Vania Coelho, PhD
Associate Professor
Office: Science Center #124
Lab: Science Center #121
415-458-3745
vania.coelho@dominican.edu
Academic Area
Environmental Sciences
Educational Background
- PhD Zoology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- MSc Ecology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
- BSc Biology, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Teaching & Research
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.
recent Publications
- Quinn LD, Kolipinski M, COELHO VR, Davis B, Vianney JM*, Batjargal O*, Alas M*, Ghosh S. 2008. Germination of invasive plant seeds after digestion by horses in California. Natural Areas Journal 28(4): 356-362
- Jones L, Alcolado PM, Cala Y, Cobian D, COELHO V, Hernandez A, Jones R, Mallela J, Manfrino C. 2008. The effects of coral bleaching in the northern Caribbean and western Atlantic. In: Wilkinson C, Souter, D (eds). Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs after Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, and Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Townsville. PP 73-83
- COELHO VR, Manfrino C. 2007. Coral community decline at a remote Caribbean island: marine no-take reserves are not enough. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 17(7): 666-685
- Brusca RC, COELHO VR, Taiti S. 2007. Isopoda. [chapter] In: Carlton, JT (ed). The Light and Smith Manual: Intertidal Invertebrates from Central California to Oregon. 4th edition. University of California Press, Berkeley. PP 503-542
- 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.
RECENT Presentations
- “Preventing Bleaching through Shading in Three Common Branching Coral Species: Case Studies in
Tutuila and Ofu”, lecture presented at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, American Samoa, 2011 - “Preventing Bleaching through Shading in Three Common Branching Coral Species: Preliminary Results
from the Ofu Experiments”, lecture presented at the National Park Service Headquarters, American Samoa, 2011 - “Buying Time: Preventing Coral Bleaching through Shading in Conditions of High Thermal Stress”, lecture
presented at the Research Seminar Series, Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San
Francisco State University, 2009 - “Coral Reefs Facing Extinction” lecture presented at the Sausalito Rotary Club, Sausalito, CA, 2009
- “Homeless Nemo: What Does the Future Hold for Coral Reef Communities?” lecture presented at Terra
Linda High School, San Rafael, CA., 2008, 2010, 2011
