Research Web Site

•  Ecosystem Modeling Program

Education

• B.S., Cornell University, 1995
• Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 2002

Research Interests

“Each day as the sun rises and retires the beautiful green bays like great creatures breathe in and out.” 
- Howard T. Odum (1956)

I am a coastal systems ecologist.  Systems ecology is the study of ecosystems as holistic entities made up of multiple interacting components, and seeks to understand ecosystem function by application of quantitative tools including empirical data analysis and simulation modeling.  We strive to maintain a balance between observational-based ecological investigations and synthetic, interdisciplinary ecosystem modeling.  Our research program focuses on the ecology of estuaries and lagoons, and spans a range of scales from large estuaries like Chesapeake Bay to sub-estuaries like the York River to very shallow systems like the lagoons of the Delmarva Peninsula.  We are particularly interested in systems with a diversity of primary producers (e.g. phytoplankton, benthic microalgae, macroalgae, SAV, and epiphytes), their response to nutrient enrichment or reduction, the processes leading to algal blooms and hypoxia / anoxia, the processes controlling ecosystem metabolism, and the processes of eutrophication and oligotrophication.  Work in our lab has also involved modeling of watershed loads and linking lower trophic level models to those for higher trophic levels including fish and shellfish to understand system responses to multiple stressors operating at both ends of the food chain (i.e. bottom-up and top-down controls).  The models we develop tend to follow an alternative, reduced-complexity approach that incorporates a combination of mechanistic, empirical, and statistical functions for the purpose of (1) heuristic study of ecosystem structure and function and (2) application of models to address management questions. 

Current Projects

Virginia & Delmarva Peninsula:

• Forecasting watershed loading and lagoon response along the Delmarva Peninsula due to changing landuse and climate.  Virginia-Maryland-Delaware Sea Grant (regional award), 2012-2014.  PIs:  M.J. Brush, L.A. Harris, J.K. York, K.D. Kroeger, I.C. Anderson, and W.R. Boynton.

• Developing strategies to sustain hard clam aquaculture while minimizing impacts on water quality and nutrient dynamics.  Virginia Sea Grant, 2012-2014.  PIs:  I.C. Anderson, M. Luckenbach, and M.J. Brush.
• Assessing ecosystem-level effects of hard clam aquaculture on water quality and nutrient dynamics.  Virginia Sea Grant, 2011-2012.  PIs:  I.C. Anderson, M.W. Luckenbach, and M.J. Brush.

• VIMS Chesapeake Bay Initiative:  open/deep water component (vertical profiling in the lower York River).  Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 2007-2012.  PIs:  I.C. Anderson, M.J. Brush, and H.I. Kator.

New River Estuary, NC:

• Quantifying and predicting watershed inputs of nutrients, sediments, and pathogens, Research project AE-2, Defense Coastal/Estuarine Research Program, Phase II.  Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Department of Defense, 2007-2012.  PIs:  M.F. Piehler, R.T. Noble, C.R. Tobias, and M.J. Brush.

• Developing indicators of ecosystem function for shallow estuaries:  benthic functional responses in the New River Estuary, Research Project AE-3, Defense Coastal/Estuarine Research Program, Phase II.  Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Department of Defense, 2007-2012.  PIs:  I.C. Anderson, M.J. Brush, M.F. Piehler, and C.A. Currin.

Narragansett Bay, RI:

• Observations and modeling of Narragansett Bay hypoxia and its response to nutrient management.  NOAA Coastal Hypoxia Research Program, 2011-2015.  PIs:  D.L. Codiga, C. Kincaid, S. Nixon, S. Granger, C. Oviatt, H. Stoffel, D. Ullman, S. Kiernan, C. Deacutis, W. Prell, J. Vaudrey, J. Kremer, and M. Brush.

• Modeling tools to predict hypoxia/anoxia in upper Narragansett Bay.  NOAA Coastal Hypoxia Research Program, 2005-2012.  PIs:  C.A. Oviatt, D. Bergondo, M.J. Brush, D. Codiga, C.F. Deacutis, C. Kincaid, J.N. Kremer, S.W. Nixon, W. Prell, and D. Ullman.

Selected Publications

• Giordano, J.C.P., M.J. Brush, and I.C. Anderson.  2012.  Ecosystem metabolism in shallow coastal lagoons:  patterns and partitioning of planktonic, benthic, and integrated community rates.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 458: 21–38.

• Harris, L.A. and M.J. Brush. 2012. Bridging the gap between empirical and mechanistic models of aquatic primary production with the metabolic theory of ecology: An example from estuarine ecosystems. Ecological Modelling 233:83-89.

• Lake, S.J. and M.J. Brush.  2011.  The contribution of microphytobenthos to total productivity in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.  Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 95:289-297.

• Giordano, J.C.P., M.J. Brush, and I.C. Anderson.  2011.  Quantifying annual nitrogen loads to Virginia’s coastal lagoons: sources and water quality response.  Estuaries and Coasts 34:297–309.

• Lynch, P.D., M.J. Brush, and R.J. Latour.  2011.  Simulated short-term impacts of the Atlantic menhaden reduction fishery on Chesapeake Bay water quality.  North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31(1):70-78.

• Brush, M.J. and L.A. Harris (eds).  2010.  Special issue of Ecological Modelling:  "Advances in Modeling Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems:  Approaches, Validation, and Applications".  Ecological Modelling 221.

• Brush, M.J. and L.A. Harris.  2010.  Introduction to the special issue of Ecological Modelling:  "Advances in Modeling Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems:  Approaches, Validation, and Applications".  Ecological Modelling 221:965-968.

• Brush, M.J. and S.W. Nixon.  2010.  Modeling the role of macroalgae in a shallow sub-estuary of Narragansett Nay, RI (USA).  Ecological Modelling 221:1065-1079.

• Kremer, J.N., J. Vaudrey, D. Ullman, D. Bergondo, N. LaSota, C. Kincaid, D. Codiga, and M.J. Brush.  2010.  Simulating property exchange in estuarine ecosystem models at ecologically appropriate scales.  Ecological Modelling 221:1080-1088.

• Lynch, P.D., M.J. Brush, E.D. Condon, and R.J. Latour.  2010.  Net removal of nitrogen through ingestion of phytoplankton by Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus in Chesapeake Bay.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 401:195-209.

• Brush, M.J. and J.W. Brawley.  2009.  Adapting the light · biomass (BZI) models of phytoplankton primary production to shallow marine ecosystems.  Journal of Marine Systems 75:227-235.

• Li, Y., M.J. Brush, H.V. Wang, I.C. Anderson, and G.M. Sisson.  2008.  Effects of benthic microalgae on eutrophication processes - a laboratory experiment and the model simulation.  Pp. 590-606 in:  M.L. Spaulding (ed.), Estuarine and coastal modeling:  proceedings of the tenth international conference, November 5-7, 2007, Newport, RI.  American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA.

• Brush, M.J. and S.W. Nixon.  2003.  Biomass layering and metabolism in mats of the macroalga Ulva lactuca L.  Estuaries 26(4A):916-926.

• Brawley, J.W., M.J. Brush, J.N. Kremer, and S.W. Nixon.  2003.  Potential applications of an empirical phytoplankton production model to shallow water ecosystems.  Ecological Modelling 160(1-2):55-61.

• Latour, R.J., M.J. Brush, and C.F. Bonzek.  2003.  Toward ecosystem-based fisheries management: strategies for multispecies modeling and associated data requirements.  Fisheries 28(9):10-22.

• Brush, M.J., J.W. Brawley, S.W. Nixon, and J.N. Kremer.  2002.  Modeling phytoplankton production:  problems with the Eppley curve and an empirical alternative.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 238:31-45.

• Brush, M.J. and S.W. Nixon.  2002.  Direct measurements of light attenuation by epiphytes on eelgrass, Zostera marina L.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 238:73-79.

Current Students

• Britt Dean (M.S. student), Role of tidal creeks in modulating watershed nutrient loads on the Virginia Eastern Shore.

• Brittani Koroknay (M.S. student), Quantifying watershed loads to the New River Estuary, NC.

• Michael Kuschner (M.S. student), Topic TBD

• Sam Lake (Ph.D. student), A eutrophication modeling study on the formation of periodic hypoxia in partially mixed estuaries and potential responses to oligotrophication and climate change.

Past Students

• Lance Gardner, Ph.D. 2012.  Positive and negative feedbacks within Zostera marina beds within the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia.

• Heather Wiseman, M.S. 2010.  Quantifying the ecosystem role of a suspension and a facultative deposit feeding bivalve in the New River Estuary, NC, with responses to changes in nutrient and sediment inputs.

• Juliette Giordano, M.S. 2009, co-advised with Dr. Iris Anderson.  Nutrient loading and system response in the coastal lagoons of the Delmarva Peninsula.

Courses Taught

• MSCI 503 – Interdisciplinary Research in Estuarine and Coastal Systems

• MSCI 649 – Modeling Biological and Ecological Systems (co-instructor with Dr. Robert Latour)

• MSCI 698 – Estuarine Ecology (co-instructor with Dr. Linda Schaffner)

• MSCI 698 – Independent Study in Ecosystem Modeling

• MSCI 698 – Quantitative Ecosystem Analaysis using Simulation Modeling and GIS

• MSCI 698 – Eutrophication Through the Macroscope:  the Life and Legacy of Scott W. Nixon

Faculty and Student Awards

• President, Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, 2012-2014

• Keynote Speaker, 11th International Estuarine Biogeochemistry Symposium, Atlantic Beach, NC, 2011

• Graduate Faculty (adjunct appointment), Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, 2009 - present

• Senior Fellow, Coastal Institute, University of Rhode Island, 2003 - 2006

• Sam Lake, SMS Ziegler Student Achievement Award, 2012

• Juliette Giordano, VIMS Best M.S. Student Paper Award, 2011

• Sam Lake, GK-12 fellowship, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years

• Juliette Giordano, Outstanding Student Oral Presentation award, AERS Spring 2009 meeting

• Juliette Giordano, VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory research grants, 2007 and 2008

Professional Memberships

• American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)

• Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS)

• Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF)

Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Efforts

• Journal of Sea Research editorial board member

• Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (AERS) Program Committee Chair (2009-2011), President-Elect (2011-2012), President (2012-2014)

• Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Education Committee (2010-present) and Governing Board (2012-2014)

• Advisory service to local, state, and regional management agencies in the Chesapeake region and VA, NC, and RI.