Dr. Brian Tissot

Research : our lab is focused on the ecology and conservation of marine invertebrates and fishes. Our projects investigate issues at the interface between conservation science, management, and policy. We use quantitative statistical approaches combined with geospatial tools to explore the ecology of physical and biological components of habitat for commercially important fishes with an emphasis on structure-forming invertebrates.

Our current major research projects are:

• Marine protected areas and community-based fishery management in Hawai'i
• Fishery habitat studies on Pacific continental shelves
• Ecology, conservation and recovery of the black abalone in California

Also, I am involved in:

•  Ecosystem-based Management of Fisheries (National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis)
• Black Abalone ESA Status Review Committee (NOAA Protected Species Program)

What is Integral Ecology?:

Recent publications:

Tissot, B. N. and D. M. Brosnan. 2001. Long Term Coral Reef Monitoring Programs: Working Towards a Synthesis of Science, Management and Policy. In: Best, B. and R. Pomeroy, Relevant Findings from the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium: Implications for Coral Reef Management and Policy. USAID.

Nasby, N. Embley, R., Tissot, B.N, Hixon. M., Wright, Wright, Merle, S. and W.  Wakefield. 2002. Integration of Historical Groundfish Habitat Data with New High Resolution Remotely Sensed Data on Heceta Bank, Oregon. Fisheries Bulletin 100(4):739-751.

Tissot, B. N. and L. E. Hallacher. 2003. The effects of aquarium collectors on coral reef fishes in Hawaii. Conservation Biology 17(6): 1759-1768 PDF

Tissot, B.N. , Walsh, W. and L. E. Hallacher. 2004. Evaluating the effectiveness of a marine reserve network in Hawaii to increase the productivity of an aquarium fishery. Pacific Science 58(2): 175-188.PDF

Tissot, B. N., W. Waldo Wakefield, N. P.F. Puniwai, J. Pirtle, K.York and  J. E.R. Clemons.  2004. Abundance and distribution of structure-forming megafaunal invertebrates, including cold-water corals, on Heceta Bank, Oregon, 2000-2002. NOAA Technical Report, 48pp.

Aaby, A., D. J. Wright, B. N. Tissot. 2004. Case Study of the ArcGIS Marine Data Model: Examining Habitat Utilization Patterns of Reef Fish along the West Coast of Hawaii. Proc. 24th Annual ESRI User Conference, San Diego, CA, Paper 1458.

Capitini, C., B. N. Tissot, M. Carroll, W. Walsh and S. Peck. 2004. Aquarium fisheries management in west Hawaii: a dynamic conflict.  Soc. Nat. Res. 17: 763-778. PDF

Tissot, B. N. 2004. Long-term population trends in the black abalone, Haliotis cracheroidii, along the eastern pacific coast. NOAA Technical Report for ESA Status Review. 41 pp.

Walsh, W. J.,  B. N. Tissot and L. E. Hallacher. 2004.  A report on the findings  and recommendations of effectiveness of the West Hawai`i regional fishery management area. Report to the 23rd Hawaii Legislature. 38 pp. PDF

Tissot, B. N. 2005. Integral marine ecology: community-based fishery management in Hawaii. World Futures 61: 79-95. PDF

Wakefield, W.W., C.E. Whitmire, J.E.R. Clemons, B.N. Tissot. 2005. Fish habitat studies:  Combining high-resolution geological and biological data. In P. W. Barnes and J. P. Thomas, editors. Benthic habitats and the effects of fishing. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 41; 199-138. Bethesda, Maryland.

 Tissot, B. N., M. M. Yoklavich, M. S. Love, K. York and M. Amend. 2006.  Benthic invertebrates that form habitat structures on deep banks off southern California, with special reference to deep sea coral. Fisheries Bulletin 104: 167-181. PDF

Williams, I. D., W.J. Walsh, B.N. Tissot, L.E. Hallacher. 2006. Impact of observers’ experience level on counts of fishes in underwater visual surveys. Marine Ecology Progress Series 310: 185-191. PDF

Hixon, M. A. and B. N. Tissot. 2007. Comparison of trawled vs. untrawled mud seafloor assemblages of fishes and macroinvertebrates at Coquille Bank, Oregon. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 344: 23-34. PDF

Tissot, B. N., M. A. Hixon and D. L. Stein, D. L. Habitat-based submersible assessment of groundfish assemblages at Heceta Bank, Oregon from 1988 to 1990. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 352:  50-64. PDF

 

Current and past graduate students:

• Jonathan Hultquist, MS Environmental Science 2002, Maui Ocean Center, Director of Education Programs

  • Thesis: Effects of feeding by humans on the behavior and community structure of nearshore coral reef fishes.

• Noelani Puniwai, MS Environmental Science 2002, Hawaii Natural Heritage Program, Director of Hawaii Marine Gap Program

  • Thesis: Spatial and temporal distribution of the crinoid Florometra serratissma on the Oregon continental shelf.

• Claudia Capitini, MS Environmental Science 2003, Earthwatch Institute

  • Thesis: Aquarium fisheries management in West Hawaii: a dynamic conflict.

• Keri York, MS Environmental Science 2005, National Marine Fisheries Service, Research Scientist

  • Thesis: Resource partitioning in an assemblage of deep-water demersal rockfish (Sebastes spp). on the Northeast
    Pacific continental shelf.

• Jodi Pirtle, MS Environmental Science 2005, Ph.D. student, Univ. Alaska Juneau

  • Thesis: Habitat-based assessment of megafaunal invertebrates and fishes on Cordell Bank, California.

CURRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS: 

• Delisse Ortiz, PhD Environmental Science graduate student
• Taylor Aalvik, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Camelia Bianchi, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Jennifer Bright, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Dan Rawding, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Todd Stevenson, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Kaitlyn Graiff, MS Environmental Science graduate student
• Jennifer Blaine, MS Environmental Science graduate student

Information for potential graduate students:

• MS Environmental Science
• PhD Environmental & Natural Resource Science
• PhD Zoology