Robert  Latour

Curriculum Vitae

Robert Latour's CV

Education

• B.A., Mathematics, Western New England College

• M.BMA, Biomathematics, North Carolina State University

• Ph.D., Biomathematics, North Carolina State University

Research Interests

Quantitative fisheries ecology with particular emphasis on predator-prey interactions and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management. Population dynamics modeling and stock assessment of exploited marine resources.

Current Projects

• Data collection and analysis in support of multispecies stock assessments in the mid-Atlantic: Northeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program Nearshore Trawl Program. NEAMAP.  Funded by MAFMC Research Set Aside.
• Design and implementation of ChesMMAP - Chesapeake Bay Multispecies Monitoring and Assessment Program, funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
• VIMS Shark Research Program. Funded by NOAA/NMFS.
• Striped Bass Assessment Program. Funded by Wallop-Breaux funds from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
• Stock assessment and population monitoring of American shad in Chesapeake Bay, funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Selected Publications

(2013 – present; *Indicates my graduate student; † Indicates graduate student collaboration)

• *Parsons, K.T., J. Maisano, J. Gregg, C. Cotton, and R.J. Latour.  In press. Age and growth assessment of western North Atlantic Spiny Butterfly Ray Gymnura altavela (L. 1758) using micro-CT reconstructed vertebral centra. Environmental Biology of Fishes.

• Fabrizio, M.C., T.D. Tuckey, R.J. Latour, G.C. White, and A.J. Norris. In press. Tidal habitats support large numbers of invasive blue catfish in a Chesapeake Bay subestuary. Estuaries & Coasts.

• †Colden, A.M., R.N. Lipcius, and R.J. Latour. 2017. Reef height drives threshold dynamics of restored oyster reefs. Marine Ecology Progress Series 582:1-13. Feature Article.

• †Deary, A., R.J. Latour, and E.J. Hilton. 2017. Niche partitioning in early life history stage, estuarine-dependent fishes (Sciaenidae). Estuaries & Coasts 40:1757-1770.

• *Peterson, C., K. Parsons, D. Bethea, W. Driggers III, and R.J. Latour. 2017. Community interactions and density dependence in Atlantic coastal sharks. Marine Ecology Progress Series 579:81-96.

• Latour, R.J., J. Gartland, and C.F. Bonzek. 2017. Spatiotemporal trends and drivers of fish condition in Chesapeake Bay. Marine Ecology Progress Series 579:1-17. Feature Article.

• *Peterson, C., J. Gartland, and R.J. Latour. 2017. Novel use of hook timers to quantify changing catchability over soak time in longline surveys. Fisheries Research 194:99-111.

• *Peterson, C., C. Belcher, D. Bethea, W. Driggers III, B. Frazier, and R.J. Latour. 2017. Preliminary recovery of coastal sharks in the south-east United States. Fish and Fisheries 18:845-859.

• Thanassekos, S., R.J. Latour, and M.C. Fabrizio. 2016. An individual-based approach to year-class strength estimation.  ICES Journal of Marine Science 73:2252-2266.

• Buchheister, A., T.J. Miller, E.D. Houde, D.H. Secor, and R.J. Latour. 2016. Spatial and temporal dynamics of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) recruitment along the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.  ICES Journal of Marine Science 73:1147-1159.

• †Schlenker, L.S., R.J. Latour, R.W. Brill, and J.E. Graves. 2016. Physiological stress and post-release mortality of White Marlin (Kajikia albida) caught in the United States recreational fishery. Conservation Physiology 4:doi:10.1093/conphys/cov066.

• *Buchheister, A. and R.J. Latour. 2016. Dynamic trophic linkages in a large estuarine system - support for supply-driven dietary changes using delta generalized additive mixed models. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 73:5-17.

• Latour, R.J. 2016. Explaining patterns of pelagic fish abundance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Estuaries & Coasts 39:233-247.

• *Buchheister, A., M.J. Wilberg, T.J. Miller, and R.J. Latour. 2015. Simulating bottom-up effects on predator productivity and consequences for the rebuilding timeline of a depleted population. Ecological Modelling 311:48-62.

• *Sobocinski, K.L. and R.J. Latour. 2015. Trophic transfer in seagrass systems: Estimating seasonal production of an abundant seagrass fish, Bairdiella chrysoura, in lower Chesapeake Bay.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 523:157-174.

• †Funkey, C.P., R.J. Latour, and D.A. Bronk. 2015. Abiotic effects on effluent dissolved organic nitrogen along an estuarine transect. Water Environment Research 87:258-265.

• *Buchheister, A. and R.J. Latour. 2015. Diets and trophic guild structure of a diverse fish assemblage in Chesapeake Bay, USA.  Journal of Fish Biology 86:967-992.

• †Hudson, J., D.K. Steinberg, T.T. Sutton, J.E. Graves, and R.J. Latour. 2014. Myctophid feeding ecology and carbon transport along the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep Sea Research I 93:104-116.

• *Sweetman, C.J., T.T. Sutton, M. Vecchione, and R.J. Latour. 2014. Diet composition of Bathylagus euryops (Osmeriformes: Bathylagidae) along the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep Sea Research I 92:107-114.

• †Lefcheck, J.S.,*A. Buchheister, †K.M. Laumann*M. Stratton, *K.L. Sobocinski, †S. Chak, †T.R. Clardy, P.L. Reynolds, R.J. Latour, J.E. Duffy. 2014. Dimensions of biodiversity in Chesapeake Bay demersal fishes: patterns and drivers through space and time.  Ecosphere 5:art14

• †Balazik, M.T., B.B. Langford, G.C. Garman, M.L. Fine, J.K. Stewart, R.J. Latour, and S.P. McIninch. 2013. Comparison of MS222 and electronarcosis as anesthetics on cortisol levels in juvenile Atlantic sturgeon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142:1640-1643.

• *Sweetman, C.J., T.T. Sutton, M. Vecchione, and R.J. Latour. 2013. Distribution of the biomass dominant pelagic fish, Bathylagus euryops (Argentiniformes: Microstomatidae), along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep-Sea Research I 78:16-23.

• *Buchheister, A, C.F. Bonzek, J. Gartland, and R.J. Latour. 2013. Patterns and drivers of the demersal fish community of Chesapeake Bay. Marine Ecological Progress Series 481:161-180.

• *Sobocinski, K.L., J.J. Orth, M.C. Fabrizio, and R.J. Latour. 2013. Historical comparison of fish community structure in lower Chesapeake Bay seagrass habitats. Estuaries & Coasts 36:775-794.

Current Students

• James Gartland (Ph.D.)
• Kaitlyn O’Brien (M.S.)
• Cassidy Peterson (Ph.D.)
• Adena Schonfeld (M.S.)
• Christopher Sweetman (Ph.D.)

Former Students

• Zoemma Warshafsky, M.S., 2017. Thesis: The impact of the parasitic nematode Anguillicoloides crassus on Chesapeake Bay American eels (Anguilla rostrata)
• Mark Stratton, Ph.D., 2017. Dissertation: Spatiotemporal abundance patterns and ecological drivers of a nearshore U.S. Atlantic fish and invertebrate assemblage

• Kristene Parsons, Ph.D., 2017. Dissertation: Age, growth and reproduction of western North Atlantic butterfly rays (Myliobatiformes: Gymnuridae), with the description of two new species

• Cassidy Peterson, M.S., 2016. Thesis: Patterns of abundance and community dynamics in Atlantic coastal sharks.
• Carissa Gervasi, M.S., 2015. Thesis: The reproductive biology of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Chesapeake Bay. 
• Kathryn Sobocinski, Ph.D., 2014. Dissertation: Fishes in seagrass habitats: Species composition, trophic interactions, and production.
• Andre Buchheister, Ph.D., 2013. Dissertation: Structure, drivers, and trophic interactions of the demersal fish community in Chesapeake Bay.
• Patrick Lynch, Ph.D., 2012. Dissertation: Habitat and fish population dynamics: Advancing stock assessments of highly migratory species.
• Christopher J. Sweetman, M.S., 2012. Thesis: Distribution and feeding ecology of Bathylagus euryops (TELEOSTEI: MICROSTOMATIDAE) along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, from Iceland to the Azores
• Catarina Wor: M.S., 2012. Thesis: Evaluating the impact of stock structure uncertainty in stock assessments of sailfish in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Andrij Horodysky, Ph.D., 2009. Dissertation: Comparative sensory and energetic ecology of sciaenid fishes and their competitors in Chesapeake Bay, VA
• Justine Woodward, M.S., 2009. Thesis: Investigating the relationships between recruitment indices and estimates of adult abundance for striped bass, weakfish, and Atlantic croaker.
• Andre Buchheister, M.S., 2008. Thesis: Isotope dynamics in summer flounder tissues, with application to diet assessment in Chesapeake Bay.
• Patrick Lynch, M.S., 2007. Thesis: The feeding ecology of Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) in Chesapeake Bay.
• Kathleen McNamee, M.S., 2007. Thesis: Trophic ecology and growth of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) in Chesapeake Bay, with reference to mycobacteriosis.

Student Awards

• 2017. Kaitlyn O’Brien, VIMS Foundation Fellowship
• 2017. Adena Schonfeld, VIMS Foundation Fellowship
• 2016. Zoemma Warshafsky, Mary Hedrick Causey Memorial Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2016. Mark Stratton, Dean's Fellowship, VIMS Foundation 
• 2015. Mark Stratton, Nancy S. and Henry George Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2014. Carissa Gervasi, Best M.S. student presentation, 7th International Symposium on Aquatic Animal Health.
• 2014. Carissa Gervasi, Snieszko Student Travel Award, AFS Fish Health Section 
• 2014. Andre Buchheister, Thatcher Prize for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Study, College of William & Mary
• 2014. Patrick Lynch, W.F. Thompson Best Student Paper Award published in 2012, American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists
• 2013. Andre Buchheister, Eileen Setzler-Hamilton Memorial Scholarship, AFS Tidewater Chapter
• 2013. Cassidy Peterson, Harry & Barbara Hager Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2013. Cassidy Peterson, Gloucester Point Rotary Club - Ernest J. Warriner  Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2013. Kathryn Sobocinski, The Matthew Fontaine Maury Society Student Fellowship Award, VIMS Foundation
• 2013. Mark Stratton, SunTrust Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2013. C.J. Sweetman, VIMS Council Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2012. Andre Buchheister, Deans Fellowship, VIMS Foundation 
• 2012. Carissa Gervasi, Grey Allison & H. Renwick Dunlap Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2012. Patrick Lynch, Best paper by a Ph.D. student, VIMS
• 2011-2012. Mark Stratton, Edward Holland Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2011. Mark Stratton, William J. Hargis, Jr. Fellowship Award, VIMS Foundation
• 2011. Catarina Wor, Perry Travel Award, VIMS Foundation
• 2011. Patrick Lynch, Beazley Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2010.  Kathryn Sobocinski, QEA Anchor Scholarship
• 2010.  Patrick Lynch, Best paper by an M.S. student, VIMS
• 2008-2011. Kathryn Sobocinski, Hunter B. Andrews, Jr. Fellowship, VIMS Foundation
• 2007.  Andrij Horodysky, The Matthew Fontaine Maury Society Student Fellowship Award, VIMS Foundation
• 2006. Andre Buchheister, William J. Hargis, Jr. Fellowship Award, VIMS Foundation

Courses Taught/Teaching

• MSCI 504 Fundamentals of Statistical Methods and Data Analysis (Instructor)
• MSCI 528 Marine Fisheries Science (co-Instructor)
• MSCI 548 Marine Fisheries Science and Management (Lecturer, Summer course for high school teachers)
• MSCI 649 Modeling Biological and Ecological Systems (co-Instructor)
• MSCI 671 Fisheries Population Dynamics (Instructor)

Professional / Advisory Service

• Invited Expert, Panel discussion of management of forage fishes, MAFMC, Apr 2013
• Member, NMFS Advisory Panel for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (SEDAR Pool), 2012 - present
• Member, ASMFC Analytical Committee for NEAMAP, 2012 - present
• Member, MAFMC, Scientific and Statistical Committee, 2008 - present -Scientific Uncertainty Subcommittee, 2009 - present
• Member, ASMFC Atlantic Menhaden Technical Committee, 2006 - present
  • Stock Assessment Subcommittee May 2007 - present
  • Chairman, May 2009 - May 2011
  • Vice-chairman, May 2008 - May 2009
• Chairman, 49th Northeast Regional Stock Assessment Review Committee (SARC 49), Dec 2009, NEFSC
• Member, external panel to review the NEFSC Foodweb Dynamics Program, Jul 2009, NEFSC
• Member, ASMFC Multispecies Technical Committee, 2002 - present
• MSVPA Subcommittee, 2005 - present
• Invited Expert, ASMFC American Shad Technical Committee, Jun 2006
• Invited Expert, Meeting of the Virginia Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Nov 2006
• Member, VIMS panel to advise Virginia Marine Resources Commission on permitting for King William Reservoir, 2004
• Member, ASMFC Assessment Science Committee, 2003 - 2008
• Member, Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Modeling Advisory Panel, 2001 - 2007
• Invited Expert, ASMFC Striped Bass Tagging Subcommittee, 2000 - 2004, 2012