Photo of Robert C. Carpenter.

Robert C. Carpenter

Professor

Ph.D. University of Georgia

email: robert.carpenter@csun.edu
Phone: (818) 677-3256
Fax: (818) 677-2034
Office: Magnolia Hall 4110

My research interests are focused on the ecology of marine benthic communities. Specifically, I am interested in the coupling between physical aspects of the environment (primarily light and water flow) and the physiology of algae and algal communities, and in interactions between herbivores and algae, and how these processes cascade upward to the community level. One current research project is examining the role of hydrodynamics in controlling the rates of metabolism of coral reef algal communities in Hawaii and Moorea, French Polynesia. My students and I take a combined laboratory and field approach to test hypotheses about mass-transfer limitation of reef algae across spatial scales. We use a variety of sophisticated instrumentation to measure water flow at a variety of spatial scales and estimate rates of organismal metabolism in flumes. We have addressed similar questions in kelp forest environments at Santa Catalina Island. Another major research thrust in my lab is associated with the NSF LTER coral reef site in Moorea. See more details here (mcr.lternet.edu). As one of 4 PIs on this project, I am involved in quantifying long-term changes in coral reef community structure and function. Additionally, we are interested in how coral reef metabolism is driven by both large- and small-scale hydrodynamic processes and how this also might influence distributions and abundances of reef organisms and trophic dynamics. My most recent research focus has been on the effects of ocean acidification on coral reef calcifying organisms and communities. We are addressing these effects on organismal physiology, ecological interactions, and at the whole reef scale in Moorea. See more details here (www.crco2.org). While my interests are focused on coral reefs and other algal-dominated marine communities, several students in my laboratory have conducted research on benthic invertebrates living in intertidal, kelp forest, and coral reef environments.

Current Research Grants:

National Science Foundation, Biol. Oceanogr. (OCE-0417412), LTER: Long-term dynamics of a coral reef ecosystem (with P. Edmunds [CSUN] and R. Schmitt/S. Holbrook [UCSB])

National Science Foundation, Biol. Oceanogr. (OCE-1041270), The effects of ocean acidification on the organismic biology and community ecology of corals, calcified algae, and coral reefs (with P. Edmunds [CSUN])

Recent Publications (* students when the work was done)

Comeau, S, R.C. Carpenter, P.J. Edmunds. in press. Effects of feeding and light intensity on the response of the coral Porites rus to ocean acidification. Marine Biology.

Comeau S., Edmunds P. J., Spindel N.B., Carpenter R.C. 2013. The responses of eight coral reef calcifiers to increasing partial pressure of CO2 do not exhibit a "tipping point". Limnology and Oceanography 58:388-398.

Comeau S., Carpenter R.C., Edmunds P.J., 2012. Coral reef calcifiers buffer their response to ocean acidification using both bicarbonate and carbonate. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 280:20122374.

Johnson, M.D.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2012. Ocean acidification and warming temperature decrease calcification in the crustose coralline alga Hydrolithon onkodes and increase susceptibility to grazing. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 434-435:94-101.

Adam, T.C., R.J. Schmitt, S.J. Holbrook, A.J. Brooks, P.J. Edmunds, R.C. Carpenter, and G. Bernardi. 2011 Herbivory, connectivity, and ecosystem resilience: response of a coral reef to a large-scale perturbation. PLoS One 6: 8. 08.

Ferrier, G.A.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2009. Subtidal benthic heterogeneity: flow environment modification and impacts on marine algal community structure and morphology. Biological Bulletin 217: 2. 115-129.

Carpenter, R.C. and S.L. Williams. 2007. Mass transfer limitation of photosynthesis of coral algal turf communities. Marine Biology 151:435-450.

Gamino-Padilla, J.L.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2007. Seasonal acclimitization of Asparagopsis taxiformis from different biogeographic regions. Limnology and Oceanography 52:833-842.

Gamino-Padilla, J.L.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2007. Thermal ecophysiology of Laurencia pacifica and Laurencia nidifica (Ceramiales) from tropical and warm-temperate regions. Journal of Phycology 43:686-692.

Haring, R.N.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2007. The effects of light and water flow on the thallus morphology of Pachydictyon coriaceum (Phaeophyta), Marine Biology 151:243-255.

Carpenter, R.C. and S.L. Williams. 2007. Mass transfer limitation of photosynthesis of coral algal turf communities. Marine Biology 151:435-450.

Carpenter, R.C. and P.J. Edmunds. 2006. Local and regional recovery of Diadema promotes recruitment of juvenile corals. Ecology Letters 9:271-280.

Stewart, H.L.* and R.C. Carpenter. 2003. The effects of water flow on photosynthesis and morphology of marine macroalgae. Ecology 84:2999-3012.

Current Graduate Students:

Amy Briggs - BS, Stanford University
Heather Hillard - BS, College of William and Mary
Carolina Mor - BS, Barry University
Lauren Valentino - BS, University of Rhode Island

Recent Graduates from the Lab:

Maggie Johnson (graduate student) - BS, Colby College
Stella Swanson (graduate student) - BS, California State University, Long Beach
Anya Brown (graduate student) - BS, Brown University
Jennifer Gowan (graduate student) - BS, UC Santa Barbara