Expertise:
Reef Ecosystems, Manmade Reef Habitats & Marine Populations, Quantitative Marine Ecology, Ocean Oil Platforms and Sea LifeJeremy Claisse’s research interests focuses on the ecology of marine organisms associated with reef ecosystems, including California kelp forest systems, coral reef systems in Hawaii and the Caribbean, and manmade reef habitats (e.g., breakwaters, submerged structures of oil platforms and energy developments), with an emphasis on marine conservation, fisheries management and marine protected areas (MPAs).
In addition to teaching, he is associate director of the Vantuna Research Group, which studies long-term and large spatial-scale processes in the Southern California Bight, conducted the baseline kelp forest monitoring for the southern part of the California’s MPA network and has been involved in state led efforts to design long-term MPA monitoring protocols.
His current research involves abalone aquaculture and wild population restoration, the habitat value of oil and gas platforms and the evaluation and design of manmade rocky reefs built for infrastructure (breakwaters), habitat restoration and fisheries enhancement in collaboration with the NOAA Montrose Settlements Restoration Program.
Recent Grants and Fellowships:
- Co-Principal Investigator with D. Pondella, University of Southern California Sea Grant Program, “What factors explain the high rates of fish production associated with oil platforms off the coast of California?” $40,000, 2016-18
- Principal Investigator, CSU Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), “Green Abalone Aquaculture Method Development and Technology Transfer,” $61,000, 2016-2018
- Co-Principal Investigator with D. Pondella, A.J. Zellmer & M. Love; NOAA Fisheries Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant, “The current and potential contribution of man-made reef habitats to fisheries resources and protected species recovery in Southern California,” $211,000, 2015-2018
- Co-Principal Investigator with P. Raimondi, D. Pondella, C. Blanchette & J. Lindholm, United States Navy, “Characterization of Rocky Intertidal, Kelp Forest and Deep Rocky and Sandy Ecosystems at San Clemente Island,” $1,200,000, 2012-2017
Selected Publications:
- With B.E. Fuentes Calderon, J. L. Eagleton, and C. M. Williams, “Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) from artificial reefs and cooler island natural reefs consume more animal material, which is associated with greater adult size and body condition,” Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098124000637, 580: 152048, 2024
- With D.J. Pondella and C.M. Williams, “Theory, practice, and design criteria for utilizing artificial reefs to increase production of marine fisheries,” Frontiers in Marine Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.983253, 2022
- Lead author with M.S. Love, E.L. Meyer-Gutbrod, C.M. Williams & D.J. Pondella II, “Fishes with high reproductive output potential on California offshore oil and gas platforms,” Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4):515-534, 2019 https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/umrsmas/bullmar/2019/00000095/00000004/art00003
- With M.S. Love & A. Roeper, “Analysis of the fish assemblages around 23 oil and gas platforms off California with comparisons with natural habitats,” Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4):477-514, 2019 https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/umrsmas/bullmar/2019/00000095/00000004/art00002
- With M.S. Love & L. Kui, “The role of jacket complexity in structuring fish assemblages in the midwaters of two California oil and gas platforms,” Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4):597-616, 2019 https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/umrsmas/bullmar/2019/00000095/00000004/art00007
- With E.L. Meyer-Gutbrod, M.S. Love, H.M. Page, D.M. Schroeder & R.J. Miller, “Decommissioning impacts on biotic assemblages associated with shell mounds beneath Southern California offshore oil and gas platforms, Bulletin of Marine Science, 95(4):683-702, 2019 https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/umrsmas/bullmar/2019/00000095/00000004/art00011
- With D.J. Pondella II, S.E. Piacenza, C.M. Williams, J.P. Williams, A.J. Zellmer & J.E. Caselle, “Assessing drivers of rocky reef fish biomass density from the Southern California bight,” Marine Ecology Progress Series, 628:125-140, 2019 https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v628/p125-140/
- (lead author) J.T. Claisse et al. “Biogeographic patterns of communities across diverse marine ecosystems in southern California,” Marine Ecology 39, e12453, 2018
- (co-author) A.M. Fowler et al, “Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean,” Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2018
- (co-author) A.J. Zellmer et al, “Long‐term, spatial marine harvest intensity as an indicator of human impact on shallow rocky reef ecosystems,” Marine Ecology 39, e12463, 2018
- (lead author) JT Claisse et al, “Oil platforms off California are among the most productive marine fish habitats globally,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111(43): 15462-15467, 2014
Interviews:
- “An oil rig that environmentalists love? Here’s the real story.” National Geographic, Aug. 8, 2023
- “Marine Ecology, R Coding, and Field Biology,” The World of Scientists Podcast, Feb. 10, 2023
- “Rigs to Reefs: The Sub-Surface Story of Oil Platform Decommissioning,” The Montecito Journal, Aug. 16, 2022
- “Fish love skyscraper-style living under oil platforms,” New Scientist, Oct. 13, 2014
- “The good news about offshore oil rigs,” Los Angeles Times, Oct 21, 2014
- “Big catches mask dwindling numbers of sea bass,” Los Angeles Times, Oct. 3, 2011
- “Protecting yellow tang,” Honolulu Advertiser, Oct. 18, 2009
Education:
B.S., UC Santa Barbara
M.S., Ph.D., University of Hawaii, Manoa