Linda C. Schaffner

Professor of Marine Science

Email: [[linda]]
Phone: (804) 684-7366
Office: Andrews Hall 328
Department: Biological Sciences

Education

• B.A., Drew University
• M.A., Ph.D., College of William and Mary

Research Interests

My research program focuses on benthic ecology and benthic processes of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. We are interested in how natural processes and anthropogenic alterations influence the structure and function of benthic communities, including meiofauna, macrofauna and associated nekton. Important factors we have considered are salinity, eutrophication, hypoxia, sediment type and transport regime, and sediment contamination. We also are interested in how factors such as hypoxia, benthic-pelagic coupling and population dynamics of estuarine species regulate the productivity of estuarine food webs. My studies have taken me to estuarine and coastal ecosystems throughout the U.S. and Europe, including the Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, Baltic Sea, Andaman Sea, Gulf of Thailand and coastal Korea. In recent years I have become increasingly interested in how society, science and economics interact to influence resource management, science policy and funding for science and science and math education.

Current Projects

• Collaborative Research: A Real-Time and Rapid Response Observing System for the Study of Physical and Biological Controls on Muddy Seabed Deposition, Reworking and Resuspension.  Funded by National Science Foundation.
• An Integrated Approach to Assess the Effects of Watershed Activities on Benthic Community Structure and Function.  Funded by Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)
• Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Funded by National Science Foundation. 
• Hall-Bonner Program for Minority Scholars in the Ocean Sciences. Funded by National Science Foundation.

Selected Publications

• Day, J. W., R. R. Christian, D. M. Boesch, A. Yáñez-Arancibia, J. Morris, R R. Twilley, L. Naylor, L.C. Schaffner, C. Stevenson, and H. Haas. Consequences of climate change on ecogeomorphology of estuarine wetlands. Estuaries and Coasts (in press)
• Borja, A., D. Dauer, R. Díaz, R.J. Llansó, I. Muxika, J.G. Rodríguez, and L. C. Schaffner. 2008. Assessing estuarine benthic quality conditions in Chesapeake Bay: a comparison of three indices. Ecological Indicators 8: 395-403.
• Pomeroy, L. G., C. D’Elia and L. C. Schaffner. 2006. Can oysters prevent hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay? Defining the limits. Marine Ecology Progress Series 325: 301-309.
• Lim, Hyun-Sig, R. J. Diaz, Hong, Jae-Sang and L.C. Schaffner. 2006. Hypoxia and benthic community recovery in Korean coastal waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin 52: 1517-1526.
• Hinchey, E. K., L. C. Schaffner, L. Batte, C. Hoar and B. Vogt. 2006. Effects of sediment burial on juvenile and adult benthic invertebrates of estuaries. Hydrobiologia 556:1-14.
• Hinchey, E.K. and L. C. Schaffner.  2005. An evaluation of electrode insertion techniques for measurement of sediment redox potential in estuarine sediments. Chemosphere 59:703-710.

Current Students

• Payal Dharia. M.S. Effects of sediment erosion on benthic recruitment processes.
• David Gillett. Ph.D. The influence of habitat degradation on benthic secondary production and trophic transfer efficiency in shallow, unvegetated areas

• Treda Smith, Ph.D.  Developing an ecological basis for indicators and biocriteria in estuarine waters.

Past Students

Graduate Program

• William Metcalfe, M.S. Meiofauna abundance and distribution in Chesapeake Bay: Relationships with eutrophication, sediment toxicity and macrofauna
• Elizabeth K. Hinchey, Ph.D. 2002. Physical disturbance effects on benthic community structure and function along an estuarine gradient. Recipient of Craig Smith Award (1999), Dean's Prize for Advancement of Women in Science (2001) and Thatcher Prize (2003)
• Michelle Horvath, M.S.1997. Effects of epibenthic predators and macrofauna on sediment resuspension and bioturbation.
• Patrick Lay, Ph.D.  1996. Direct effects of macrofauna on transport of organic contaminants to demersal fish.
• Alessandra Sagasti, Ph.D. 2000, Ecology of fouling communities in the York River ecosystem: interacting effects of environmental variation and biotic interactions on community structure and function. Recipient of John and Marilyn Zeigler Student Achievement Award (1999) and Dean's Prize for Advancement of Women in Marine Science (1999) and Best Ph.D. Oral Presentation, Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (co-advisor with Emmett Duffy)
• Michelle L.Thompson Neubauer, Ph.D. 2000, Benthic-pelagic coupling in lower Chesapeake Bay: effects of a benthic suspension feeding polychaete, Chaetopterus pergamentaceus (Chaetopterus cf. variopedatus, sensu Enders 1909). Recipient  of Mathew Fontaine Maury Student Fellowship Award (1999) and Best Student Poster Award, International Estuarine Research Federation Conference '99, New Orleans, LA
• Rochelle Seitz, M.S. 1991. Population biology of the polychaete Loimia medusa (Savigny) on a tidal sand flat of the York River.
• Bruce Vogt, M. S. Student, Sublethal effects of sediment-associated contaminants on the burrowing behavior of the amphipod, Leptocheirus plumulosus

 Undergraduate Program/High School

•  Lauren Batte, Department of Biology, The College of William and Mary, B.S. with High Honors, 2001.
• Undergraduates who have done internships in my laboratory: William O'Connell (1989), Doug Gantt (1990), Sharon Williams (1991), Michelle Rudoy and George Anderson (1992), Rebecca Born (1993), Simone Brooks (1994), Sam Jones and Charles Shimooka (1995), Alvaro Dompe (1996), Jennifer Lindsey and Allison Castellan (1998), Tara Spitzer and Scott Lundin (1999), Stephanie Babb and Christine Tallamy (2000), Patrice Longshaw and Barbara Garcia (2001), Theresa Childress (2002)
• High School students who have done internships in my laboratory in recent years: Jennifer Shontz (1998-99), Benjamin Ritter (1997-98), Kelly Dorgan (1995-97)

Courses Taught

• MS 502: Coastal and Estuarine Processes and Issues
• MS 572: Estuarine Benthic Processes
• MS 503: Biological Oceanography
• MS 510: Marine and Freshwater Invertebrates
• MS 647: Marine Benthos
• MS 698: Special Topics - History of Benthic Ecology

Awards

• 2005 - Dean's Prize for Advancement of Women in Science
• 2003 - Outstanding Faculty Award, State Council of Higher Education of Virginia
• 2001 - The Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award, College of William and Mary
• 1994 - Outstanding Teaching Award, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary

Positions of Distinction

• Past President, Estuarine Research Federation (2005-2007)
• President, Estuarine Research Federation (2003-2005)
• Secretary, Council of Scientific Society Presidents (2004-2005)
• Estuarine Research Federation President Elect (2001-2003)
• Estuarine Research Federation Governing Board, Secretary (1999-2001)
• Estuarine Research Federation Governing Board, Member-at-Large (1997-1999)
• Estuarine Research Federation Education Committee (1997- present)
• Associate Editor, Estuaries, 1998-2001

Professional Memberships

• Estuarine Research Federation (ERF)
• American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
• American Geophysical Union (AGU)