element Concentrations in the East River-Long Island Sound System: Relative Importance of Autochthonous versus Allochthonous Sources. Environmental Science and Technology 39: 3528-3537

Gobler, C.J., Lonsdale, D.J., Boyer, G.L.  2005. A synthesis and review of causes and impact of harmful brown tide blooms caused by the alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens. Estuaries 28: 726-749

Gobler, C. J., Cullison, L., Koch, F., Harder, T. and Krause, J.W. 2005. Influence of freshwater flow, ocean exchange, and seasonal cycles on phytoplankton – nutrient dynamics in a temporarily open estuary.  Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science. 65: 275-288

Gobler, C. J., Boneillo, G.E., Debenham C., Caron, D.A. 2004. Nutrient limitation, organic matter cycling, and plankton dynamics during an Aureococcus anophagefferens bloom. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 35:31-43

Downes-Gastrich, M., Bell, J.L., Bell, Gobler, C.J., Anderson, O.R., Wilhelm, S.W.  2004. Viruses as Potential Regulators of Regional Brown Tide Blooms Caused by the Alga, Aureococcus anophagefferens: A comparison of bloom years 1999-2000 and 2002.  Estuaries 27: 112-119

Gobler, C. J., S.N. Deonarine, J. Leigh-Bell, M. Downes Gastrich, O.R. Anderson, and S.W.
Wilhelm. 2004. Ecology of phytoplankton communities dominated by Aureococcus anophagefferens: The role of viruses, nutrients, and microzooplankton grazing. Harmful Algae 3: 471-483

Kana, T.M., Lomas, M.W., MacIntyre, H.L., Cornwell, J.C. and Gobler, C. J. 2004.Stimulation of the brown tide organism, Aureococcus anophagefferens, by selective nutrient additions to in situ mesocosms. Harmful Algae 3:377–388

Caron, D.A., Gobler, C.J., Buck, N.J., Lonsdale, D.J., Cerrato, R.M., Schaffner, R.A, Rose, J.,
Taylor, G. Boissonneault, K.R. .Mehran, R.. 2004. Microbial herbivory on the brown tide algal, Aureococcus anophagefferens: results from natural ecosystems, mesocosms and laboratory experiments. Harmful Algae 3: 439–457

Sieracki, M.E., Gobler, C.J., Cucci, T., Thier, E., Hobson, I. 2004. Pico- and nanoplankton dynamics during bloom initiation of Aureococcus in a Long Island, NY bay. Harmful Algae 3:459-470

MacIntyre H.L., Lomas, M.W., Cornwell, J., Suggett, D.J., Gobler, C.J., Koch, E.W., Kana, T.M. 2004.  Mediation of benthic-pelagic coupling by microphytobenthos: An energy- and material-based model for initiation of blooms of Aureococcus anophagefferens. Harmful Algae 3: 403–437

Lomas, M.W. and Gobler, C.J.. 2004. Aureococcus anophagefferens research: 20 years and counting. Harmful Algae 3: 273-277  

Gobler, C.J., and S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy.  2003.  Cycling of colloidal organic carbon and nitrogen during estuarine plankton blooms. Limnology and Oceanography 48: 2314 - 2320

Gobler, C.J., and G.E. Boneillo.  2003. Impacts of anthropogenically-influenced groundwater seepage on water quality and phytoplankton dynamics within a coastal marine ecosystem.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 255:101-114

Szekielda, K-H, Gobler, C.J., Gross, B., Moshary, F., Samir, A. and Nichols, K. 2003. Spectral reflectance measurements of estuarine waters.  Ocean Dynamics 53: 98-102

Caron, D.A., Schaffner, R.A., Moran, D.M., Dennett, M.R., Lonsdale, D.J., Gobler, C.J., Nuzzi, R., and McLean, T.I. 2003.  Development and application of a monoclonal antibody technique for the counting Aureococcus anophagefferens, an alga causing recurrent brown tides in the Mid-Atlantic United States Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69: 5492 - 5502

Popels, L.C., Coyne, K.J., Forbes, R., Pustizzi, F., Gobler, C.J., Cary, S.C., and Hutchins, D.A.    2003. The Use of Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for the Detection and Enumeration of the Harmful Alga Aureococcus anophagefferens in Environmental Samples Along the United States East Coast.  Limnology and Oceanography Methods 1:92-102

Mulholland, M.R., Gobler, C.J., Lee C.  2002. Peptide hydrolysis, amino acid oxidation and N
uptake in communities seasonally dominated by Aureococcus anophagefferens.  Limnology and Oceanography 47: 1094-1108

Gobler, C.J., Donat, J.R., Consolovo, J.A. and S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy. 2002.  Physicochemical
speciation of iron during coastal algal blooms. Marine Chemistry 77: 71-89

Gobler, C.J., Buck.N.J., and Renaghan, M.J. 2002.  Impacts of nutrients and grazing
mortality on the abundance of Aureococcus anophagefferens during a New York Brown Tide bloom. Limnology and Oceanography 47: 129-141

S. Lin, Gobler, C.J. and E. J. Carpenter. 2001. Cytological and biochemical response of in 
Dunaliella tertiolecta (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) to iron stress. Phycologia. 40: 403-410

Gobler, C.J., and S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy. 2001. Temporal variability of groundwater seepage and Brown Tide bloom in a Long Island embayment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 217: 299-309

S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy, A. Kustka, C. J. Gobler, M. Yang D.A. Hutchins, J. Burns, D. Capone,
J.H. Raven and E.J. Carpenter. 2001.  Phosphorus Limitation of Nitrogen Fixation by Trichodesmium in the Central Atlantic Ocean. Nature 411: 66 – 69

Gobler, C.J., and S.A. Sañudo-Wilhelmy. 2001. Effects of organic carbon, organic nitrogen,
inorganic nutrients, and iron additions on the growth of phytoplankton and bacteria during a
Long Island Brown Tide bloom.   Marine Ecology Progress Series 209: 19-34.