Elizabeth A. Irlandi
Associate Professor, Oceanography
Department of Marine and Environmental Systems
Florida Institute of Technology
150 West University Boulevard
Melbourne, FL 32901
Phone: 321-674-7454
Fax: 321-674-7212
email: irlandi@fit.edu

Visit Florida Tech's home page

and the DMES home page

Courses Taught:

Restoration and Mitigation 

Numerical Analyses of Biological Data

Estuarine and Marine Benthos

Principles of Biological Oceanography

Research Interests:

Current Projects:

• Effects of beach nourishment on beach habitat indicator species (ghost crabs, mole crabs, coquina clams)
• Interactions between seagrass and macroalgae
• Low salinity conditions as a natural barrier to Caulerpa brachypus invasion into the Indian River Lagoon
• Permit compliance monitoring of near shore hard bottom communities for Sebastian Inlet Tax District Commission
• Water quality effects on submerged aquatic vegetation
• Review of Biological Resources in the Canaveral National Seashore
  

Graduate Students:

Past and Present

Professional Experience:

• 2005-present Associate Professor, Oceanography, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL
• 1998-2005 Assistant Professor, Oceanography, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL
• 1997-1998 Assistant Research Scientist, University of Miami, Center for Marine and Environmental Analyses, Miami, FL
• 1995-1998 Adjunct Faculty, School of Natural and Health Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, FL
• 1995-1997 Senior Research Associate, University of Miami, Center for Marine and Environmental Analyses, Miami, FL
• 1994-1995 National Research Council Post Doctoral Associate, National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, NC
• 1994 Invited participant at DIALOG Symposium (Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Limnology and Oceanography)
• Spring 1993 Instructor, Principles of Biological Oceanography, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
• 1990-1993 Research Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC
• 1988-1990 Fisheries Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service, Beaufort, NC
• 1986-1988 Assistant Marine Educator, North Carolina Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores, NC
• 1985-1987 Research Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC
• 1984-1985 Research Assistant, Zoology Department, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Membership in Professional Societies:

Publications:

1991 Irlandi, E.A. and C.H. Peterson. Modification of animal habitat by large plants: mechanisms by which seagrasses influence clam growth. Oecologia 87:307-318.

1991 Nelson, D.M., E.A. Irlandi, L.R. Settle, M.E. Monaco, and L. Coston-Clements. Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in southeast estuaries. ELMR Report No. 9. NOAA/NOS Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Rockville, MD. 177 pp.

1992 Nelson, D.M., et al. Distribution and abundance of fishes and invertebrates in Gulf of Mexico estuaries, Vol. I: data summaries. ELMR Report No. 10.NOAA/NOS Strategic Environmental Assessments Division, Rockville, MD. 273pp.

1992 Ambrose, W.G., Jr. and E.A. Irlandi. Height of attachment on seagrass leads to trade-off between growth and survival in the bay scallop Argopecten irradians. Marine Ecology Progress Series 90:45-51.

1994 Peterson, C.H., E.A. Irlandi, and R. Black. The crash in suspension-feeding bivalve populations (Katelysia spp.) in Princess Royal Harbour: an unexpected consequence of eutrophication. Journal of Experimental MarineBiology and Ecology 176:39-52.

1994 Irlandi, E.A. Large- and small-scale effects of habitat structure on rates of predation: how seagrass landscapes influence rates of predation and siphon nipping on an infaunal bivalve. Oecologia 98:176-183.

1995 Irlandi, E.A., W.G. Ambrose, Jr., and B.A. Orlando. Landscape ecology and the marine environment: how seagrass landscapes influence growth andsurvival of juvenile bay scallops. Oikos 72:307-313.

1996 Irlandi, E.A. The effects of seagrass patch size and energy regime on growth of a suspension-feeding bivalve. Journal of Marine Research 54:161-185.

1996 Irlandi, E.A. and M.E. Mehlich. The effect of tissue cropping and disturbance by browsing fishes on growth of two species of suspension-feeding bivalves. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 197:279-293.

1997  Irlandi, E.A. Seagrass patch size and survivorship of an infaunal bivalve. Oikos 78:511-518.

1997  Irlandi, E.A. and M.K. Crawford. Habitat linkages: the effect ofintertidal saltmarshes and adjacent subtidal habitats on abundance, movement,and growth of an estuarine fish. Oecologia 110:222-230

1997  Irlandi, E., S. Macia, and J. Serafy. Salinity reduction from freshwater canal discharge: effects on mortality and feeding of an urchin (Lytechinus variegatus) and a gastropod (Lithopoma tectum). Bulletin of Marine Science 61:869-879

1999  Irlandi, E.A., B.A. Orlando, and W.G. Ambrose, Jr. The effect ofhabitat patch size on growth and survival of juvenile bay scallops (Argopecten irradians). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 235:21-43.

1999  Chambers, P.A., R.E. DeWreede, E.A. Irlandi, and H. Vandermeulen. Management issues in aquatic macrophyte ecology: a Canadian perspective. Canadian Journal of Botany 77:471-487.

2000  Irlandi, E.A., J. Fishman, and M. Miller. The trials and tribulations of establishing large scale Thalassia mesocosms for experimentalresearch. Report Sumbitted to the Center for Marine and Environmental Analyses, University of Miami, Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, Miami, FL 33149. Also submitted to Bulletin of Marine Science in 2000 and no review returned.

2001  Irlandi, E.A., B.A. Orlando, S. Macia, P. Biber, T. Jones, L. Kaufman, D. Lirman, and E. Patterson. The influence of freshwater runoff on biomass, morphometrics, and production of Thalassia testudinum. Aquatic Botany. 1536:1-12.

2003  Irlandi, E.A., B.A. Orlando, and W. Cropper, Jr.  Short-term Effects of Nutrient Addition on Growth and Biomass of Thalassia testudinum in Biscayne Bay, FL.  Florida Scientist 67:18-26.

2004  Irlandi, E.A., B.A. Orlando and P. Biber.  Drift Algae-Epiphyte-Seagrass Interactions.   Marine Ecology Progress Series 279: 81-91.

2005  Bishop, M.J., J.A. Rivera, E.A. Irlandi, W.G. Ambrose, Jr., and C.H. Peterson.  Spatio-temporal patterns in the mortality of bay scallop recruits in North Carolina:  investigation of a life-history anomaly.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 315:127-146.

2005 Taplin, K.A., E.A. Irlandi, and R. Raves. Interference between the Macroalga Caulerpa prolifera and the Seagrass Halodule wrightii.  Aquatic Botany 83:175-186.

2006  Biber, P.D. and E.A. Irlandi. Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Macroalgal Communities Influenced by Anthropogenic Salinity Gradients.  Aquatic Botany 85:65-77.

2007 Irlandi, E., J. Zsiros, C. Orcutt, and A. Mackay.  Morphometric changes and tolerance to low salinity for the green alga, Caulerpa brachypus, and potential consequences to its establishment in the Indian River Lagoon, FL.  Florida Scientist 70:40-414.

2008 Sloan, N.J.B. and E.A. Irlandi.  Burial tolerances of reef-building sabellarid worms from the east coast of Florida.  Journal of Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 77:337-344.

2008 Hinchey, E.K., M.C. Nicholson, R.N. Zajac, and E.A. Irlandi.  Preface:  Marine and coastal applications in landscape ecology.  Landscape Ecology 23:1-5.

September 05, 2008