Mark Hixon

Dr. Mark Hixon is the Sidney & Erica Hsiao Endowed Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Biology. He specializes in marine ecology and conservation biology, particularly coral reefs and invasive species management. With academic degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara (BA 1973, MA 1974, PhD 1979), his career includes roles at Oregon State University (1984–2012) before joining UH in 2013.

His research focuses on coral reef resilience, lionfish invasion impacts, and fisheries ecology. Notable projects include the Fish Flow Project tracing fish lifecycle dynamics and the REEFrame Project developing coral nurseries in Waikiki. He has served on editorial boards for major journals and advised federal marine conservation committees.

Key publications address lionfish predation effects, coral reef restoration, and ciguatera toxin risks. Awards include recognition as the most cited coral reef ecologist (2004), International Coral Reef Society Fellowship (2016), and a 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. His lab has mentored numerous graduate students and collaborates on interdisciplinary marine conservation efforts.