Charlie Martin

Dr. Charlie Martin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama and a Senior Marine Scientist at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. He earned his undergraduate and PhD degrees from the University of South Alabama, followed by postdoctoral research at Louisiana State University and faculty roles at the University of Florida Nature Coast Biological Station. His research focuses on estuarine/coastal ecology, particularly anthropogenic stressors' impacts on ecosystems. Key areas include invasive species management, salinity alteration effects, plant-animal interactions, wetland restoration, and climate change impacts.

Education:

• Bachelor's and PhD in Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Louisiana State University

Research Interests:

• Ecological consequences of invasive species (e.g., Eurasian milfoil, Nile tilapia)
• Salinity dynamics in Gulf Coast estuaries (e.g., Mississippi River diversion effects)
• Food web interactions influenced by predator-prey relationships
• Climate-driven shifts like tropicalization and hurricane impacts
• Oil spill aftermath studies (Deepwater Horizon)

Recent publications emphasize seagrass recovery mechanisms, acoustic monitoring applications, and ecosystem resilience post-disturbances. His work bridges field experiments with applied conservation strategies across Gulf of Mexico estuaries like the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

Labs/Teams: Leads marine ecology research initiatives focused on coastal conservation, invasive species mitigation, and climate adaptation strategies through collaborative projects with institutions like Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Sea-Grant Mississippi-Alabama.