I am currently a graduate research assistant pursuing a M.S. in biology at the University of West Florida. I currently work under Dr. William Patterson in the Fisheries Laboratory. My interests include fisheries biology, artificial reef ecology, marine fish population dynamics, reef fish ecology, fish stock assessment, marine protected areas/marine reserves, and marine habitat restoration
Current Duties:
Estimated reef fish population parameters such as movement, population size, fishing mortality, age-length estimations, and site fidelity to study the ecological function of artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Performed tagging experiments using internal anchor tags to study fish movement behavior; performed fishing experiments to study the effect of fishing mortality on artificial reef fish communities; operated a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) on offshore artificial reefs, as well as performed routine maintenance on various submersibles (VideoRay Pro III micro ROV and Seabotix LBV200L mini ROV); performed video analysis in regards to fish identification, fish counts, and fish length estimation of reef fish communities; aided in developing ROV methods for video sampling reef fish community structure on artificial reefs; employed the use of a real time CTD profilers and YSI instruments for water quality measurements; operated seines, fish traps, and otter trawls in seagrass beds to capture juvenile reef fishes in various estuarine and mangrove habitats. Acquired fisheries dependent and independent samples working with charter boat captains, recreational fisherman, fishing tournament officials, port agents, and federal and state fisheries biologists as well as interacting with recreational and commercial fisherman to obtain movement locations of tagged fish. Organized data to assemble spreadsheets, graphs, and presentations. Used Sigma plot software for data organization and constructing graphs; used statistical modeling programs to analyze data from tagged fish; plotted movements of tagged fish in GPS mapping software and GIS; used excel to organize tagging data and video analysis data; aided in writing regular project progress reports for grant sources; performed technical writing of manuscripts for publication in scientific journals; and presented research at local, state, and international meetings.
Related Skills:
Remotely operated vehicle use and maintenance; fish tagging methodology; video analysis; otolith extraction and aging; gut content analysis; fish tissue sampling for PCB and dioxin content analysis; hook and line, seine, otter trawl, and fish trap use; Competent in Sigma plot, GPS mapping, MARK modeling program, Microsoft word, excel, and power point software. Advanced open water diving certification (SSI)
Affiliations and Volunteer Work:
American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences, Member since 2007
American Fisheries Society- Florida Chapter, Member since 2006
UWF Marine Ecological Research Society, Member since 2006
UWF Fisheries Club, Member since 2006
Florida West Panhandle Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Science Fair Judge
Woodward Beach Middle School Fishing Clinic, Volunteer
Pensacola Kids Fishing Clinic, Volunteer
Publications:
Addis D, WF Patterson, III, and MA Dance. In Press. Site fidelity and movement of reef fishes tagged at unreported artificial reef sites off NW Florida. Proceedings of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute.
References and transcripts provided upon request. | 
