My research is motivated by the rapid warming of our oceans. Broadly, we characterize the changes occurring in benthic (seafloor, including foundation and non-native species, and demersal fishes) communities using a combination of remote sensing (e.g., active acoustics (echosounders), unmanned aerial imagery, ground-truth, photogrammetry) and in-situ observations (diver surveys) and experiments. We study communities that span the deep sea to kelp forests and warm water coral reefs. <br><br>This includes the study of changes in community composition, biogenic structure of reefs (temperate and coral), and relationships between bathymetry and species composition.
Courses Taught
- BIOL 999: Doctoral Dissertation Research
- INCO 790: Advanced Research Experience
- ZOOL 999: Doctoral Research
Research Interests
- Biodiversity
- Climate Change - Impacts
- Coastal Environment
- Ecology
- Invasive Species
- Marine and Ocean Sciences
- Marine Biology
- Application of remotely sensed data and GIS
Selected Publications
Byrnes, J. E. K., Brown, A., Sheridan, K., Peller, T., Lawlor, J., Beaulieu, J., . . . Benes, K. (2024). Notes from the past show how local variability can stymie urchins and the rise of the reds in the Gulf of Maine. Ecosphere, 15(4). doi:10.1002/ecs2.4800
Hartwell, A. M., Wheat, A. E., & Dijkstra, J. A. (2024). Natural warming differentiates communities and increases diversity in deep-sea Ridge Flank Hydrothermal Systems.. Commun Biol, 7(1), 379. doi:10.1038/s42003-024-06070-3
Dijkstra, J. A., & Westerman, E. L. (2023). From kelp forests to cunner: The long-tendrilled impact of a 50-year career studying marine ecology in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 569, 151951. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151951
Van Volkom, K. S., Harris, L. G., Lambert, W. J., & Dijkstra, J. A. (2023). The effect of surface orientation on early successional fouling communities in the southern gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 569, 151952. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151952
Wilson, N., Parrish, C. E., Battista, T., Wright, C. W., Costa, B., Slocum, R. K., . . . Tyler, M. T. (2022). Mapping Seafloor Relative Reflectance and Assessing Coral Reef Morphology with EAARL-B Topobathymetric Lidar Waveforms. ESTUARIES AND COASTS, 45(4), 923-937. doi:10.1007/s12237-019-00652-9
Dijkstra, J. A., Harris, L. G., Mello, K., Litterer, A., Wells, C., & Ware, C. (2017). Invasive seaweeds transform habitat structure and increase biodiversity of associated species. JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, 105(6), 1668-1678. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12775
Dijkstra, J. A., Buckman, K. L., Ward, D., Evans, D. W., Dionne, M., & Chen, C. Y. (2013). Experimental and Natural Warming Elevates Mercury Concentrations in Estuarine Fish. PLOS ONE, 8(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058401
Dijkstra, J. A., Westerman, E. L., & Harris, L. G. (2011). The effects of climate change on species composition, succession and phenology: a case study. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, 17(7), 2360-2369. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02371.x
Bullard, S. G., Lambert, G., Carman, M. R., Byrnes, J., Whitlatch, R. B., Ruiz, G., . . . Heinonen, K. (2007). The colonial ascidian Didemnum sp A: Current distribution, basic biology and potential threat to marine communities of the northeast and west coasts of North America. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 342(1), 99-108. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.020
Dijkstra, J., Harris, L. G., & Westerman, E. (2007). Distribution and long-term temporal patterns of four invasive colonial ascidians in the Gulf of Maine. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY, 342(1), 61-68. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2006.10.015
