Mark R. Patterson

• Associate Professor of Marine Science
• Director, Autonomous Systems Laboratory
• A.B., magna cum laude with highest honors, Harvard College, 1979
• A.M. Harvard University, 1982
• Ph.D. Harvard University, 1985

Email - mrp@vims.edu
Office: Brooke Hall 101
Phone: (804) 684-7374
Autonomous Systems Laboratory Website

Research Interests

I have always loved marine ecology and biomechanics, because they are so interdisciplinary. Inspired by Ken Sebens and Steven Vogel, I like asking questions that require new technology to find the answer. Serious students of the history of science know that this is usually how science advances: new instruments lead to new insights that often spawn whole disciplines, rather than vice versa. For the last decade, I have been developing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), free-swimming robots that survey the bottom and water column in ways superior to previous approaches like towed bodies or lowering an instrument over the side of a ship. I am convinced that AUVs are oceanography’s most important recent technological advance. Already my Autonomous Systems Laboratory (ASL) has used AUVs to make new discoveries such as coherent structures of lowered oxygen over coral reefs, how krill swarms in the Antarctic appear on high frequency side scan sonar, and how to identify fishes from their side scan sonar images using neural network processing. This last area will become a new tool in fisheries stock assessment in the near future. AUVs are the mobile components that will be vital to filling in the gaps between the fixed nodes, the buoys, of Ocean Observing Systems. The ASL is currently working on expanding our ability to recognize everything an AUV sees with its sensors, to detect anomalies and respond to them (for it is the anomalies that often herald interesting things the ocean is doing), and to develop efficient methods for AUV sampling of pressing environmental problems like coastal hypoxia and coral reef degradation. In the near future, we expect the VIMS AUV will be able to count and identify the larger species of gelatinous zooplankton in the Chesapeake Bay, providing an unprecedented view of these organisms that are increasingly disrupting coastal food webs. We will use this technology to see how swarming organisms like menhaden and Antarctic krill affect the water column through their feeding, excretion, and oxygen consumption. We are also cooperating with the Coastal Sediments Hydrodynamics and Engineering Laboratory (CSHEL) of Dr. Art Trembanis, University of Delaware, to develop new methods for AUV mission planning and execution in support of seafloor mapping.

The physical biology of invertebrates (sponges, cnidarians, squid), plants (macroalgae, sunflowers, seagrasses), and fishes is an area in which I am broadly interested. The allometry of metabolism is an area where I apply chemical engineering theory to lower aquatic invertebrates and algae. Contrary to the predictions of “universal scaling laws” that have appeared in the literature, these taxa do not follow 0.75 scaling of metabolic rate with body mass. Instead they exhibit a diversity of scaling exponents for which I have developed a predictive theory based on first principles from fluid transport and mass transfer (Patterson 1992). This “flow modulated allometry” model is now being tested in my laboratory and in the field using the NOAA underwater habitat Aquarius. Since 1984, I have used saturation underwater habitats to conduct research in situ on corals and their allies. Recent work using Aquarius has examined how reef corals respond to water motion during bleaching episodes by altering their photobiology and expression of stress proteins. I also am interested in the physical biology and ecology of suspension feeders and how important these taxa are to benthic-pelagic coupling: Lake Baikal, Siberia, the Florida Keys, and offshore hard substrate communities in the Gulf of Maine are ecosystems I have studied in this regard.

Current Projects

• Neural networks and the identification of underwater targets, including fishes and gelatinous zooplankton in the Chesapeake Bay, krill in the Antarctic, and mines in shallow water, using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. Past funding by NOAA Sea Grant and the National Science Foundation.

• Protecting a Shifting Baseline: Shallow to Deep Reefs at Bonaire. AUV mapping and technical diving expedition recommended for funding by NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration.

• Hypoxia in the York and Rappahannock Rivers, Chesapeake Bay: Data Assimilation from Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Improving Predictions of Water Quality and Distribution of Blue Crabs, Jellyfish, and Fishes. Proposal pending with NOAA Coastal Hypoxia Research Program.

• Assessing impact of menhaden schools on the water column using AUV technology. Proposal pending with NSF Biological Oceanography.

• Aquarius as an Ocean Observing System Node: A VIMS Graduate Education Expedition. Proposal pending to Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.

Selected Publications

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles:

Patterson, M.R., and D. A. Demer. In prep. Field assessments of krill (Euphausia superba) from a Fetch-class Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

Doolittle, D.F., M.R. Patterson, Z-u. Rahman, and R. Mann. MS. under revision. Development of a method for the identification and quantification of biological targets detected by sidescan sonar with application to fisheries stock assessment from autonomous underwater vehicles.

Patterson, M.R., D.F. Doolittle, Z-u. Rahman, and R.S. Mann. 2007. Method for identification and quantification of biological sonar targets in liquid medium. US Patent Pending.

Patterson, M.R., J.H. Sias, and D.V. Gouge. 2001. AUVs and scientific diving: a looming conflict? Journal of the Marine Technology Society 34: 75-81.

Bartol, I.K., and M.R. Patterson. 2000. Swimming mechanics of squid and its applicability to the design of highly maneuverable autonomous underwater vehicles. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Aqua Bio-Mechanisms, Vol. 1, ISAMBEC 2000, Honolulu, Tokai University, 6 pp.

Patterson, M.R., and J.H. Sias. 1999. Modular Autonomous Underwater Vehicle System. U.S. Patent No. 5,995,882. 8 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets.

Patterson, M.R., and J.H. Sias. 1998. Fetch!® commercial autonomous underwater vehicle: a modular, platform-independent architecture using desktop personal computer technology. Ocean Community Conference '98 Proceedings, Volume 2, Marine Technology Society Annual Conference, November 16-19, 1998, Baltimore, MD, pp. 891-897.

Patterson, M.R. 1998. A finite state machine approach to layered command and control of autonomous underwater vehicles implemented in G, a graphical programming language. Ocean Community Conference '98 Proceedings, Volume 2, Marine Technology Society Annual Conference, November 16-19, 1998, Baltimore, MD, pp. 745-751.

Flow-modulated metabolism:

Bromage, E., L. Carpenter, M. Patterson, and S. Kaattari. MS in review. A novel non-destructive method of sampling live coral tissue, single polyp sample preparation and protein quantification for assessment of coral heat shock proteins.

Carpenter, L.W, and M.R Patterson. MS in review. Water flow influences the distribution of photosynthetic efficiency within colonies of the scleractinian Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander 1786): implications for coral bleaching.

Carpenter, L.W., and M.R. Patterson. MS under revision. Water flow influences the spatiotemporal distribution of heat shock protein 70 within colonies of the coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander, 1786).

Shashar, N., S. Kinane, P.L. Jokiel, and M.R. Patterson. 1996. Hydromechanical boundary layers over a coral reef. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 199(1): 17-28.

Lesser, M.P., V.M. Weis, M.R. Patterson, and P.L. Jokiel. 1994. Effects of water motion on carbon delivery and productivity in the reef coral, Pocillopora damicornis: diffusion barriers, inorganic carbon limitation, and biochemical plasticity. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 178: 153-179.

Patterson, M.R. 1992. A mass transfer explanation of metabolic scaling relations in some aquatic invertebrates and algae. Science 255: 1421-1423.

Patterson, M.R. 1992. A chemical engineering view of cnidarian symbioses. American Zoologist 32(4): 566-582.

Patterson, M.R., K.P. Sebens, and R.R. Olson. 1991. In situ measurements of flow effects on primary production and dark respiration in reef corals. Limnology and Oceanography 36(5): 936-948.

Patterson, M.R., and K.P. Sebens. 1989. Forced convection modulates gas exchange in cnidarians. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 86: 8833-8836.

Benthic-pelagic coupling:

Patterson, M.R,, L.W Carpenter, and J.P. Galkiewicz. MS. in prep. Unexpected gradients of dissolved oxygen concentration in a "well-mixed" coral reef environment.

Patterson, M.R., and J.D. Witman. MS. in review. Internal waves and scope for growth of suspension feeding benthos at an offshore pinnacle.

Trussell, G.C., M.P. Lesser, M.R. Patterson, and S.J. Genovese. 2006. Depth-specific differences in the growth of the reef sponge Callyspongia vaginalis: the role of bottom-up effects. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323: 149-158.

Witman, J.D., M.R. Patterson, and S.J. Genovese. 2004. Benthic-pelagic linkages in subtidal communities: influence of food subsidy by internal waves. In: Food Webs at the Landscape Level (G.A. Polis, M.E. Power, and G.R. Huxel, Eds.) pp. 133-153. University of Chicago Press.

Pile, A.J., M.R. Patterson, M. Savarese, V.I. Chernykh, and V.A. Fialkov. 1997. Trophic effects of sponge feeding within Lake Baikal's littoral zone: 2. Sponge abundance, diet, feeding efficiency, and carbon flux. Limnology and Oceanography 42(1): 178-184.

Savarese, M., M.R. Patterson, V.I. Chernykh, and V.A. Fialkov. 1997. Trophic effects of sponge feeding within Lake Baikal's littoral zone: 1. In situ pumping rates. Limnology and Oceanography 42(1): 171-178.

Pile, A.J., M.R. Patterson, and J.D. Witman. 1996. In situ grazing on plankton < 10 µm by the boreal sponge Mycale lingua. Marine Ecology Progress Series 141: 95-102.

Aquatic locomotion:

Grusha, D.S., and M.R. Patterson. 2005. Quantification of drag and lift imposed by pop-up satellite archival tags and estimation of the metabolic cost to cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus). Fishery Bulletin 101(3): 63-70.

Bartol, I.K., R. Mann, and M. R. Patterson. 2001. Aerobic respiratory costs of swimming in the negatively buoyant brief squid Lolliguncula brevis. Journal of Experimental Biology 204: 3639-3653.

Bartol, I.K., M. R. Patterson, and R. Mann. 2001. Swimming mechanics and behavior of the shallow-water brief squid Lolliguncula brevis. Journal of Experimental Biology 204: 3655-3682.

Suspension feeding:

Sanderson, S.L., J.J. Cech, Jr., and M.R. Patterson. 1991. Fluid dynamics in suspension-feeding blackfish. Science 251: 1346-1348.

Patterson, M.R. 1991. The effects of flow on polyp-level prey capture in an octocoral, Alcyonium siderium. The Biological Bulletin 180: 93-102.

Patterson, M.R. 1991. Passive suspension feeding by an octocoral in plankton patches: empirical test of a mathematical model. The Biological Bulletin 180: 81-92.

Patterson, M.R. 1984. Patterns of whole colony prey capture in the octocoral Alcyonium siderium. The Biological Bulletin 167: 613-629.

Patterson, M.R. 1980. Hydromechanical adaptations in Alcyonium siderium (Octocorallia). In: Biofluid Mechanics 2 (D.J. Schneck, ed.) Plenum, New York, pp. 183-201.

Plant biomechanics:

Patterson, M.R., M.D. Harwell, L.J. Orth, and R.J. Orth. 2001. Biomechanical properties of the reproductive shoots of eelgrass. Aquatic Botany 69: 27-40.

Wing, S.R., and M.R. Patterson. 1993. Effects of wave-induced lightflecks in the intertidal zone on photosynthetic efficiency in the macroalgae Postelsia palmaeformis and Hedophyllum sessile (Phaeophyceae). Marine Biology 116: 519-525.

Patterson, M.R. 1992. Role of the mechanical microenvironment in growth of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedlings. Journal of Experimental Botany 43: 933-939.

K-12 Educational Outreach:

Patterson, M.R., S. Haynes and L. Carpenter. 2004. Activity: Designing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV): Concepts in Lift, Drag, Thrust, Energy, Power, Mass, and Buoyancy. Journal of Marine Education 20: 28-35.

JASON XI Curriculum. 2000. Going to Extremes. JASON Foundation for Education, 248 pp. + 2 prolog videos (1 hour each)(+ co-host of 55 live 1 hour satellite video shows from the Aquarius underwater habitat)..

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Past Students

• Lawrence W. Carpenter, Ph.D. 2006. Physiological consequences of high water flow on the coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis and Solander, 1786), (Marine environmental consultant)


• Daniel Doolittle, M.S. 2003. Automated fish species classification using artificial neural networks and autonomous underwater vehicles (Ph.D. student, Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami)


• Wm. Stephen Price, Ph.D. 2000. The influence of tentacle shape, soft-tissue polyp, and corallite morphology, on microscale currents over corals, and implications for particle feeding: a physical model approach. (Custom flume fabricator and wildlife telemetry consultant)


• Ian K. Bartol, Ph.D. 1999. Distribution, swimming, physiology, and swimming mechanics of brief squid, Lolliguncula brevis. (Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University)


• David H. Niebuhr, Ph.D. 1999. Environmental stress in hard coral : evaluating lipid as an indicator of sub-lethal stress on short time scales. (Vice President, Education Division, Mote Marine Laboratory)


• Geoffrey C. Trussell, Ph.D. 1998. Phenotypic clines in the intertidal snail Littorina obtusata: the role of water temperature and predator effluent as inducers of phenotypic plasticity and associated trade-offs in shell form. (Assistant Professor, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University)


• Kim H. Driver, Ph.D. 1998. Hydrodynamic properties and ecomorphology of the hammerhead shark (family Sphyrnidae) cephalofoil (Regional Outreach and Training Coordinator, Environmental Protection Agency)


• Rochelle M. Seitz, Ph.D. 1997. The role of epibenthic predators in structuring marine soft-bottom communities along an estuarine gradient. (Research Associate Professor, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary)


• Adele J. Pile, Ph.D. 1996. The role of microbial food webs in benthic-pelagic coupling in freshwater and marine ecosystems. (Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia)


• Shani Kleinhaus, Ph.D. 1994. Ecophysiology of mutualism in a unique stream symbiosis between a polymorphic cyanobacterium, Nostoc parmeliodes, and the larvae of the midge, Cricotopus nostocicola. (Environmental scientist)


• Stephen R. Wing, Ph.D., 1993.  Physical-biological coupling mechanisms in the near-shore ocean. (Lecturer & Deputy Director, Ecology Programme, Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, New Zealand)


• Carolyn H. Declerck, Ph.D. 1991. Evolution and comparative functional morphology in suspension feeding in prosobranch gastropods. (Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Applied Economics, University of Antwerp)

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  Courses Taught

  
  • MSCI/BIOL/GEOL 330 Introduction to Oceanography. Co-instructor: James Bauer.
  • MSCI 577 Biomechanics of Marine Organisms.
  • MSCI 578 Ocean Observing Systems: Technology and Applications.
  • MSCI 698 Unified Neutral Theory of Biodiversity and Biogeography. Co-intructor: J. Emmett Duffy.
  • MSCI 698 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.
  • MSCI 698 Mathematica: A Programming Language for Science.
  • MSCI 698 LabVIEW: a Graphical Programming Language.
  • MSCI 698 Unsteady Aquatic Locomotion.
  • MSCI 698 Electronics for Biologists.
  • MSCI 698 Allometry: Scaling in Biology.

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  Faculty Awards

  
  • 2006. Antarctic Service Medal, National Science Foundation
  • 2005. EPA Distinguished Speaker – West Coast
  • 2000. Host Researcher, JASON XI Expedition
  • 1996. Phi Beta Kappa Advancement of Scholarship Award, College of William & Mary Chapter
  • 1989. University of New Hampshire, Distinguished Speaker in Marine Biology
  • 1987. Magnar Ronning Award for Teaching Excellence, University of California, Davis

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  Professional Memberships

  
  • American Geophysical Union
  • American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
  • International Society for Reef Studies
  • IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society

  
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  Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Efforts

• Host Researcher on JASON XI, a $ 3 Million K-12 Outreach Program, from June 1999 – April 2000. Performed 55 live 1 hour shows over a 16 day period from the Aquarius underwater habitat, reaching 1.5 million students. JASON Web site hits peaked at 50,000 per day. Effort is arguably the largest (numbers and impact) sustained education outreach achieved to date by College of William & Mary. Dozens of national newspaper and magazine articles, and many TV programs reported on the mission. 23 days in field in 2000 (5 in 1999), plus 21 days science preparation, plus 3 days of script editing and revision, plus 7 days of time to pre-mission chats and 2 local school presentations, and 3 days devoted to various media interviews: 61 days donated to cause of K-12 science education
• Economic development expert: As a faculty member, I regularly advise private industry on deep sea biology, chemistry, geology, and physics, port and harbor security, and AUV technology.
• Flock of Dodos: the Evolution/Intelligent Design Circus, a film by Randy Olson (http://www.flockofdodos.com).  I participated in this documentary on screen, and help the filmmaker with appearances at screenings as a panelist.  This film is an insightful, humorous, but ultimately serious examination of how scientists are failing to communicate with the public on this subject.
  



Biological Sciences / VIMS
P.O. Box 1346, Gloucester Pt., VA  23062-1346, USA
Telephone:  804-684-7344;  FAX:  804-684-7293

(This page was last updated June 14, 2007 15:00)