Angela D. Witmer PhD candidate Texas A&M University Department of Biology Dr. Mary Wicksten (advisor)

My research interest focuses on the ecology of sandy beaches.  I am particularly interested in the future of sandy beaches.  The earth due to climate change, sea level rise and increase of storm intensity is experiencing some changes.  The intent of my research is to understand the ecology of the today’s beaches, incorporating the changes that are occurring due to erosion, barrier island migration, and storm events, to better understand the future of sandy beaches.  Beaches are popular destination vacations and are continually feeling the pressure of development.  It is my hope to integrate the human uses and manipulation into my research to better understand how the beaches respond to various pressures and exploitation.

My current research examines sandy beaches along the upper Texas coast.  I am specifically interested in the seasonal changes of intertidal macrofaunal invertebrates in relation to the physical environment.  The beach is a harsh environment and organisms that live here must be able to adjust to those changes.  My research looks at the seasonal abundance and richness of small benthic macrofauna.  Following my research focus I also examine the changes that come along as the result of a hurricane and the recovery of the beach organisms thereafter.  Core sand samples and physical measurements such as elevation, slope, grain size, salinity and temperature are retrieved from each site monthly.  Sand is sieved to 1 mm for macrofauna.  My work incorporates both the biological and geological fields, gathering information from each to better understand the dynamic community.

Other research interests include invertebrate mating systems and behavior examining the evolutionary stability of mixed mating systems.  I hope to further my research focus by incorporating life histories of the organisms that give rise to life on the sandy beaches.

Education:

• Ph.D., in progress. Zoology, Texas A&M University. 
• M.Sc. 2001. Biology, New Mexico State University. 
• B.Sc. 1996.  Biology, New Mexico State University

In The Media

Graduate research examines changes in Galveston beaches

Publications:
Witmer, A.D.  Immediate effects of Hurricane Ike on the upper Texas beaches.  In progress. 

Williams, A., R. Feagin, A.D. Witmer. 2008.  Environmental impacts of beach raking of Sargassum spp. on Galveston Island, Texas.  Shore and Beach 76:63-69. (pdf)

Witmer Stafford, A.D. ed. 2003. A field guide to common reptiles of Southern New Mexico.  Las Cruces Museum of Natural History. Booklet.

Witmer Stafford, A.D.  2001. Environmental effects on mate choice in the androdioecious clam shrimp Eulimnadia texana.  M.Sc. Thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM.  70pp.

Hager, S and A. Stafford.  1999.  Dynamics of species richness and abundance in a montane community of butterflies in southern New Mexico.  Southwestern Naturalist 44:375-378. (pdf)

Contact info:

Angela Witmer