Mark Chiappone

Research Interests

Benthic ecology, community classification

Contact Information

Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

515 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037

Tel: (305) 451-0233  Fax: (305) 453-9719  Email: chiapponem@uncw.edu

Education

2000  Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

M.S. Marine Biology

1991  University of Miami, Miami, FL

B.S. Biology and Marine Science

Recent Publications

Chiappone M., H. Dienes, S.L. Miller, and D.W. Swanson. In Press. Shallow fore reef density and habitat utilization patterns of the lettuce sea slug Tridachia (Elysia) crispata in the Florida Keys. Bulletin of Marine Science.

Chiappone M., H. Dienes, D.W. Swanson, and S.L Miller. In Press. Spatial distribution of lost fishing gear on offshore reefs in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Caribbean Journal of Science.

Miller, S.L., W.F. Precht, and M. Chiappone. 2004. Recognizing complexity in biological systems: Making coral reef ecology simple? A Florida case history. Current (Journal of Marine Education) 20(1):4-11.

Chiappone M., H. Dienes, D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. 2003. Density and gorgonian host-occupation patterns by flamingo tongue snails (Cyphoma gibbosum) in the Florida Keys. Caribbean Journal of Science 39(1):116-127.

Franklin, E.C., J.S. Ault, S.G. Smith, J. Luo, G.A. Meester, G.A. Diaz, M. Chiappone, D.W. Swanson, S.L. Miller, and J.A. Bohnsack. 2003. Benthic Habitat Mapping in the Tortugas Region, Florida. Special Issue on Marine and Coastal GIS. Marine Geodesy Vol (1-2):19-34.

Ault, J.S., S.G. Smith, G.A. Meester, J. Luo, E.C. Franklin, J.A. Bohnsack, D.E. Harper, D.B. McClellan, S.L. Miller, D.W. Swanson, and M. Chiappone. 2002. Tortugas surveyed: Synoptic habitat and reef fish surveys support establishment of marine reserves in the Dry Tortugas, Florida, USA. Reef Encounter 31: 22-23.

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. 2002. Density, spatial distribution and size structure of sea urchins in coral reef and hard-bottom habitats of the Florida Keys. Marine Ecology Progress Series 235: 117-126.

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, S.L. Miller, and S.G. Smith. 2002. Large-scale surveys on the Florida Reef Tract indicate poor recovery of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum. Coral Reefs 21:155-159.

Chiappone M., A. White, D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. 2002. Occurrence and biological impacts of fishing gear and other marine debris in the Florida Keys. Marine Pollution Bulletin Vol. 44:597-604.

Miller S.L., D.W. Swanson, and M. Chiappone. 2002. Multiple spatial scale assessment of coral reef and hard-bottom community structure in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Proceedings of the Ninth International Coral Reef Symposium. Volume 1:69-74.

Chiappone M., S.L. Miller, D.W. Swanson, J.S. Ault, and S.G. Smith S.G. 2001. Comparatively high densities of the long-spined sea urchin in the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Coral Reefs 20: 137-138.

Chiappone M., S.L. Miller, and D.W. Swanson. 2001. Condylactis gigantea – A giant comes under pressure from the aquarium trade in Florida. Reef Encounter 30: 29-31 .

Miller S.L., D.W. Swanson, M. Chiappone, J.S. Ault, S.G. Smith, G.A. Meester, J. Luo, E.C. Franklin, J.A. Bohnsack, D.E. Harper, and D.B. McClellan. 2001. An extensive deep reef terrace on the Tortugas Bank, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Coral Reefs 20:299-300.

Publications (in Review)

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller.  Density and habitat utilization patterns of anemones and corallimorpharians (Anthozoa, Zoantharia) in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Coral Reefs.

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller.  Large-scale density patterns of anemones and corallimorpharians on offshore coral reef habitats in the Florida Keys. Bulletin of Marine Science.

Manuscripts (In Progress)

Swanson D.W., S.L. Miller, and M. Chiappone. Spatial patterns of benthic coral reef organisms in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 1. Stony coral cover, species richness and species density. Coral Reefs.

Chiappone M., L.M. Rutten, D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. Spatial patterns of benthic coral reef organisms in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 2. Gorgonian species density, richness, and colony density. Coral Reefs.

Chiappone M., L.M. Rutten, D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. Spatial patterns of benthic coral reef organisms in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. 3. Sponge cover and species richness. Coral Reefs.

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, E.C. Franklin, and S.L. Miller. A hierarchical structural classification of Florida Keys coral reef and hard-bottom habitats. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Chiappone M., D.W. Swanson, and S.L. Miller. A rapid method for assessing topographic complexity and its application to Florida Keys coral reef and hard-bottom habitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.

Miller S.L., M. Chiappone, D.W. Swanson, J.S. Ault, S.G. Smith, and E.C. Franklin. Design-based surveys of coral reef and hard-bottom habitats in Dry Tortugas National Park and the Tortugas Bank, Florida. Ecological Applications.

Miller S.L., S. Gittings, M. Chiappone, B. Causey, D.W. Swanson, and A. White. Changes (1994-2000) to benthic cover on a deep coral reef in the Florida Keys. Coral Reefs.

Smith S.G., D.W. Swanson, S.L. Miller, J.S. Ault, and M. Chiappone. Sampling survey design for coral reef assessment and monitoring in the Florida Keys. Coral Reefs.

Swanson D.W., M. Chiappone, and S.L. Miller. Coral disease prevalence in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Marine Ecology Progress Series.