SelectedWorks - Amy Hirons

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Selected Works of Amy Hirons

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Helping develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the marine and natural environments through education and research. A challenging academic position that utilizes 25 years of experience surveying marine resources and habitats in coordination with local, state, federal, and international guidelines. Sharing the academic experiences to foster the next generation of critical thinkers.

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About Amy Hirons

Helping develop a greater understanding and appreciation for the marine and natural environments through education and research. A challenging academic position that utilizes 25 years of experience surveying marine resources and habitats in coordination with local, state, federal, and international guidelines. Sharing the academic experiences to foster the next generation of critical thinkers.

Articles (22)

Stable Isotopes and Parasites Indicate Feeding Ecology in Florida, USA, Wading Birds (Sarah E Gumbleton, David W Kerstetter, Christopher Blanar, et al.) Waterbirds (2021)

We assessed δ13C and δ15N profiles and endoparasite community composition in Great Egrets (Ardea alba), Great Blue Herons (A. herodias), and White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) from four wildlife rescue centers (two mainland, two on islands ...

Stable isotopes and community surveys reveal differential use of artificial and natural reefs by South Florida fishes (Christopher Blanar, Joseph R Hornbeck, David Kerstetter, et al.) Heliyon (2021)

Artificial reefs may enhance the biological production of reef-associated flora and fauna, but their trophic structure relative to that of natural reefs remains understudied. We assessed trophic relationships by 1) comparing reef fish communities and ...

Swordfish Xiphias gladius Diet in the Florida Straits (Amy Marie Heemsoth, Amy Hirons, Caroline M. Collatos, et al.) Bulletin of Marine Science (2020)

Swordfish Xiphias gladius inhabit the Florida Straits year-round and provide a significant role in the food web as top-level predators. However, little is known about the diet composition and thus ecological role of swordfish in ...

Heavy Metal Accumulation in Seagrasses in Southeastern Florida (Erin M. Smith, Dimitri Giarikos, Andre Daniels, et al.) Journal of Marine Biology and Oceanography (2019)

Seagrass beds are among the most ecologically important systems in the marine environment and comprise a large component of the diets of many marine organisms, which provides a pathway for contaminants in the seagrasses to ...

New Host Records and Range Extensions for Helminth Parasites from Wading Birds in Southeastern Florida (Sarah Gumbleton, David Kerstetter, Amy Hirons, et al.) Florida Field Naturalist (2019)

Six species of wading birds collected from wildlife centers throughout South Florida were dissected for parasites. Twenty-six species of parasites represent new host records and five parasite species represent new geographic range extensions.

Southward Flow on the Western Flank of the Florida Current (Alexander Soloviev, Amy Hirons, Christopher Maingot, et al.) Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers (2017)

A suite of long-term in situ measurements in the Straits of Florida, including the ADCP bottom moorings at an 11-m isobath and 244-m isobath (Miami Terrace) and several ADCP ship transects, have revealed a remarkable ...

Climate Change, One Health and Mercury (L. K. Duffy, T. Vertigan, B. Dainowski, et al.) Advances in Clinical Toxicology (2017)

Climate change is occurring on both regional and global scales. The use and global distribution of toxic metals is increasing and affecting environmental, animal and human health as a result of air, water and food ...

Combined Gut Content and Stable Isotope Trophic Analysis of the Pelagic Stingray Pteroplaytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832) Diet from the Western North Atlantic Ocean (Tiffany A. Weidner, Amy Hirons, A. Leavitt, et al.) Journal of Applied Ichthyology (2017)

The understanding of trophic relationships is vital for correctly modeling ecosystems and ecosystem effects of fisheries removals. The pelagic stingray is found in epipelagic sub-tropical and tropical waters worldwide and is a common bycatch in ...

Host Abundance, Seagrass Cover, and Temperature Predict Infection Rates of Parasitic Isopods (Bopyridae) on Caridean Shrimp. (Sarah A. Briggs, Christopher Blanar, Michael B. Robblee, et al.) Journal of Parasitology (2017)

Caridean shrimp are critical components of seagrass communities and occasionally harbor parasitic bopyrid isopods, which can negatively impact their hosts. However, the ecological factors that drive infection rates of parasitic bopyrid isopods in host carideans ...

Combined Stomach Content and δ13C/δ15N Analyses of Oilfish, Escolar, Snake Mackerel and Lancetfish in the Western North Atlantic (Heidi R. Keller, Amy Hirons and David W. Kerstetter) Marine Ecology (2016)

Large, mesopelagic teleost fishes have a potentially keystone position in the ecology of the pelagic water column, yet remain relatively unstudied when compared with large, commercially important, epipelagic fishes. Here, the ecological roles of four, ...

Biomixing Due to Diel Vertical Migrations of Zooplankton: Comparison of Computational Fluid Dynamics Model with Observations (Cayla Whitney Dean, Alexander Soloviev, Amy Hirons, et al.) Ocean Modelling (2016)

Recent studies (Dewar et al., 2006; Wilhelmus and Dabiri, 2014) suggest that diel vertical migrations (DVM) of zooplankton (or other migrating organisms) may have an impact on ocean mixing, though details are not completely clear. ...

Trophic Linkages of Intracoastal Waterway Seagrass Beds in Browards County, Florida (Christina Gabriel, David W. Kerstetter and Amy Hirons) Florida Scientist (2015)

Seagrass habitats support marine food webs and provide essential habitat for a variety of species. Seagrasses and associated algae at three locations along the Intracoastal Waterway in Broward County, FL were assessed for their trophic ...

An International Assessment of Mangrove Management: Incorporation in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (Haille N. Carter, Steffen W. Schmidt and Amy Hirons) Diversity (2015)

Due to increasing recognition of the benefits provided by mangrove ecosystems, protection policies have emerged under both wetland and forestry programs. However, little consistency remains among these programs and inadequate coordination exists among sectors of ...

Biogeochemical Analysis of Ancient Pacific Cod Bone Suggests Hg Bioaccumulation was Linked to Paleo Sea Level Rise and Climate Change (Maribeth S. Murray, C. Peter McRoy, L. K. Duffy, et al.) Frontiers in Environmental Science (2015)

Deglaciation at the end of the Pleistocene initiated major changes in ocean circulation and distribution. Within a brief geological time, large areas of land were inundated by sea-level rise and today global sea level is ...

Spectral Sensitivity, Luminous Sensitivity, and Temporal Resolution of the Visual Systems in Three Sympatric Temperate Coastal Shark Species (Mieka Kalinoski, Amy Hirons, Andrij Horodysky, et al.) Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2014)

We used electroretinography (ERG) to determine spectral and luminous sensitivities, and the temporal resolution (flicker fusion frequency, FFF) in three sympatric (but phylogenetically distant) coastal shark species: Carcharhinus plumbeus (sandbar shark), Mustelus canis (smooth dogfish), ...

Stable Isotopes Confirm a Coastal Diet for Critically Endangered Mediterranean Monk Seals (Alexandros A. Karamanlidis, P. Jeff Curtis, Amy Hirons, et al.) Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies (2014)

Understanding the ecology and behaviour of endangered species is essential for developing effective management and conservation strategies.We used stable isotope analysis to investigate the foraging behaviour of critically endangered Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) in ...

Trophic Levels of North Pacific Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Through Analysis of Stable Isotopes: Implications on Prey and Resource Quality (Briana H. Witteveen, Graham A. J. Worthy, Kate M. Wynne, et al.) Aquatic Mammals (2011)

Trophic levels of 1,105 humpback whales from six geographically and isotopically distinct North Pacific feeding groups were calculated using δ15N of humpback whales and regional primary consumers. The overall mean trophic level for North Pacific ...

Using Movements, Genetics and Trophic Ecology to Differentiate Inshore from Offshore Aggregations of Humpback Whales in the Gulf of Alaska (Briana H. Witteveen, Jan M. Straley, Ellen Chenoweth, et al.) Endangered Species Research (2011)

Humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae have been studied in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) since the late 1960s, but information about whales foraging offshore is limited. A large-scale collaborative project (SPLASH) provided ...

Occurrence of an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) Larva in the Florida Current (D. L. Trimm, J. Shenker, Amy Hirons, et al.) Florida Scientist (2010)

During a yearlong ichthyoplankton survey conducted in the Florida Current, a single ocean sunfish, Mola mola, was found from the 284 samples and 1,454 identified specimens. This sunfish larva is one of only 17 on ...

Diet of Pacific Sleeper Shark, a Potential Steller Sea Lion Predator, in the North-East Pacific Ocean (M. F. Sigler, L. B. Hulbert, C. R. Lunsford, et al.) Journal of Fish Biology (2006)

Pacific sleeper sharks Somniosus pacificus were captured near Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus rookeries during the period when Steller sea lion pups are most vulnerable to Pacific sleeper shark predation (first water entrance and weaning). ...

Temporal Records of δ13C and δ15N in North Pacific Pinnipeds: Inferences Regarding Environmental Change and Diet (Amy Hirons, Donald M. Schell and Bruce P. Finney) Oecologia (2001)

Sea lion and seal populations in Alaskan waters underwent various degrees of decline during the latter half of the twentieth century and the cause(s) for the declines remain uncertain. The stable carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen ...

Growth Rates of Vibrissae of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller Sea Lions (Eumetopias jubatus) (Amy Hirons, Donald M. Schell and David J. St. Aubin) Canadian Journal of Zoology (2001)

Growth rates of vibrissae (whiskers), which act as a temporal record of feeding in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), were estimated using 13C- and 15N-labeled glycine followed by stable-isotope analysis. ...

Supplemental FOS Article Materials (Sarah Gumbleton, David W. Kerstetter, Amy Hirons, et al.) Florida Naturalist (2019)

This extended table documents the endoparasites found within great egrets, great blue herons, green herons, yellow-crowned night herons, black-crowned night herons and white ibis from this study and previous studies.

Abiotic Stressors Expose Peruvian Fur Seal Parental Care (Amy Hirons, Mickie Edwards, Michael Adkesson, et al.) Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures (2019)

Vulnerable Peruvian fur seals (PFS) Arctocephalus australis are genetically isolated subspecies of South American fur seals and have a major breeding colony in Punta San Juan, Peru. PFS display strong site fidelity on densely populated ...

Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Nearshore Habitat Utilization, Bimini, the Bahamas (Skylar Muller, Kelly Melillo-Sweeting, Kathleen Dudzinski, et al.) Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures (2019)

Bimini, The Bahamas include two islands surrounded by a diverse assemblage of ecosystems and a large array of organisms, including two delphinid species, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, inshore ...