Danielle Dixson is a scientist at the University of Delaware. She studies the sensory behavior of marine organisms — fishes, corals and other invertebrates — to understand how changes to their environment will impact the behavioral ecology at a species, community and ecosystem level. Dr. Dixson is a Moore Foundation grantee who has been using fieldwork and analytical chemistry approaches to determine how juvenile coral and reef fish select habitats in the Caribbean Sea. Her research findings will inform ocean planning and management strategies.
Recently, the foundation awarded Dr. Dixson $1 million to study coral reef recruitment. She will investigate the role chemical cues play in the decision-making process of marine organisms when selecting coral reefs as their home. “We’re trying to gain a more complete understanding of the recruitment process, and how chemistry can be used to impact conservation,” said Dixson, an assistant professor of marine science and policy, which is housed in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of Delaware.
If successful, the new work ultimately could lead to more effective marine management. Read more in a press release from the University of Delaware here.
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