Heather D Mason

Heather D Mason is the Dana Professor of Biology at The University of Tampa's College of Natural and Health Sciences, specializing in marine ecology and physiology. Her research focuses on seahorses (Syngnathidae) and their ecosystems, particularly in The Bahamas and Tampa Bay. She leads a lab investigating environmental impacts on organismal physiology, ecology, and evolution, with applications to conservation management.

Education:

• B.A. in Biology from Smith College (1990)
• Ph.D. in Biology from Tufts University (1997)

Research Interests: Her work integrates molecular, ecological, and evolutionary approaches to study seahorse mating behaviors, population dynamics, and habitat associations. Current projects emphasize the 'secret seahorses' of Eleuthera, a pristine population informing global conservation strategies. She explores sex-specific selection pressures due to male pregnancy and climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2024 Bahamas National Trust Conservation Champion
• 2019 Dana Professor of Biology
• 2017-2018 Louise Loy Hunter Distinguished Faculty Award

Advising & Grants:

• Mentored over 20 undergraduate researchers as co-authors
• Advised NOAA on dwarf seahorse conservation under the ESA
• Collaborates with Bahamas National Trust on Seahorse National Park management

Labs & Teams: Directs the Mason Lab at The University of Tampa, focusing on syngnathid biology and conservation. Active in global networks like the IUCN Specialist Group for Syngnathids and co-chaired SyngBio2017.