Dr. Secor is a fisheries ecologist and Professor at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. His research group investigates migration and habitat use behaviors and their influence on population dynamics of coastal fishes. Recent research includes contingent structure and dynamics of estuarine fishes, ocean ecology of bluefish, sturgeon conservation, blue crab and American eel demographics and assessment, pollution ecology of striped bass, bluefin tuna stock structure, Atlantic menhaden recruitment, and bioenergetic habitat models.
Professional Experiences
2005- Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University System of Maryland, Solomons, MD
2000- Associate Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
1994-2000 Assistant Professor, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
1991-1994 Assistant Research Scientist, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
1986-1987 Japanese Ministry of Education Research Fellow, Kagoshima University, Japan
Abstracts
Plenary, International Fish Otolith Research Conference, Monterey 2009
Otoliths Speak Volumes on Fish Migration
How does one explain to the lay person why fish otoliths are important? Undoubtedly, otolith science has increased geometrically in methods and applications, but thinking beyond “Otolith Research and Application,” how have otoliths improved our understanding of fishes and their environment? I use Harden Jones’ 1968 “Fish Migration,” as a benchmark of fish migration concepts prior to Panella’s 1971 breakthrough paper on otolith microstructure. For case study species I will show how otolith science has informed past migration concepts including, (1) ecological traps due to maladaptive life cycles (European eel), (2) parent stream theory (bluefin tuna), (3) adoptive homing (Atlantic herring), and (4) partial migration (Atlantic cod). Harden Jones’ overall conclusion that life cycle closure leads to population structure (aka the migration triangle) is a first principle in fisheries science, but in recent years has been challenged by otolith science. In particular, a transformative discovery attributable to otoliths is that life cycles vary substantially within populations. New avenues of otolith science are now exploring the causes and consequences of this life cycle diversity. I highlight some common approaches for addressing the consequences of life cycle “portfolios” as they relate to population and metapopulation stability and persistence.
Recent Publications
Kerr, L.A., Piccoli, P.M. & Secor, D.H. 2009. Partial migration as exemplified by the estuarine-dependent white perch. Fisheries 34 (3): 114-123.
Cadrin, S.X. and D.H. Secor. 2009. Chapter 22, p. 405-426. Accounting for spatial population structure in stock assessment: past, present and future. In R.J. Beamish and B.J. Rothschild (eds.) Future of Fishery Science in North America. 405 Fish & Fisheries Series, Springer Science.
Secor, D.H., R.L. Wingate, J.D. Neilson, J.R. Rooker, and S.E. Campana. 2008. Growth of Atlantic bluefin tuna: Direct age estimates. Collective Volume of Scientific Papers, ICCAT SCRS/08/084. 14 pp.
Rooker, J.R., D.H. Secor, G.D. DeMetrio, R. Schloesser, B.A. Block, and J.D. Neilson. 2008. Natal homing and connectivity in Atlantic bluefin tuna populations. Science 322: 742-744.
Rooker, J.R., D. H. Secor, G. DeMetrio, A.J. Kaufman, A.B. Ríos, V. Tičina, E. Rodríquez-Marín. 2008. Evidence of trans-Atlantic movement and natal homing in bluefin tuna from stable isotopes in otoliths. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 368:231-239.
Puckett, B.P., S-J. Ju, and D.H. Secor. 2008. Validation and application of lipofuscin-based age determination for Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 137: 1637-1649.
Wingate, R.L. and D.H. Secor. 2008. The effects of winter temperature and flow on a summer-fall nursery fish assemblage in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 137: 1147-1156.
Elsdon, T.S., Wells, B.K., Campana, S.E., Gillanders, B.M., Jones, C.M., Limburg, K.E., Secor, D.H., Thorrold, S.R., and Walther, B.D. 2008. Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life-history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitations and inferences using five methods. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 46: 207-330.
Arslan, Z. and D.H. Secor. 2008. High resolution micromill sampling for analysis of fish otoliths by ICP-MS: effects of sampling and specimen preparation on trace element fingerprints. Marine Environmental Research 66: 364-371.
Secor, D.H. 2008. Influence of Skipped Spawning and Mis-specified Reproductive Schedules on Biological Reference Points in Sustainable Fisheries Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 137: 782-789.
Harvey, H.R., D.H. Secor, and S-J. Ju. 2008. The use of extractable lipofuscin for age determinations of crustaceans: Reply to Sheehy (2008). Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 353: 307-311.
Callihan, JL LT Takata, RJ Woodland, and DH Secor. 2008. Cohort splitting in bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight. Fisheries Oceanography 17: 191-205.
Rooker, JR, JR Alvarado-Bremer, BA Block, JL Cort, H Dewar, G De Metrio, RT Kraus, ED Prince, E Rodriquez-Marin, DH Secor. 2007. Life history and stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Reviews in Fisheries Science 15:265-310.
Kerr, L.A., R.T. Kraus, and D.H. Secor. 2007. Stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) composition of otoliths as a proxy for environmental salinity experienced by an estuarine fish. Mar. Ecol. Progress Series 348: 245-253.
Secor, D.H. 2007. The year-class phenomenon and the storage effect in marine fishes. J. Sea Res. 57: 91-103.
Wingate, R.L. and D.H. Secor. 2007. Intercept telemetry of the resident contingent of Hudson River striped bass: migration and homing patterns. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 136: 95–104
Woodland, R. and D.H. Secor. 2007. Year-class strength and recovery of endangered shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River, NY. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 136:72–81
Secor, D.H. and P.M. Piccoli. 2007. Determination of frequency of anadromous migrations by Chesapeake Bay striped bass based upon otolith microchemical analysis. Fisheries Bulletin 105: 62-73.
Teaching Activities
Fisheries Science and Management (Co-Instructor with M. Wilberg); offered even falls
Fish Ecology (Co-Instructor with T.Miller); offered even springs
Research Projects
RESEARCH GOALS in my laboratory are focused on life cycles of important estuarine and coastal fishes. I am especially interested in migration and habitat use as behaviors that control and regulate population dynamics and cause individuals to be differentially vulnerable to exploitation and pollution. Because migration and dispersal are complex in their measurement, we utilize a battery of approaches, including conventional mark-recapture, bio-telemetry, microchip tags, otolith microconstituent analysis, otolith tagging, and analysis of landings data. Rearing experiments have been used to address issues related to habitat selection and the relationship between habitat use and fish production.
A long-term goal of my laboratory is to participate with federal and state cooperators in a program of sturgeon restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. Our laboratory also seeks to provide regional stock assessment scientists with life history and demographic information on resource species. Recent investigations have focused on smallmouth bass, striped bass, white perch, sea bass, bluefish, bay anchovy, American eels, red drum, bluefin tuna, sturgeons, and blue crabs.
CURRENT PROJECTS:
Population assignment and age and growth of Atlantic bluefin tuna (R. Rooker, co-PI) - NOAA SEFSC
Test of oxygen squeeze hypothesis for Chesapeake striped bass - NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
Migrations and habitat use by NY Harbor Striped Bass - Hudson River Foundation
Connectivity between nearshore ocean and coastal bay nursery habitats in Maryland - MD Sea Grant
Chesapeake Bay Atlantic menhaden larval ingress and juvenile recruitment (E. Houde, lead PI) - NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and MD DNR
Biodiversity of Patuxent River juvenile striped bass and contingent behaviors (T. Miller and A. Place, Co-PIs) - MD Sea Grant
Assessment of fishing effects on Chesapeake Bay American eels ((Co-PI with M. Wilberg) - NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office.
Habitat suitability modeling based upon scenarios of future hypoxia and climate change (M. Kemp, lead) - NOAA CHRP
