Education

1996-Present  Doctoral Candidate, Dr. Lee Fuiman, advisor, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Marine Science.

1996  M.S. in Zoology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.

1994  B.S. in Zoology (University Honors), Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.



Research Interests

Individual variability in growth rates of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) larvae- potential causes and survival consequences

     Assessment of particular traits that result in higher survival of individual larvae may be important for predicting the future of a particular cohort. I am examining three such traits and their covariation: egg size, growth rate, and sensorimotor performance. Individual red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) are reared from eggs to measure variability in individual growth rates and potential covariation of growth rate with egg and hatchling size. Then laboratory trials are used to examine the ontogeny of sensorimotor performance and its covariation with individual growth rates. These performance trials will include measurement of routine swimming, burst responses to acoustic and visual stimuli, and escape behavior in the presence of a live predator. Ontogeny and variability in sensorimotor performance of both field-collected and laboratory-reared red drum larvae are being studied.

Potential Alarm Pheromones in Marine Fishes

     Most ostariophysian fishes (mostly freshwater) have behavioral alarm reactions to chemicals released from epidermal club cells of injured conspecifics. No marine ostariophysians have been tested for such responses. I have recorded activity levels of a marine ostariophysian, sea catfish (Arius felis), in the presence of conspecific skin-extract. 

RNA:DNA Ratio: Can it be more than a growth index?

     RNA:DNA ratio has been used as an indicator of nutritional condition and growth of larval fishes, but little attempt has been made to correlate this index with any functional (survival) benefit to individual larvae.  I, in collaboration with Sharon Herzka (Joan Holt Lab), am examining relationships between RNA:DNA ratio and sensorimotor performance in red drum larvae. Performance trials will include videotaping individual larvae’s routine swimming and responses to visual and acoustic stimuli.



Publications

Upcoming Papers

Smith, M. E., Herzka, S. Z., Fuiman, L. A., and Holt, G. J.  (in prep.).  RNA:DNA and growth in red drum larvae. I.  The relationship between condition and behavioral performance.

Herzka, S. Z., Smith, M. E., Holt, G. J. and Fuiman, L. A.  (in prep.).  RNA:DNA and growth in red drum larvae. II.  The uncoupling of nucleic acids and growth rate in fast growers. 

Smith, M. E. and Sabath, D.  (in prep.).  Temporal shifts in growth rate variation in fish larvae: a potential improvement on past individual-based predation mortality models. 

Smith, M. E. and Fuiman, L. A.  (in prep.).  The relationship between growth rate and behavioral performance during the ontogeny of red drum. 

Belk, M. C., Johnson, J.B., Wilson, K. W., Smith, M. E., and  Houston, D.  (submitted).  Latitudinal counter-gradient variation in leatherside chub, Gila copei: adaptation to temperature or length of growing season?  

Smith, M. E. and Fuiman, L. A.  (submitted).  The effects of prey density, diet shift, and competition on growth rate depensation in red drum larvae.  

Smith, M. E. and M. C. Belk.  (in press).  Risk-assessment in Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): do multiple cues have additive effects?  Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.  

Published Papers

Smith, M. E.  (2000).  The alarm response of Arius felis to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics.  The Journal of Chemical Ecology 26 (7):1635-1647.

Fuiman, L. A., Smith, M. E., and Malley, V. N.  (1999).  Ontogeny of routine swimming speed and startle responses in red drum, with a comparison of responses to acoustic and visual stimuli.  Journal of Fish Biology 55:215-226.

Smith, M. E., and M. C. Belk.  (1996).  Sorex monticolus. Mammalian Species 528:1-5.

Smith, M. E.  (1996).  Effect of predator diet and behavior on predator-avoidance behavior of Gambusia affinis. Master’s thesis, Brigham Young University, 25 pp.



Presentations

Smith, M. E., Herzka, S. Z., Fuiman, L. A., and Holt, G. J.  (2000).  RNA:DNA and growth in red drum larvae. I.  Is condition and behavioral performance correlated?  Oral presentation at the 24^th Larval Fish Conference, Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Smith, M. E.  (2000).  The alarm response of Arius felis to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics.  Oral presentation at the Ethology, Evolutionary Ecology, and Conservation of Fishes meetings at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.  

Smith, M. E.  (2000).  Risk-assessment in Western mosquitofish: importance of predator diet, hunger level, and size. Poster presentation at the Ethology, Evolutionary Ecology, and Conservation of Fishes meetings at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

Smith, M. E.  (1999).  Murder in the dark: a chemical warning system in marine catfish.  Oral presentation for summer seminar series, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas.

Smith, M. E. and L. A. Fuiman.  (1999).  The role of social interaction in growth rate variability of red drum larvae.  Oral presentation at the 23^rd Larval Fish Conference, Beaufort, North Carolina.

Malley, V. N., M. E. Smith, and L. A. Fuiman. (1998).  Ontogeny of startle responses in larval red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) to acoustic and visual stimuli.  Oral presentation at the 22^nd Larval Fish Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Smith, M. E.  (1998).  The response of naked goby (Gobiosoma bosc) and darter goby (Gobionellus boleosoma) to chemical stimuli from injured conspecifics.  Oral presentation at the 1998 Evolutionary and Ecological Ethology of Fishes meeting, Seattle, Washington.

Smith, M. E and M.C. Belk. (1996).  Effect of predator diet and behavior on predator-avoidance behavior of Gambusia affinis. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans, Louisiana.                                                                                                     
Smith, M. E.  (1995).  Effects of predator size on displacement and schooling behavior of Gambusia affinis.  Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Smith, M. E.  (1994).  Predator effects on populations of Gambusia affinis.  Presented at the annual Bonneville Chapter meetings for the American Fisheries Society, Wendover, Nevada.



Professional Societies

American Fisheries Society (Early Life History Section)              
Society for the Study of Animal Behavior
American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists