4.-Assessment of artificial oyster reef function using algal diversity and photosynthetic performance as indices of health.
5.-Investigation of competitive fitness of algae and submerged aquatic vegetation relative to herbicide exposure in nearshore environments.
OTHER ENDEAVORS
1.-Restoration, maintenance and enhancement of the University of South Alabama Herbarium
(Collaborators: B.J. Axsmith, University of South Alabama; C.S. Major, University of South Alabama)
2.-University of South Alabama Honors and Biology Honors Undergraduate Research Programs
3.-University of South Alabama's joint Chemistry-Biology Merck-AAAS Undergraduate Research Program:
-
"Microbial Growth in Ionic Liquids" (Collaborator: J. Davis, Jr., University of South Alabama)
- "Toxicology of Hexazinone and Its Degradation Products" (Collaborators: T. Rice, University of South Alabama; E. Cioffi, University of South Alabama)
MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS
-Henley, W.J., Major, K.M. & Hironaka, J.L. 2002. Response to salinity and heat stress in two halotolerant chlorophyte algae. J. Phycol. 38, 757-766.
-Machalek, K. M., Davison, I. R. & Falkowski, P. G. 1996. Thermal and photoacclimation of photosynthesis in the brown alga, Laminaria saccharina. Plant Cell & Environ. 19, 1005-1016.
-Major, K. M. & Davison, I. R. 1998. Influence of temperature and light on growth and photosynthetic physiology of Fucus evanescens (Phaeophyta) embryos. Eur. J. Phycol. 33 (2), 129-138.
-Major, K. M. & Dunton, K. H. 2002. Variations in light-harvesting characteristics of the seagrass, Thalassia testudinum : evidence for photoacclimation. JEMBE. 275, 173-189.
-Major, K. M. & Dunton, K. H. 2000. Photosynthetic performance in Syringodium filiforme: seasonal variation in light-harvesting characteristics. Aquat. Bot. 1427, 1-16.
CURRENT FUNDING
"Indicators of Oyster Reef Function: Benthic Algal Community Composition and Productivity"
National Marine Fisheries Service/Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Project - (2004)
"Influence of Salinity and Herbicide Exposure on Photosynthesis in the Submerged Aquatic Macrophyte, Vallisneria americana"
University of South Alabama - College of Arts & Sciences - (2003)
"The Coastal Counties Exotic Plant and Animal Inventory Project"
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Alabama DCNR - (Co-PI's:C.S. Major & J. W. McCreadie; 2003)
"A Preliminary Survey of Macroalgal and AquaticPlant Distribution in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta"
Environmental Protection Agency/Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies - (Co-PI: C.S. Major; 2002)
Salinity and Temperature Tolerance in the Extremophilic Green Alga, Picochlorum oklahomensis (formerly Nannochloris sp.)."
University of South Alabama Research Council, Committee for Undergraduate Research and Department of Biological Sciences - (2001)
