The focus of my lab's research is on developing and using molecular genetic approaches to investigate various aspects of the ecology, evolution, conservation and management of marine organisms, with an emphasis on elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and coral reef biota. A smaller but also important research activity in my lab is the use of acoustic and satellite telemetry techniques to examine movement patterns of elasmobranchs.

• Debra Abercrombie: Development and application of forensic DNA markers to identify lamnid, allopid and sphyrnid shark body parts for management and conservation.
• Larry Beerkircher: Characterization of shark bycatch on pelagic longlines from fishery observer data.
• Andrea Bernard: Population and mating system genetics of elasmobranchs and billfishes.
• Demian Chapman: Molecular ecological studies of shark population structure and mating systems biology. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipient 2001-2004.
• Melissa Debiasse: Population genetic structure and connectivity in coral reef sponges.
• Marcy Henning: Development of forensic DNA approaches for fisheries law enforcement of shark catch and landings. 2005 Edward Whittaker Research Poster Award (details).
• Hester, Jennifer: Genetic connectivity in coral reef sponges.
• Rebekah Horn: Shark DNA barcoding and population genetics.
• Lucy Howey: Characterization of blue shark migratory patterns by satellite tag tracking.
• Jennifer Magnussen: Characterization of the species composition of the Hong Kong fin trade using DNA approaches. NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Recipient 2002-2006. (details).
• Christopher Owen: Species delineation and genetic biodiversity in crinoids. (Co-supervised with Dr. C. Messing).
• Vince Richards: Population genetic structure and reef connectivity in coral reef invertebrates.
• Christine Testerman: Population genetic structure in sharks exploited for the fin trade.
• Herman Wirshing: Genetic biodiversity and phylogenetic relationships in gorgonian corals. (Co-supervised with Dr. C. Messing).

Shivji Lab - Selected Publications (Complete publication list)

Chapman, D.D., D. Pinhal and M.S. Shivji. 2009. Tracking the fin trade: Genetic stock identification in Western Atlantic scalloped hammerheads sharks (Sphyrna lewini). Endangered Species Research. In Press.

Beerkircher, L., F. Arocha, A. Barse, E. Prince, V. Restrepo, J. Serafy and M. Shivji. 2009. Species misidentification effects on population assessment of overfished white marlin Tetrapturus albidus and roundscale spearfish Tetrapturus georgii. Endangered Species Research. In Press.

Shivji, M.S. 2009. DNA Forensic Applications in Shark Management and Conservation. In: Sharks and Their Relatives: Physiological Adaptations, behavior, Ecology, Conservation, and Management. (Eds: J.C. Carrier, M.R. Heithaus, J.A. Musick). CRC Press. In Press.

Victor, B.C., R. Hanner, M. Shivji, J. Hyde and C. Caldow. 2009. Identification of the larval and juvenile stages of the Cubera Snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus, using DNA barcoding. Zootaxa 2215: 24–36.

Owen, C.L, C.G. Messing, G.W. Rouse and M.S. Shivji. 2009. Using a combined approach to explain the morphological and ecological diversity in Phanogenia gracilisHartlaub, 1893 (Echinodermata: Crinoidea) sensu lato: two species or intraspecific variation? Marine Biology DOI 10.1007/s00227-009-1173-6.

Wong, E.H.-K, M.S. Shivji and R.H. Hanner. 2009. Identifying sharks with DNA barcodes: assessing the utility of a nucleotide diagnostic approach. Molecular Ecology Resources. 9: 243-256.
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Richards, V.P., M. Henning, W. Witzell and M. Shivji. 2009. Species Delineation and Evolutionary History of the Globally Distributed Spotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari). Journal of Heredity 100(3): 273-283.
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Smith, W.D., J. J. Bizzarro, V.P. Richards, J. Nielsen, J.F.Mŕrquez-Farţas, and M.S. Shivji. 2009. Morphometric convergence and molecular divergence: the taxonomic status and evolutionary history of Gymnura crebripunctata (Peters, 1869) and G. marmorata (Cooper, 1864) in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Journal of Fish Biology. 75:761-783.
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Sebastian, H., P. Haye and M. Shivji. 2008. Characterization of the pelagic shark fin trade in north central Chile by genetic identification and trader surveys. Journal of Fish Biology 73:2293-2304.
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Chapman, D., B. Firchau and M. Shivji. 2008. Parthenogenesis in a large-bodied requiem shark (family Carcharhinidae). Journal of Fish Biology 73:1473-1477.
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Shivji, M., M. Pank, L. Natanson, N. Kohler, and M. Stanhope. 2008. Rapid Species Identification of Pelagic Shark Tissues Using Genetic Approaches. In: Sharks of the Open Ocean: Biology, Fisheries and Conservation (eds. M. D. Camhi, E. K. Pikitch and E. A. Babcock). Wiley, John & Sons, Inc.

Beerkircher, L., E. Cortes and M. Shivji. 2008. Elasmobranch Bycatch in the Pelagic Longline Fishery off the Southeastern United States, 1992–1997. In: Sharks of the Open Ocean: Biology, Fisheries and Conservation (eds. M. D. Camhi, E. K. Pikitch and E. A. Babcock). Wiley, John & Sons, Inc.

Shivji, M.S., and V. Richards. 2007. Bioinformatics Tools in Conservation Biology. In: Using Bioinformatics in the Exploration of Genetic Diversity. (Edited by M. He). Biomedical and Life Sciences Audio-Visual Online Presentation Series, Henry Stewart Talks Publishing. www.hstalks.com.

Feldheim, K.A., A.J. Stow, H. Ahonen, D.D. Chapman, M.S. Shivji, V. Peddemors and S. Wintner. 2007. Polymorphic microsatellite markers for studies of the conservation and reproductive genetics of imperilled sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus). Molecular Ecology Notes 7 (6), 1366-1368.

Chapman, D.D, M. S. Shivji, E. Louis, J. Sommer, H. Fletcher and P.A. Prodöhl. 2007. Virgin birth in a hammerhead shark. Biology Letters 3(4): 425-427.
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Chapman, D.D., E.K. Pikitch, E.A. Babcock, and M.S. Shivji. 2007. Deep-diving and diel changes in vertical habitat use by Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 344: 271-275.

Richards, V.P., J.D. Thomas, M.J. Stanhope and M.S. Shivji. 2007. Genetic connectivity in the Florida reef system: comparative phylogeography of commensal invertebrates with contrasting reproductive strategies. Molecular Ecology 6: 139-157.
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Magnussen, J.E., E.K. Pikitch, S.C. Clarke, C. Nicholson, A.R. Hoelzel and M.S. Shivji. 2007. Genetic Tracking of Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Products in International Trade. Animal Conservation 10: 199-207.
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Garla, R.C., D.D. Chapman, M.S. Shivji, B.M. Wetherbee and A.F. Amorim. 2006. Habitat of juvenile Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi, at two oceanic insular marine protected areas in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean: Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Atol das Rocas, Brazil . Fisheries Research. 81: 236-247.
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Shivji, M.S, J.E. Magnussen, L.R.Beerkircher, G. Hinteregger, D.W. Lee, J.E. Serafy and E.D. Prince. 2006. Validity, identification and distribution of the roundscale spearfish, Tetrapturus georgii (Teleostei: Istiophoridae): morphological and molecular evidence. Bulletin of Marine Science. 79: 483-491.
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Clarke, S.C., M.K. McAllister, E.J. Milner-Gulland, G. P. Kirkwood, C.G.J. Michielsens, D.J. Agnew, E.K. Pikitch, H. Nakano and M.S. Shivji. 2006. Global estimates of shark catches using trade records from commercial markets. Ecology Letters. 9: 1115-1126.
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Hoelzel, R.A., M. S. Shivji, J. E. Magnussen and M.P. Francis. 2006. Low worldwide genetic diversity in the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Biology Letters 2(4): 639-642.
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Garla, R.C., Chapman, D.D., Wetherbee, B.M., Shivji, M. 2006. Movement patterns of young Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi, at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil: the potential of marine protected areas for conservation of a nursery ground. Marine Biology. 149:189-199.
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Clarke, S.C., J.E. Magnussen, D.L. Abercrombie, M. McAllister and M.S. Shivji. 2006. Identification of shark species composition and proportion in the Hong Kong shark fin market using molecular genetics and trade records. Conservation Biology. 20: 201-211.
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Shivji, M.S., D.D. Chapman, E.K. Pikitch and P.W. Raymond. 2005. Genetic profiling reveals illegal international trade in fins of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. Conservation Genetics. 6: 1035-1039.
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Pikitch, E.K. D.D. Chapman, E.A. Babcock and M.S. Shivji. 2005. Habitat use and demographic population structure of elasmobranchs at a Caribbean atoll (Glover's Reef, Belize). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 302: 187-197.
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Abercrombie, D.L., S.C. Clarke and M.S. Shivji. 2005. Global-scale genetic identification of hammerhead sharks: Application to assessment of the international fin trade and law enforcement. Conservation Genetics. 6: 775-788.
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Wirshing, H.H., C.G. Messing, C.J. Douady, J. Reed, M.J. Stanhope and M.S. Shivji. 2005. Molecular evidence for multiple lineages in the gorgonian family Plexauridae (Anthozoa: Octocorallia). Marine Biology 147(2): 497-508.

Chapman, D., E.K. Pikitch, E. Babcock and M. Shivji. 2005. Marine reserve design and evaluation using automated acoustic telemetry: a case-study involving coral reef-associated sharks in the Mesoamerican Caribbean. Marine Technology Society Journal. 39: 42-53.
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Chapman, D.D., P.A. Prodohl, J. Gelsleichter, C.A. Manire and M.S. Shivji. 2004. Predominance of genetic monogamy by females in a hammerhead shark, Sphyrna tiburo: Implications for shark conservation. Molecular Ecology 13: 1965-1974.
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Beerkircher, L., E. Cortes and M. Shivji. 2004. Characteristics of shark bycatch observed on pelagic longlines off the southeastern United States, 1992-2000. Marine Fisheries Review 64(4):40-49.
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Chapman, D.D., M.J. Corcoran, G.M. Harvey, S. Malan and M.S. Shivji. 2003. Mating behavior of southern stingrays, Dasyatis americana (Dasyatidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 68: 241-245.
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Chapman, D., D. Abercrombie, C. Douady, E. Pikitch, M. Stanhope and M. Shivji. 2003. A streamlined, bi-organelle, multiplex PCR approach to species identification: application to global conservation and trade monitoring of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. Conservation Genetics 4(4): 415-425.
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Beerkircher, L., M. Shivji and E. Cortes. 2003. A Monte Carlo demographic analysis of the silky shark, Carcharhinus falciformis: implications of gear selectivity. Fishery Bulletin 101: 168-174.
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Douady, C.J., M. Dosay, M. S. Shivji, and M. J. Stanhope. 2002. Molecular phylogenetic evidence refuting the hypothesis of Batoidea (rays and skates) as derived sharks. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 26: 215-221.
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Shivji, M., S. Clarke, M. Pank, L. Natanson, N. Kohler and M. Stanhope. 2002. Genetic Identification of Pelagic Shark Body Parts for Conservation and Trade-Monitoring. Conservation Biology 16(4): 1036-1047.
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