Email: lerbergs@vims.edu
Office: Maury Hall 204
Phone: (804) 684-7602
Education
1997. M.S. Marine Science.
University of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina
1992. B.S. Biology. Denison University,
Granville, Ohio.
Major Advisor
Dr.
Robert J. Diaz
Research
My research interests have focused on benthic ecology and tidal
marsh ecosystems. Research topics I have investigated and hope to
continue to study are: i) the effect of human development on the ecological
condition of marsh and creek ecosystems, ii) quantifying macrobenthic secondary
production to assess the resource values of various habitat types in tidal
marsh ecosystems, and iii) modeling energy flows and trophic pathways within
tidal marsh ecosystems.
Publications
Diaz, R.J. and S. B Lerberg.
February 2001. Macrobenthos of Ramshorn Bay and Swash Bay Open Water
Disposal Sites. Technical report prepared for the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, Norfolk District.
Lerberg, S.B., A.F. Holland, and D.M. Sanger.
2000. Responses of tidal creek macrobenthic communities to the effects
of watershed development. Estuaries. Vol. 23(6).
Newman, M.C., D.R. Ownby, L.C.A. Mezin, D.C. Powell,
T.R.L. Christensen, S.B. Lerberg, B.A. Anderson and T.V. Padma.
(In review) Species sensitivity distributions in ecological risk
assessment: Analysis of distributional assumptions, alternate bootstrap
techniques, and estimation of adequate number of species. In
G. Sutter and L. Postuma (eds), The Use of Species Sensitivity Distributions
in Ecotoxicology.
Lerberg, S.B. and R.J. Diaz. 2000.
Comparison of macrobenthic communities within the BP Oil Refinery Marsh
and Perrin River Marsh. Technical report prepared for North Carolina
ThermoRetec Consulting Company.
Newman, M.C., D.R. Ownby, L.C.A. Mezin, D.C. Powell,
T.R.L. Christensen, S.B. Lerberg, and B.A. Anderson. 1999.
Applying species sensitivity distributions in ecological risk assessment:
Assumptions of distribution type and sufficient numbers of species. Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry. Vol. 19(2):508-515.
Holland, A.F., G.H.M. Riekerk, S.B. Lerberg,
L.E. Zimmerman, D.M. Sanger.1997. Assessment of the Impact of watershed
development on the nursery functions of tidal creek habitats. Management
of Atlantic Coastal Marine Fish Habitat: Proceedings of a Workshop
for Habitat Managers, June 3-6,1996, Philadelphia Pa. ASMFC Habitat
Management Series #2, April 1997. p.110-115.
Lerberg, S.B. 1997. Effects
of watershed development on macrobenthic communities in tidal creeks of
the Charleston Harbor Area. Master Thesis, University of Charleston,
Charleston, South Carolina. 257 pp.
Primary Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant. Virginia
Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA. Dissertation research
on benthic secondary production in tidal marsh habitats under direction
of Robert J. Diaz. As research assistant helped in field sampling
efforts, taxonomic identifications and biomass estimations of marine and
estuarine benthic invertebrates for several studies including: study on
impacts of Yorktown BP Oil Refinery on macrobenthos of an adjacent salt
marsh, study on impacts of open water disposal with Eastern Shore shallow
bays, and study of radiological effects on biota at the Newport News Shipyard.
Graduate Research Assistant. University
of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina. Under the direction of
Dr. A. Frederick Holland conducted field and laboratory study for thesis
project examining the effects of watershed development on tidal creek macrobenthic
communities in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Spring 1994 to
Fall 1997
Internship, University of Georgia, Sapelo Island,
Georgia. During a summer internship under the direction of Dr. Ronald
Kneib, conducted small-scale mortality and feeding studies on larval Fundulus
heteroclitus within the Dublin Island salt marsh. Summer 1992.
Undergraduate Senior Research. Denison University,
Granville, Ohio. Under the direction of Dr. John Fauth, conducted
research on overwintering success of Rana Catesbeiana tadpoles. Fall
1991 to Spring 1992.
Teaching and Mentoring Experience
Mentor, Virginia Governor’s School, a
residential summer mentor-ship program at VIMS for academically talented
secondary students. Summer 1998. Advised Ms. Samantha Allen
on project entitled: “A short-term investigation into a long-term benthic
dataset.”
Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Charleston. Taught laboratory sessions for Biology
101 and 102 (non-majors and majors). Designed, prepared, and gave
lectures, set-up laboratory, and conducted field trips. Every semester
from Fall 1992 to Spring 1994.
Presentations
Lerberg, S.B. and A.F. Holland.
Effects of watershed development on macrobenthic communities in tidal creek
ecosystems. Presented at the 14th International Conference of the
Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI. October 1997.
Lerberg, S.B., Zimmerman, L.E., and A.F.
Holland. Effects of watershed development on macrobenthos of tidal
creek ecosystems. Presented to the 13th International Conference
of the Estuarine Research Federation, Providence, RI. November, 1995.
Grants and Fellowships
Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) in
the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. GRF funds support
management related research projects that enhance scientific understanding
of the Reserve System ecosystem.
Estuarine Research Federation Student Travel Award
– funds awarded to selected student presenters to support travel to conference.
Fall 1999.
Professional Affiliations
Sigma Xi (1992- Present)
Estuarine Research Foundation (1995 – Present)
Atlantic Estuarine Research Society (2000 – Present)
Hobbies and Interests
Soccer
Tennis
Skiing
Scuba diving
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