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Susan Williams, Ph.D.The Williams LabAmber Szoboszlai, Ph.D. Student 707-875-1975
I received my MS at Moss Landing Marine Labs (San Jose State University) in 2007, where I studied the role of facilitation in rocky intertidal seaweed communities. This work highlighted how species interactions and species diversity can influence patterns of distribution of early life history stages of seaweeds. When seaweed cover was removed, as commonly occurs after winter storm disturbances, I found that juvenile recruitment of a rockweed (Pelvetiopsis limitata) was enhanced by the presence of another, more stress-tolerant seaweed (Porphyra perforata). This research contributes to an understanding of how positive interactions (i.e. facilitation) can determine patterns of species distribution in stressful habitats. My other interests include improving public awareness about coastal resource use issues and conservation. As part of my dissertation I plan to develop educational curricula that address how humans and the oceans are interconnected. I’m also an avid phycologist and plant-lover, with an interest in enhancing the general understanding of the importance of photosynthetic marine foundation species (i.e., kelps, seagrasses, intertidal seaweeds) to nearshore marine ecosystems. PUBLICATIONS J.J. Stachowicz, M.H. Graham, M.E. Bracken, and A.I. Szoboszlai. 2008. Diversity enhances cover and stability of seaweed assemblages: The role of heterogeneity and time. Ecology 89:3008-3019. Szoboszlai, A.I. 2007. Positive and negative effects of intertidal macroalgal canopies on Fucoid recruitment. M.S. Thesis, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA. 88 p. |
I am a second year PhD student in the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis. While working as a marine science policy fellow at the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, I discovered my ambition to conduct research that can be integrated with marine policy and management. For my dissertation I am working to develop an integrated perspective of interactions between oyster aquaculture practices and eelgrass populations. Scientists currently have a poor understanding of how combined positive and negative effects of oyster aquaculture relate to eelgrass persistence and survival. By exploring how eelgrass responds to oyster aquaculture, my research will help to develop eelgrass sustainability guidelines for aquaculture businesses and to manage future expansion of aquaculture facilities. 
The Williams Lab