Mark W. Luckenbach

Research Interests

Current Projects

Selected Publications

Research Interests

My research interests broadly include the ecology and restoration of shallow-water marine habitats. For the past several years my research has been focused in four areas: (1) the ecology and restoration of native oyster reefs, (2) the biology and ecology of Asian oyster species, (3) interactions between shellfish aquaculture and the environment and (4) land-use practices and water quality in tidal water environments. Much of this work has involved interdisciplinary and team-based approaches that have included working with physical oceanographers, numerical modelers and toxicologists. As the Director of the Eastern Shore Laboratory, I have a commitment to fostering and supporting research in the barrier island, coastal lagoon and marsh system along Virginia's coast.

Current Projects

• Studies on the growth, survival and ecology of the Suminoe oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) in quarantined mesocosms, in the field using sterile animals in the U.S. and in native populations in Asia.
• Development of a relationship between gamete concentration, turbulent mixing and fertilization efficiency in Crassostrea.
• Large-scale valuation of native oyster populations using remote sensing and GIS.
• Native oyster reef restoration, ecology and assessment techniques.
• Land-use patterns, impervious surface coverage and water quality in tidal waters.
• Linkages between clam aquaculture, macroalgae production and nutrient dynamics.

Selected Publications

Nestlerode, J. A., M. W. Luckenbach, F. X. O'Beirn (In Press) Settlement and survival of the oyster Crassostrea virginica on created oyster reef habitat in Chesapeake Bay. Restoration Ecology.

Tamburri, M. N., M. W. Luckenbach, D. L Breitburg and S. M. Bonniwell. (In Press). Settlement of Crassostrea ariakensis larvae: effects of substrte, biofilms, sediment and adult chemical cues. J. Shellfish Res.

Luckenbach, M. W., L. D. Coen, P. G. Ross, Jr. and J. A. Stephen. 2005. Oyster reef Habitat Restoration: Relationship between oyster abundance and community development based on two studies in Virginia and South Carolina. J. Coast. Res. Special Issue No. 40:64-78

Luckenbach, M. W. and H. V. Wang. 2004. Linking watershed loading and basin-level carrying capacity models to evaluate the effects of land use on primary production and shellfish aquaculture. Bull. Fish. Res. Agency, Suppl. 1:123-132.

Arnold, G , M. Luckenbach, and M. Unger. 2003. Runoff from tomato cultivation in the estuarine environment: Biological effects of farm management practices. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 298:323-346.

Calvo, G. W., M. W. Luckenbach, S. K. Allen, Jr. and E. M. Burreson. 2001. A comparative field study of Crassostrea ariakensis (Fujita 1913) and Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin, 1791) in relation to salinity in Virginia. J. Shellfish Res.20:221-229.

O'Beirn, F. X., M. W. Luckenbach, J. A. Nestlerode and G. M. Coates. 2000. Toward design criteria in constructed oyster reefs: oyster recruitment as a function of substrate type and tidal height. J. Shellfish Res. 19: 387-396.

Luckenbach, M. W., R. Mann and J. A. Wesson (eds.) 1999. Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration: A Synopsis and Synthesis of Approaches, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Press, Gloucester Point, VA, 366 pp.

Luckenbach, M. W. and R. J. Orth. 1999. Interactions between benthic infauna and the transport and burial of Zostera marina seeds. Aquatic Botany 62:235-247.