Jeffrey S. Levinton

Jeffrey S. Levinton is a Research Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1971) and has been affiliated with Stony Brook since then, transitioning from Earth and Space Sciences to his current department. His research focuses on marine benthic ecology, macroevolution, and thermal adaptation in fiddler crabs. He has advised numerous graduate students and postdocs, many of whom hold prominent academic and environmental roles.

Levinton's work spans functional biology, climate change impacts, and evolutionary processes. He has published over 160 papers and authored/edited seminal texts like Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology (6th ed., 2021). Honors include Guggenheim and AAAS Fellowships, and editorial roles at journals like American Naturalist and Ecology. His current projects investigate fiddler crab biomechanics, thermal tolerance, and latitudinal climate adaptations.

He serves on panels including the New York State Shellfish Council and the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network. Former students include leaders in marine science, environmental agencies, and academia.