People | Ana Dittel

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Larval biology, recruitment dynamics, tropical biology.

Dispersal and recruitment of vent crab larvae in geothermal systems in the eastern Pacific

This project examined the development, growth and reproductive biology of the vent crab Bythograea thermydron. In laboratory studies, we successfully reared the megalopae larvae through metamorphosis and several juvenile stages. This is the first time that this has been reported for a vent species. Behavioral studies with the megalopal stages showed that these larvae swim actively over the range of temperatures near the vents (2 to 25 °C) suggesting that the larvae are physiologically capable of exploiting the whole water column from 2500 m to the surface.

Trophic dynamics in the German Wadden Sea

Food sources for juvenile shore crabs, Carcinus maenas - This project examines the trophic dynamics of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas in tidal flats of the of the Wadden Sea. Coastal wetlands such as the Wadden Sea are important in sustaining many commercial species of fish and shellfish and loss of these valuable habitats over the past several decades has resulted in efforts to restore and protect these areas by focusing on reduction of eutrophication, turbidity and pollution control. In order to further understand how these ecosystems function, we are using a combination of stable isotope and stomach content analyses to compare the role of microalgae versus macroalgae in supporting the growth of juvenile shore crabs.

This program consists of a 10 week independent research project, plus a series of seminars in and workshops to expose students to a variety of topics in marine science and to explore more general issues in science and graduate education. Soon after arriving at CMS, students design a project and present the proposed work to the faculty and the other interns. Each student then conducts research independently (with the guidance of an advisor) during the 10 week internship. At the end of the summer, they present their results during a mini-symposium attended by the interns, faculty, staff, and graduate students. The interns also write up their results in a form of a regular scientific paper.

Charles E. Epifanio, Professor, Marine Biosciences (Ph.D., Duke University) - Larval ecology; recruitment and population dynamics of commercially important species.

Dr. Ekkehard Vareschi, Professor of Aquatic Ecology, University of Oldenburg, Institute for Marine Chemistry and Biology (ICBM) - impact of UV radiation on aquatic organisms; heavy metal metabolism in limnic and marine ecosystems; effects of bioturbation and carbon flow in marine systems, and spatial and temporal patterns of fish populations.

Dr. Meinhard Simon, Chairperson, Institute of Chemistry & Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Oldenburg University

Hila Elifantz, Ph.D. Student, Marine Biosciences (M.S., Environmental Quality, The Hebrew University, 2002) - Microbial activity in the rhizosphere in relation to nutrient cycles and pollutants degradation.

Rex R. Malmstrom, Ph.D. Student, Marine Biosciences (B.A., Biology-Marine Science, Boston University, 1999) - Microbial Ecology of DMSP and DMS. (Web Page)

Lisa Waidner, Ph.D. student (M.S., Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, 1993) - Estuarine microbial ecology and molecular biology.

Liying Yu, Research Specialist - Applications of molecular techniques in microbial ecology.

Marine Microbiology, Microbial Ecology, Biological Oceanographic Processes, Writing Scientific Papers and Summer Research for Undergraduates.

Tilburg, C.E., A.I. Dittel, and C.E. Epifanio. 2006. Retention of crab larvae in a coastal null zone. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. In review.

Dittel, A.I., C.E. Epifanio, and M.L Fogel. 2006. Trophic relationships of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in estuarine habitats. Hydrobiologia 568:379-390.

Dittel, A.I., C.E. Epifanio, and G. Perovich. 2005. Food sources for the early life history stages of the hydrothermal vent crab Bythograea thermydron: A stable isotope approach. Hydrobiologia 544:339-346.

Epifanio, C.E., A.I. Dittel, R.A. Rodriguez, and T.E. Targett. 2003. The role of macroalgal beds as nursery habitat for juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus. J. Shellf. Res. 22:881-886.

Jinks, R.N., T.L. Markley, E.E. Taylor, G. Perovich, A.I. Dittel, C.E. Epifanio and T.W. Cronin. 2002. Adaptive visual metamorphosis in a deep-sea hydrothermal vent crab. Nature 420:68-70.

Dittel, A.I., C.E. Epifanio, S.M. Schwalm, M.S. Fantle and M.L. Fogel. 2000. Carbon and nitrogen sources for juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus, in coastal wetlands. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 194:103-112

Fantle, M.S., A.I. Dittel, S. Schwalm, C.E. Epifanio and M.L. Fogel. 1999. A foodweb analysis of the juvenile crab Callinectes sapidus, using stable isotopes in whole animals and individual amino acids. Oecologia 120:416-426.

Epifanio, C.E., G. Perovich, A.I. Dittel and S.C. Cary. 1999. Development and behavior of megalopa larvae and juveniles of the hydrothermal vent crab Bythograea thermydron. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 185:147-154.

Epifanio, C.E., A.I. Dittel, S. Park, S. Schwalm and A. Fouts. 1998. Early life history of Hemigrapsus sanguineus, a non-indigenous crab in the Middle Atlantic Bight (USA). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 170:231-238.

Dittel, A.I., C.E. Epifanio, L.A. Cifuentes and D.L. Kirchman. 1997. Carbon and nitrogen sources for shrimp postlarvae fed natural diets from a tropical mangrove system. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci. 45:629-637.

Dittel, A., A.H. Hines, G. Ruiz and K.K. Ruffin. 1995. Effects of shallow water refuge on behavior and density-dependent mortality of juvenile blue crabs in Chesapeake Bay. Bulletin of Marine Science 57:902-916.