Vania Coelho, Ph.D.
Dr. Coelho completed most of her doctorate research while she was working as a visiting scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. After completing her doctorate, Dr. Coelho held a post-doctoral research scientist position initially, and later an associate research scientist position, at Columbia University. Dr. Coelho’s research focuses on ecology and evolutionary biology of marine invertebrates. Her research interests include benthic community ecology, population biology, behavior, systematics of crustaceans, and coral reef ecology.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Email: vcoelho@dominican.edu
Office: Science Center # 124
Phone: (415) 458-3745
Fax: (415) 482-1972
Academic Area
Environmental Studies
Educational Backgound
- B.Sc. Biology, 1992, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- M.Sc. Ecology, 1995, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Visiting Graduate Researcher, 1997-1999, Department of Systematic Biology, Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of
Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC - Ph.D. Zoology, 1999, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist, 1999-2000, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia University, Oracle, AZ
Teaching and Research Interests
Dr. Coelho’s research focuses on ecology and evolutionary biology of marine invertebrates.
Her current research focus is on conservation ecology of marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. Dr. Coelho's interests include the role of protected reserves in ecosystem conservation, management of coral disease, community involvement in conservation and restoration efforts, public education and awareness. In addition, she is interested in the influence of top-down and bottom-up processes in the structuring of epifaunal communities associated with algae, especially in tropical environments. Her research expertise also involves different aspects of ecology and evolutionary biology of marine crustaceans including behavior, functional morphology, natural history, systematics, and population ecology.
Coral reefs are undoubtedly among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Particularly alarming are the rates of deterioration of Caribbean reefs. Most studies predict that without increased conservation and restoration efforts a complete collapse may be only a couple of decades away. Dr. Coelho will be analyzing invertebrate communities associated with algae (epifaunal communities) in coral reefs. She hopes to be able to identify trophic cascade effects on epifaunal communities in protected and non-protected areas, in order to better understand how marine no-take reserves affect lower food chain levels. In addition, Dr. Coelho will be looking for invertebrate species that are particularly sensitive to park protection and could be used as environmental indicators.
Professional Organizations
- American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
- Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
- Council on Undergraduate Research
- The Crustacean Society
- The Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean
- Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Scientific Advisory Board
Selected Publications
- COELHO VR, Manfrino C. (in review). Five years of coral community decline at a remote Caribbean island.
- Brusca RC, COELHO VR, Taiti S. In press. Isopoda. [chapter] In: Carlton, JT (ed). The Light and Smith Manual: Intertidal Invertebrates of the Central California and Oregon Coasts. 4th edition. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.
- COELHO VR. 2004. Feeding behavior, morphological adaptations and burrowing in thalassinidean crustaceans. Proceedings of the Symposium on “Ecology of Large Bioturbators in Tidal Flats and Shallow Sublittoral Sediments - From Individual Behavior to their Role as Ecosystem Engineers”. Pages 1-6. Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
- Brusca RC, COELHO VR, Taiti S. 2001. A Guide to the Coastal Isopods of California. Electronic publication. Internet address: http://tolweb.org/tree/eukaryotes/animals/arthropoda/crustacea/isopoda/accessory/caguide/caguide.html
- COELHO VR, Rodrigues SA. 2001. Setal diversity, trophic modes and functional morphology of feeding appendages of two callianassid shrimps, Callichirus major and Sergio mirim (Decapoda: Thalassinidea: Callianassidae). Journal of Natural History 35(10): 1447-1483
Selected Presentations
- Invited Speaker, “Cultural Roots, International Experiences and Personal Growth”, Shield Day Ceremony and Convocation, Dominican University of California 2005
- Invited Speaker, Symposium on “Ecology of Large Bioturbators in Tidal Flats and Shallow Sublittoral Sediments - from Individual Behavior to their Role as Ecosystem Engineers”. Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan 2003
- Invited Speaker, Research Seminar, Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Arizona 2000
Other Interests
S.C.U.B.A. Diving
For a full listing publications and presentations
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