معرفی
Richard (Rick) Wahle is a Professor and Director of the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences. He holds academic appointments at the University of Maine and directs interdisciplinary research on American lobster populations and marine ecosystems. His research integrates ecology, oceanography, and fisheries science to understand population dynamics and the impacts of environmental changes. Dr. Wahle leads the American Lobster Settlement Index (ALSI), a long-term monitoring program quantifying larval recruitment and predicting fishery trends.
Education: Ph.D. in Zoology (University of Maine, 1990), M.S. in Biology (San Francisco State University, 1982), B.A. in Zoology (University of New Hampshire, 1977).
Research focuses on larval transport, settlement processes, and the effects of climate change on marine benthic organisms. Key areas include lobster population resilience, nursery habitat dynamics, and the interplay between oceanographic conditions and recruitment success. His work addresses both applied fisheries management and fundamental ecological questions.
His publications highlight advancements in passive sampling techniques, climate-driven recruitment patterns, and the vulnerability of fisheries to environmental shifts. Collaborative grants include funding from the National Science Foundation, NOAA, and Maine Sea Grant, supporting projects like ALSI and studies on ocean acidification.
- Scientific Awards: Editors’ Choice in Science (2009)
- Advising: Mentor to over 10 graduate students, including N.R. Geraldi, C. Bergeron, and K.P. O’Donnell.
- Labs/Teams: Director of the Wahle Lab, coordinating the ALSI program with international partners.
