Henry Ruhl

Abyssal benthic fauna inhabit approximately 60% of the Earth’s surface, mediate carbon sequestration processes at a carbon cycle end member, and have poorly understood biological and ecological attributes. The importance of describing such communities is growing as energy, fisheries, and mining activities continue to develop in deeper waters. Understanding contemporary processes will be crucial in evaluating any anthropogenic impacts in the deep-ocean. I am currently conducting collaborative research, to examine tractable questions central to abyssal ecology:

What factors are affecting the quantity and quality of sinking organic carbon to abyssal depths from climatic variation to benthic processes?

How does variation in the sinking organic carbon food supply affect behavior, population, and community dynamics?

How is the organic carbon food supply utilized and transformed by abyssal fauna?

How can such long-term ecological studies also be utilized to form and revise even basic ideas about deep-sea systems and ecology overall?

How can the remote habitat of the deep-ocean be made more accessible to educators, students, and the public?

Additionally I’m helping to coordinate ocean observatory efforts related to ESONET, EMSO, and DELOS. These programs work not only through government grant funded research, but also by collaborating with industry. Such objective collaboration is already leading to outcomes not otherwise possible through academic or industrial research alone.

Selected project links:

VITA | PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS | JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
OTHER PUBLICATIONS | SELECTED NEWS MEDIA ITEMS

VITA

2008-present, Project Manager, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK.
• Long-term ecological research in the abyssal NE Pacific and NE Atlantic
• Energy industry collaboration to evaluate impacts and promote informed resource use
• ESONET Science objectives workpackage leader
• Coordination of NOCS efforts in ESONET, EMSO, and DELOS
• Global assessment of climatic influences on abyssal carbon flux
• Theoretical ecology and modeling
• Molecular phylogeny and population genetics of abyssal echinoderms
• Instrument and methodology development for abyssal benthic research

2006-2008. Postdoctoral Fellow, MBARI, Moss Landing, California.
• Deep-sea ecological research with Kenneth L. Smith Jr.
• Energy industry collaboration to evaluate impacts and promote informed resource use
• Abyssal macro - megafaunal community dynamics and bioturbation effects
• Antarctic research on pelagic biogeochemical effects of icebergs

2001-2006, Ph.D. in Marine Biology, Scripps, University of California, San Diego.
• Deep-sea ecological research with Kenneth L. Smith Jr.
• Examining links between climate and abyssal processes and communities
• Mentoring and advising of undergraduate students
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps advisory panel member
• Graduate Department faculty teaching assessment committee

2005, Teaching Assistant, University of California, San Diego.
• Biological Oceanography with Michael Landry

2000, Staff Research Associate, Scripps, University of California, San Diego.
• Antarctic and deep-sea ecological research with Kenneth L. Smith Jr.

1998, Hydrology, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.

1996, B.S. in Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.
• Environmental Management Certificate
• Aquatic ecosystem focus

1994-1999, Biological Science Technician, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
• Aquatic vegetation ecology including climatic and hydrologic effects
• Long-term studies in the Chesapeake Bay and South Florida
• Remote sensing and model parameterization and verification
• Two monetary awards for exceptional service

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• ESONET science objectives workpackage leader (www.esonet-emso.org)
• EMSO Associate scientist (www.esonet-emso.org)
• NSF Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry, 2008 Theme Leader
• NSF Long-Term Ecological Research Program, Associate Scientist
• Deep-Ocean Environmental Long-Term Observatory System
  (www.delos-project.org), Steering Committee Member
• American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
• Ecological Society of America, Member
• American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Member 2008 special
  session “Long-term ecological research in the deep sea” organizer
• American Geophysical Union, Member
• Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (SIO)
• Deep-Sea Biology (informal organization which meets every three years)

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Ruhl, H. A., J. A. Ellena, K. L. Smith Jr. (in review) Connections between climate, food limitation, and carbon cycling in abyssal sediment communities: a long time-series perspective. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA.

Smith, K. L., Jr., H. A. Ruhl, R. S. Kaufmann, and M. Kahru. (in press) Tracing abyssal food supply back to upper-ocean processes over a 17-year time series in the NE Pacific. Limnology and Oceanography

Booth, J. A., H. A. Ruhl, L. Lovell, D. M. Bailey, and K. L. Smith, Jr. 2008. Population dynamics of NE Pacific abyssal ophiuroids. Marine Biology 154: 933–941.

Ruhl, H. A., 2008. Community change in the variable resource habitat of the abyssal NE Pacific. Ecology.89: 991–1000

Smith, K. L., Jr., B. H. Robison, J. J. Helly, R. S. Kaufmann, H. A. Ruhl, T. Shaw, B. S. Twining, M. Vernet. 2007. Free-drifting icebergs: hotspots of chemical and biological enrichment in the Weddell Sea. Science 347: 478-482.

Ruhl, H. A., 2007. Abundance and size distribution dynamics of abyssal epibenthic megafauna in the northeast Pacific. Ecology 88: 1250-1262.

Bailey, D., H. A. Ruhl, and K. L. Smith, Jr. 2006. Long-term changes in benthopelagic fish abundance in the abyssal N.E. Pacific Ocean. Ecology 87: 549-555.

Smith, Jr., K. L., R. J. Baldwin, H. A. Ruhl, M. Kahru, B. G. Mitchell, and R. S. Kaufmann. 2006. Climate effect on food supply to depths greater than 4000 m in the northeast Pacific. Limnology and Oceanography 51: 166-176.

Smith, Jr., K. L., N. D. Holland, H. A. Ruhl. 2005. Enteropneust production of spiral fecal trails on the deep-sea Floor observed with time-lapse photography. Deep-Sea Research I 52: 1228-1240.

Ruhl, H. A. and K. L. Smith Jr. 2004. Shifts in deep-sea community structure linked to climate and food supply. Science 305: 513-515.

Cranmer, T. L., H. A. Ruhl, R. J. Baldwin, and R. S. Kaufmann. 2003. Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance, distribution and population structure of epibenthic megafauna in Port Foster, Deception Island. Deep-Sea Research II 50: 1821-1842.

Kendall, K. A., H. A. Ruhl, and R. C. Wilson. 2003. Distribution and abundance of marine bird and pinniped populations within Port Foster, Deception Island, Antarctica. Deep-Sea Research II 50: 1873-1888.

Ruhl, H. A., P. A. Hastings, L. A. Zarubick, R. M. Jensen, and K. Zdzitowiecki. 2003. Fish populations of Port Foster, Deception Island, Antarctica and Vicinity. Deep-Sea Research II 50: 1843-1858.

Smith, Jr. K. L., R. J. Baldwin, R. C. Glatts, T. K. Chereskin, H. A. Ruhl, and V. Lagun. 2003. Weather, ice, and snow conditions at Deception Island, Antarctica: long time-series photographic monitoring. Deep-Sea Research II 50: 1649-1664.

Rybicki, N. B., D. McFarland, H. A. Ruhl, J. T. Reel, and J. W. Barko. 2001. Investigations of the availability and survivability of submersed aquatic vegetation propagules in the tidal Potomac River, 1994–95. Estuaries 24: 407-424.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Smith, K. L., Jr., H. A. Ruhl, R. S. Kaufmann, and M. Kahru. 2008. Links between detrital aggregates on the abyssal seafloor and upper-ocean processes. National Science Foundation Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Workshop. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA.

Bagley, P. M., K. L. Smith Jr., B. J. Bett, I. G. Priede, G. T. Rowe, H. A. Ruhl, D. M. Bailey, J. Clarke, and A. Walls. 2008. Deep Ocean Environmental Long Term Observatory System (DELOS): - Initiation of a 25 Year Study of Deep-Ocean Ecology Near Offshore Hydrocarbon Operations. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Sciences Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Kahn, A. S., K. L. Smith Jr., and H. A. Ruhl. 2008. Temporal Changes in the Population Structure and Reproductive Strategies of Two Benthic Sponges in the Abyssal NE Pacific. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Sciences Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Ruhl, H. A., J. A. Ellena, K. L. Smith Jr. 2008. Long-Hypothesized Relationships Between Surface Conditions and Abyssal Macrofauna Communities Supported in Ten-Year Study at Northeast Pacific Site. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Sciences Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Smith, K. L., Jr., R. S. Kaufmann, H. A. Ruhl, and M. Kahru, Detrital Aggregate Coverage on the Deep-Sea Floor in the Northeast Pacific Over a 17-Year Period. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Sciences Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Ruhl, H. A., J. A. Ellena, M. D. Ohman, and K. L. Smith Jr. 2007. Estimating Interannual Climate Variation Impacts on an Abyssal Macrofauna Community Dynamics in the NE Pacific. National Science Foundation Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry Workshop. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA.

Ruhl, H. A. and K. L. Smith Jr. 2007. Contemporary climatic connections to abyssal ecology in the NE Pacific. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Sante Fe, NM.

Ruhl, H. A. and K. L. Smith Jr. 2006. Climatic Links to Abyssal Megafauna Populations in the NE Pacific. 6th Long-Term Ecological Research All-Scientists Meeting. Estes Park, CO.

Ruhl, H. A., 2006. Climate and food supply influences on mobile epibenthic megafauna populations in the abyssal NE Pacific from 1989 to 2004. PhD dissertation, University of California, San Diego. 155pp. (http://repositories.cdlib.org/sio/techreport/46)

Ruhl, H. A., and K. L. Smith, Jr. 2006. Abyssal megafaunal community responses to interannual climate fluctuation in the NE Pacific. 11th Intern. Deep-sea Biology Symposium. Southampton, UK. p. 74.

Ruhl, H. A., and K. L. Smith, Jr. 2003. Variation in deep-sea epibenthic megafauna distribution and abundance, and particle flux in the NE Pacific. Abstract, in: 10th Deep-sea biology symposium, p. 36.

Rybicki, N. B., J. T. Reel, H. A. Ruhl, P. T. Gammon, and V. Carter. 2001. Vegetative resistance to flow in South Florida: summary of vegetation sampling in Taylor Sough, Everglades National Park, September 1997-July 1998. US Geological Survey Open File Report-01-102, 117p.

Rybicki, N. B., J. T. Reel, H. A. Ruhl, P. T. Gammon, V. Carter, and J. K. Lee. 2000. Sawgrass density, biomass, and leaf area index: a flume study in support of research on wind sheltering effects in the Florida Everglades. US Geological Survey Open File Report-00-172, 48p.

Carter, V., J. T. Reel, N. B. Rybicki, H. A. Ruhl, P. T. Gammon, and J. K. Lee. 1999. Vegetative resistance to flow in South Florida: a summary of vegetation sampling at sites NESRS3 and P33, Shark River Slough, November, 1996. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-218, 73p.

Carter, V., H. A. Ruhl, N. B. Rybicki, J. T. Reel, and P. T. Gammon. 1999. Vegetative resistance to flow in South Florida: a summary of vegetation sampling at sites NESRS3 and P33, Shark River Slough, April, 1996. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-187, 73p.

Carter, V., N. B. Rybicki, J. T. Reel, H. A. Ruhl, and J. K. Lee. 1999. Vegetative characterization for Everglades studies. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-181, p. I0-II.

Landwehr, J. M., J. T. Reel, N. B. Rybicki, H. A. Ruhl, and V. Carter. 1999. Chesapeake Bay habitat criteria scores and the distribution and abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation in the tidal Potomac River and Potomac Estuary, 1983-1997. United States Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-219. 34 pp.

Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRP). 1999. Tidal Potomac Integrative Project, ICPRB Report 99-4.

Ruhl, H. A., N. B. Rybicki, J. T. Reel, and V. Carter. 1999. Submersed aquatic vegetation and Hydrilla verticillata distribution and abundance for the tidal Potomac River, Maryland, Virginia, and The District of Columbia, 1993-1998. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-233, 37p.

Ruhl, H. A., and R. W. Schaffranek. 1999. The Southern Inland and Coastal System Project of the USGS South Florida Ecosystem Program. USGS Bulletin.

Rybicki, N. B., J. T. Reel, H. A. Ruhl, P. T. Gammon, V. Carter, and J. K. Lee. 1999. Biomass and vegetative characteristics of sawgrass grown in a tilting flume as part of a study of vegetative resistance to flow. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-230, 29p.

Rybicki, N. B., H. A. Ruhl, J. T. Reel and V. Carter. 1999. A survey of potential dredge disposal sites for the tidal Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and the Route 301 Bridge. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-234, 12p.

Schaffranek R. W., H. A. Ruhl, and M. E. Hansler. 1999. An overview of the Southern Inland and Coastal System Project of the US Geological Survey South Florida Ecosystem Program, in: The Proceedings of the Third International Ecohydraulics Symposium.

Carter, V., N. B. Rybicki, J. M. Landwehr, J. T. Reel, and H. A. Ruhl. 1998. Correlations among seasonal water quality, discharge, weather, and coverage by submersed aquatic vegetation in the Tidal Potomac River and Estuary, 1983-96. US Geological Survey Open File Report-99-657, 81p.

Ruhl, H. A., N. B. Rybicki, V. Carter, and J. T. Reel. 1998. Epiphyte growth, water quality, and submersed aquatic plants in the tidal Potomac River and estuary. Poster Session, in: Ecological Society of America 1998 Annual Meeting Abstracts, p.211.

Ruhl, H. A., N. B. Rybicki, and J. T. Reel. 1997. Light effects on tuber production. Abstract, in: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America Vol. 78 (4), p.305.

Ruhl, H. A., N. B. Rybicki, and J. T. Reel. 1997. The effects of light on tuber production of Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria americana. Abstract, in: Fourteenth Biennial Estuarine Research Federation International Conference Abstracts, p.159.

SELECTED NEWS MEDIA ITEMS

Lemonick, M. D. 2007. Islands of Life. Time Magazine

Schmid, R. E. 2007. Drifting icebergs are hotspots of life. Associated Press

Study: Icebergs create ocean ‘hot spots’. 2007. United Press International

Antarctic icebergs: Unlikely oases for ocean life. 2007. National Science Foundation

Bakalar, N. 2006. Deep, deep down, fish are booming, study says. National Geographic.

Dilba, D. 2006. Fischboom in 4000 meter tiefe. Spiegel.

Dybas, C. 2006. Ecological change, climate variation addressed at international conference Sept. 20-24. National Science Foundation.

Ingram, J. 2006. Bizarre creatures from the abyss. Discovery Channel (US & Canada)

Nielson, J. 2006. Down deep, an unexpected fish boom. National Public Radio.

Williams, M.M. 2005. Year in science, 58: Surface weather affects life at bottom of the sea. Discover.

Graham, S. 2004. Top science stories of 2004: Surface climate’s effects felt on ocean floor. Scientific American.

Hayden, T. 2004. The blue planet. U.S. News & World Report.

Marris, E. 2004. Climate change affects deep sea life: The abyss reacts to El Nino as quickly as surface ecosystems do. Nature.

Milius, S. 2004. Deep-sea cuke’s can’t avoid the weather: El Nino changes life 2.5 miles down. Science News.

Whipple, D. 2004. Climate: The fickle fingerprint of change. United Press International.

Wren, K. 2004. Climate, Food and Deep Sea Life. Science.