David Bushek
Associate Professor
Shellfish ecology and parasitology
 email:
phone: 856-785-0074 x. 4327
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
Read my CV
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