David Bushek Assistant Professor Shellfish ecology and parasitology

Email:
Phone: 856-785-0074 x. 4327
Fax: 856-785-1544

Education: Ph.D., Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Research Interests:
Bivalve mollusks often serve prominent roles in the ecology of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. For example, the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica is a reef-forming, filter feeding bivalve that lives in estuaries along the east and gulf coasts of North America. Oyster reefs perform a variety of ecological roles that contribute significantly to the structure and function of the coastal ecosystems in which they exist. They form a unique habitat that supports an abundance of taxonomically diverse species. They stabilize banks and bottom sediments and serve as both active and passive filters as waters pass over them. Moreover, the metabolic activity of the oysters and other organisms associated with the reefs actively couple benthic and pelagic communities. In a broad sense, the ecological role of oyster reefs is gaining appreciation, but much remains to be learned. One focus of my research aims to enhance our understanding of the ecological impact of bivalves, particularly the eastern oyster, at the population, community and ecosystem levels.
(read more at http://www.hsrl.rutgers.edu/bushek.html)

Personal Interests:
My kids, the outdoors, Big Ten football

Research Lab:
Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory