معرفی
Joseph L. Staton is a Professor of Biology and Marine Science at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), where he has served since 2003. He previously held a Research Professor position at the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences, a marine biological research component of the University of South Carolina Columbia. With over 30 years of research experience, his work focuses on the ecology and evolution of marine invertebrates, particularly larval development, dispersal, and crustacean diversity.
- PhD in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (1992) from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette
- MS in Zoology (1986) from the University of Maryland, College Park
- BS in Zoology (1982) from North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Research Interests
Dr. Staton’s research spans multiple subfields in marine biology and ecology. He pioneered a PCR assay for identifying fiddler crab larvae to the species level, enabling studies on larval dispersal dynamics. His work includes biogeography of crustaceans in the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic, mitochondrial gene order analysis in horseshoe crabs and sipunculan worms to address molecular evolutionary questions, cryptic speciation in benthic copepods, and pollutant effects on genetic diversity of meiofauna. His current efforts aim to deepen global understanding of crustacean diversity.
Scientific Awards
- NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship
- NASA Fellowship
- MarCraig Fellowship at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology
Labs & Collaborations
Dr. Staton maintains affiliations with the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences and the Smithsonian Marine Station at Link Port. At USCB, he contributes to coastal ecology and conservation initiatives, bridging academic research with environmental stewardship.
