Scholar in Residence
 

Peter W. Glynn[image: Dr. Peter Glynn pointing at Clipperton Atoll on a globe]
 Professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries

Biography

Ph.D. (1963) Stanford University

Honors and Professional Activities:

  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • C. Darwin Medal, ISRS (1992)
  • Pacific Science Association
  • International Society for Reef Studies, Council Member
  • Executive Council, Charles Darwin Research Foundation
  • Bert Paper Award, Coral Reefs, vol. 8 with L. DÕCroz, International Society for Reef Studies
  • Sigma Xi Scientist of the year, University of Miami

Research Interests

Research activities center on coral community structure and function with emphasis on natural and anthropogenic disturbances to coral reefs. Major attention has been directed toward an analysis of the impacts of the 1982-83 El Niño warming event on eastern Pacific coral reefs. The severely affected coral reefs in the eastern Pacific region are being study with respect to (1) initial and long-term disturbance effects (predation, competition, symbiosis, bioerosion), (2) causes of coral bleaching and mortality, (3) coral community recovery, and (4) records of El Niño disturbances in the past, based on evidence from core drilling, sclerochronology, stable isotope and trace metal signals.

Representative Publications

Glynn, P.W., R. Imai, K. Sakai, Y. Nakano, and K. Yamazato (1992) Experimental responses of Okinawan (Ryukyu Islands, Japan) reef corals to high sea temperatures and UV radiation. Proc. 7th Int. Coral Reef Symp. 1:27-37

Glynn, P.W. (1997) Bioersion and coral-reef growth; a dynamic balance. Pp. 68-95 In: C.Birkeland (ed.) Life and Death of Coral Reefs, Chapman & Hall, New York.

Glynn, P.W. (1996) Coral reef bleaching: facts, hypotheses and implications. Global change Biology 2:495-509.