Staff: Program PI and Benthic Lab PI

Dr. Daniel M. Dauer
Professor of Biological Sciences and Eminent Scholar

Dr. Dauer's basic research emphasizes feeding behavior and functional morphology of marine benthic animals. This research requires the integration of (1) controlled laboratory experiments concerning factors affecting feeding rates, (2) direct observation and quantification of behavior during feeding, and (3) detailed examinations of the morphology of the feeding apparatus using scanning electron microscopy. The ultimate goal of this type of research is to better understand observed patterns of distribution and abundance of marine and estuarine animals. Dr. Dauer's applied marine research emphasizes the use of benthic (bottom-dwelling) communities in the assessment of environmental health.

Publications (Total - 66)

Borja, A, S.B. Bricker, D.M. Dauer, N.T. Demetriades, J.G. Ferreira, A. T. Forbes, P. Hutchings, X. Jia, R.Kenchington, J.C. Marques and C. Zhu. Overview of integrative tools and methods in assessing ecological integrity in estuarine and coastal systems worldwide. Marine Pollution Bulletin. IN PRESS.

Dauer, D.M., R.J. Llansó, and M.F. Lane. 2008. Depth-related patterns in benthic community condition along an estuarine gradient in Chesapeake Bay, USA. Ecological Indicators 8: 417-424.

Borja, A. and D.M. Dauer. 2008. Assessing the environmental quality status in estuarine and coastal systems: comparing methodologies and indices, Ecological Indicators 8: 331-337.

Chainho, P. J.L. Costa, M.L. Chaves, D.M. Dauer, and M.J. Costa. 2007. Influence of seasonal variability in benthic invertebrate community structure on the use of biotic indices to assess the ecological status of a Portuguese estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin 54:1586-1597.

Simon, J.L. and D. M. Dauer. 1972. A quantitative evaluation of red-tide induced mass mortalities of benthic invertebrates in Tampa Bay, Florida. Environmental Letters 3: 229-234.

Dauer, D.M. 1973. Polychaete fauna associated with Gulf of Mexico sponges. Florida Scientist 36:192-196.

Dauer, D.M. and J. L. Simon. 1975. Lateral or along-shore distribution of the polychaetous annelids of an intertidal sandy habitat. Marine Biology 31: 363-370.

Dauer, D.M. and J.L. Simon. 1976. Habitat expansion among polychaetous annelids repopulating a defaunated marine habitat. Marine Biology 27: 169-177.

Dauer, D.M. and J.L. Simon. 1976. Repopulation of the polychaete fauna of an intertidal habitat following natural defaunation: species equilibrium. Oecologia 22: 99-117.

Simon, J.L. and D.M. Dauer. 1977. Reestablishment of a benthic community following natural defaunation. In: Ecology of marine benthos. B.C. Coull (ed.), Univ. of South Carolina Press, pp. 139-158.

Dauer, D.M., W.W. Robinson, C.P. Seymour, and A.T. Leggett, Jr. 1979. The environmental impact of nonpoint pollution on benthic invertebrates in the Lynnhaven River System. Virginia Water Resources Research Center Bulletin 117, 112 pp.

Dauer, D.M. 1980. Population dynamics of the polychaetous annelids of an intertidal habitat of Upper Old Tampa Bay. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 65: 461-487.

Dauer, D.M. and W.G. Conner. 1980. Effects of moderate sewage input on benthic polychaete populations. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science 10: 335-346.

Dauer, D.M., R.M. Ewing, G.H. Tourtellotte, and H.R. Barker, Jr. 1980. Nocturnal swimming of Scolecolepides viridis (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Estuaries 3: 148-149.

Dauer, D.M., C.A. Maybury, and R.M. Ewing. 1981. Feeding behavior and general ecology of spionid polychaetes. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 58: 21-38.

Ewing, R.M. and D.M. Dauer. 1981. A new species of Amastigos (Polychaeta: Capitellidae) from the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coast of the United States with notes on the Capitellidae of the Chesapeake Bay. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 94: 163-168.

Otsuka, C.M. and D.M. Dauer. 1982. Fouling community dynamics in Lynnhaven Bay, Virginia. Estuaries 5: 10-22.

Alden, R.W. III, D.M. Dauer, and J.H. Rule 1982. Environmental studies at a proposed mid-Atlantic dredged material disposal site. In: Oceans '82, pp. 1034-1041.

Dauer, D.M., R.M. Ewing, J.W. Sourbeer, W.T. Harlan, and T. L. Stokes, Jr. 1982. Nocturnal movements of the macrobenthos of the Lafayette River, Virginia. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 67: 761-775.

Dauer, D.M., R.M. Ewing, G.H. Tourtellotte, W.T. Harlan, J.W. Sourbeer, and H. R. Barker Jr. 1982. Predation pressure, resource limitation and the structure of benthic infaunal communities. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 67: 477-489.

Dauer, D.M., G.H. Tourtellotte, and R.M. Ewing. 1982. Oyster shells and artificial worm tubes: the role of refuges in structuring benthic infaunal communities. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 67: 661-677.

Ewing, R.M. and D.M. Dauer 1982. Macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. I. Old Plantation Flats, Old Plantation Creek, Kings Creek and Cherrystone Inlet. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 67: 777-791.

Dauer, D.M. 1983. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Scolelepis squamata (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Marine Biology 77: 279-285.

Tourtellotte, G.H. and D.M. Dauer. 1983. Macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. II. Lynnhaven Roads, Lynnhaven River, Broad Bay, and Linkhorn Bay. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 68: 59-72.

Hawthorne, S.D. and D.M. Dauer. 1983. Macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. III. Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 68: 193-205.

Dauer, D.M. 1984. High resilience to disturbance of an estuarine polychaete community. Bulletin of Marine Science 34: 170-174.

Dauer, D.M. 1984. The use of polychaete feeding guilds as composite variables. Marine Pollution Bulletin 15: 301-305.

Dauer, D.M. 1984. Functional morphology and feeding behaviour of Streblospio benedicti (Polychaeta; Spionidae). Linnean Society of New South Wales, pp. 418-429.

Dauer, D.M., T.L. Stokes, Jr., H.R. Barker, Jr., R.M. Ewing, and J.W. Sourbeer. 1984. Macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. IV. Bay-wide transects and the inner continental shelf. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 69: 1-22.

Dauer, D.M. 1985. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Paraprionospio pinnata (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Marine Biology 85: 143-151.

Dauer, D.M. 1985. A new species of Scolelepis from Lizard Island, Australia. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 98: 678-681.

Dauer, D.M. 1987. Potential systematic significance of spionid polychaete tentacular morphology. Bulletin of the Biological Society of Washington No. 7, pp. 41-45.

Dauer, D.M., R.M. Ewing, and A.J. Rodi, Jr. 1987. Macrobenthic distribution within the sediment along an estuarine salinity gradient. Internationale Revue der gesamten Hydrobiologie 72: 529-538.

Bryan G.W., P.E. Gibbs, R.J. Huggett, L.A. Curtis, D.S. Bailey and D.M. Dauer. 1989. Effects of tributyltin pollution on the mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, from the York River and Sarah Creek, Chesapeake Bay. Marine Pollution Bulletin 20: 458-462.

Dauer, D.M. 1991. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Polydora commensalis. Ophelia Suppl. 5: 607-614.

Dauer, D.M. and R.M. Ewing. 1991. Feeding behavior and functional morphology of Malacoceros indicus from Lizard Island, Australia. Bulletin of Marine Science 48: 395-400.

Dauer, D.M., J.A. Ranasinghe and A.J. Rodi, Jr. 1992. Effects of low dissolved oxygen levels on the macrobenthos of the lower Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries 15: 384-391.

Dauer, D.M., M. W. Luckenbach and A.J. Rodi, Jr. 1993. Abundance biomass comparison (ABC method): effects of an estuarine gradient, anoxic/hypoxic events and contaminated sediments. Marine Biology 116: 507-518.

Dauer, D.M. 1993. Biological criteria, environmental health and estuarine macrobenthic community structure. Marine Pollution Bulletin 26: 249-257.

Dauer, D.M. 1994. Functional ciliary groups of the feeding palps of spionid polychaetes. Proceedings of the Fourth International Polychaete Conference, held in Angier, France. Memiores du Museum National D'Histiore Naturelle 162: 81-84.

Dauer, D.M. and R.W. Alden III. 1995. Long-term trends in the macrobenthos and water quality of the lower Chesapeake Bay (1985-1991). Marine Pollution Bulletin 30: 840-850.

Dauer, D.M. 1997. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Marenzellaria viridis (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 60: 512-516.

Weisberg, S.B., J.A. Ranasinghe, D.M. Dauer, L.C. Schaffner, R.J. Diaz and J.B. Frithsen. 1997. An estuarine benthic index of biotic integrity (B-IBI) for Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries 20: 149-158.

Dauer, D.M. 1997. Dynamics of an estuarine ecosystem: Long-term trends in the macrobenthic communities of the Chesapeake Bay, USA (1985-1993). Oceanologica Acta 20: 291-298.

Alden, R.W. III, S.B. Weisberg, J.A. Ranasinghe and D.M. Dauer. 1997. Optimizing temporal sampling strategies for benthic environmental monitoring programs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 34: 913-922.

Dauer, D.M., J. A. Ranasinghe, and S. B. Weisberg. 2000. Relationships between benthic community condition, water quality, sediment quality, nutrient loads, and land use patterns in Chesapeake Bay. Estuaries 23: 80-96.

Dauer. D.M. 2000. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Spio setosa. Bulletin of Marine Science 67: 269-275.

Alden, R.W. III, D.M. Dauer, J.A. Ranasinghe, L.C. Scott, and R.J. Llansó. 2002. Statistical Verification of the Chesapeake Bay Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity. Environmetrics13: 473- 498.

Ranasinghe, J.A., J. B. Frithsen, F. W. Kutz, J. F. Paul, D. E. Russell, R. A. Batiuk, J. L. Hyland, J. Scott, and D. M. Dauer. 2002. Application of two indices of benthic community condition in Chesapeake Bay. Environmetrics. 13: 499-511.

Llansó, R.J., L.S. Scott, D.M. Dauer, J.L. Hyland and D.E. Russell. 2002. An estuarine benthic index of biological integrity for the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. I. Classification of assemblages and habitat definitions. Estuaries 25:1219-1230.

Llansó, R.J., L.S. Scott, J.L. Hyland, D.M. Dauer, D.E. Russell and F.W. Kutz. 2002. An estuarine benthic index of biological integrity for the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. II. Index Development. Estuaries 25:1231-1242.

Llansó, R.J., D.M. Dauer, J.H. Vølstad, and L.S. Scott. 2003. Application of the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity to environmental monitoring in Chesapeake Bay. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 81:163-174

Dauer, D.M. and R. J. Llansó. 2003. Spatial scales and probability based sampling in determining levels of benthic community degradation in the Chesapeake Bay. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 81:175-186 ..

Christman, C.S. and D.M. Dauer 2003. Development of a diagnostic tool to determine the cause of benthic community degradation in the Chesapeake Bay. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 81:187-197.

Diaz, R.J., G. R. Cutter, Jr. and D. M. Dauer. 2003. A comparison of two methods for estimating the status of benthic habitat quality in the Virginia Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 285-286:371-381.

Dauer, D.M., H. K. Mahon and R, Sardá. 2003. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Streblsospio benedicti and S. shrubsolii (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Hydrobiologia 496:207-213

Pardo, E.V. and D.M. Dauer. 2003. Particle size selection in individuals from epifaunal versus infaunal populations of the nereid polychaete Neanthes succinea (Polychaeta:Nereididae). Hydrobiologia. 496:355-360.

Hall, Jr.L.W., D. M. Dauer, R. W. Alden III, A. Uhler and D. T. Burton. 2005. An Integrated Case Study for Evaluating the Impacts of an Oil Refinery Effluent on Aquatic Biota in the Delaware River: Sediment Quality Triad Studies. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment. 11: 657-770.

Alden III, R.W.,  L. W. Hall, Jr., D. M. Dauer and D. T. Burton.  2005. An Integrated Case Study for Evaluating the Impacts of an Oil Refinery Effluent on Aquatic Biota in the Delaware River: Integration and Analysis of Study Components.  Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 11:879-936.

Mahon, H.K. and D.M. Dauer. 2005. Organic Coatings and Ontogenetic Particle Selection in Streblospio benedicti Webster (Spionidae: Polychaeta). Submitted to Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 323: 84-92.

Chainho, P., J.L. Costa, M.L. Chaves, M.F. Lane, D.M. Dauer, M.J.Costa. 2006. Seasonal and spatial patterns of distribution of subtidal benthic invertebrate communities in the Mondego estuary, Portugal. Hydrobiologia.  555:59-74.

Chainho, P., M.F. Lane, M.L. Chaves, J.L. Costa, M.J. Costa, M.J. and D.M. Dauer. 2006. Taxonomic sufficiency as a useful tool for typology in a poikilohaline estuary.   Hydrobiologia. IN PRESS.

Borja, A. and D.M.Dauer. 2007.Assessing the environmental quality status in estuarine and coastal systems: comparing methodologies and indices. Ecological Indicators. IN PRESS.

Borja, A. and D.M.Dauer, R.J.Diaz, R.J.LIanso, I. Muxika, J.G.Rodriguez and L.C.Schaffner. 2007. Assessing estuarine benthic quality conditions in Chesapeake Bay: a comparision of three indices. Ecological Indicator. IN PRESS.

Weisberg, S.B., B.Thompson, J.A.Ranasinghe, D.E.Motagne, D.B.Cadien, D.M.Dauer, J.Oliver, D.J.Reish, R.G.Velarde, and J.Q.Word. 2007. The level of agreement among experts applying best professional judgement to assess the condition of Benthic infaunal communities. Ecological Indicators. IN PRESS.

Dauer, D.M., R.J.LIanso and M.F.Lane. 2007. Depth-related patterns in benthic community condition along an estuarine gradient in Chesapeake bay, USA. Ecological Indicators. IN PRESS.

Publications in Proceedings of Regional and National Symposia (Total - 11):

Dauer, D.M. 1979. Polychaete species accounts. In: Endangered and threatened plants and animals in Virginia. D.W. Linzey (ed.), VPI & SU, Blacksburg.

Lane, M. F. and D.M. Dauer. 1991. Macrobenthic communities of Back Bay, Virginia. In: Proceedings of the Back Bay Ecological Symposium. H.G. Marshall and M.D. Norman (eds), Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, pp. 99-127.

Dauer, D.M. 1991. Long-term trends in the benthos of the lower Chesapeake Bay. In: New Perspectives in the Chesapeake System. A Research and Management Partnership. J. A. Mihursky and A. Chaney (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium. pp. 527-536.

Ranasinghe, J., A. Shaughnessy, F. Holland, and D.M. Dauer 1991. Long-term spatial and temporal patterns in macrobenthic assemblages of Chesapeake Bay. In: New Perspectives in the Chesapeake System. A Research and Management Partnership. J. A. Mihursky and A. Chaney (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium. pp. 587-588.

Dauer, D. M, J. Gerritsen, and J. A. Ranasinghe. 1993. Benthos. pp 55-60 In: Chesapeake Bay Strategy for the Restoration and Protection of Ecologically Valuable Species. Chesapeake Bay Program. Annapolis, MD. CBP/TRS 113/94.

Dauer, D.M. 1995. Long-term trends in the Lower Chesapeake Bay (1985-1992): IV. Benthos. Proceedings of the Chesapeake Research Conference. Toward a Sustainable Coastal Watershed: The Chesapeake Experiment. P. Hill and S. Nelson (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium Publication No. 149, pp. 430-440.

Smith, M.E. and D.M. Dauer. 1995. Eutrophication and macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. I. Acute effects of low dissolved oxygen in the Rappahannock River. Proceedings of the Chesapeake Research Conference. Toward a Sustainable Coastal Watershed: The Chesapeake Experiment. P. Hill and S. Nelson (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium Publication No. 149, pp. 76-84.

McDonnell, J.L. and D.M. Dauer. 1995. Eutrophication and macrobenthic communities of the lower Chesapeake Bay. II. Chronic effects of organic enrichment in Pocomoke Sound. Proceedings of the Chesapeake Research Conference. Toward a Sustainable Coastal Watershed: The Chesapeake Experiment. P. Hill and S. Nelson (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium Publication No. 149, pp. 85-90.

Ranasinghe, J.A., S. B. Weisberg and D.M. Dauer. 1995. Assessment of Chesapeake Bay benthic macroinvertebrate community condition in relation to water and sediment quality. Proceedings of the Chesapeake Research Conference. Toward a Sustainable Coastal Watershed: The Chesapeake Experiment. P. Hill and S. Nelson (eds). Chesapeake Research Consortium Publication No. 149, p. 91.

Lewis, D.J. and D.M. Dauer. 1997. Benthic community analysis of Hog Island Bay. pp. 101-104, In, R.W. Flint, ed., Natural resource values and vulnerabilities: The Second Virginia Eastern Shore Natural Resources Symposium. TESI Publication #4.

Ranasinghe, J.A., S.B. Weisberg, D.M. Dauer, L.C. Schaffner, R.J. Diaz, J. B. Frithsen. 1998. Chesapeake Bay benthic community restoration goals. pp. 87-89, In, S.I. Hartwell (ed.), Biological habitat quality indicators for essential fish habitat. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/SPO-32

 Publications in Proceedings of International Symposia (Total 9)

Dauer, D.M. 1984. Functional morphology and feeding behaviour of Streblospio benedicti (Polychaeta; Spionidae). Proceedings of the First International Polychaete Conference, held in Sydney, Australia. Linnean Society of New South Wales, pp. 418-429.

Dauer, D.M. 1991. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Polydora commensalis. Proceedings of the Second International Polychaete Conference, held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ophelia Suppl. 5: 607-614.

Dauer, D.M. and R.M. Ewing. 1991. Feeding behavior and functional morphology of Malacoceros indicus from Lizard Island, Australia. Proceedings of the Third International Polychaete Conference, held in Long Beach, California. Bulletin of Marine Science 48: 395-400.

Dauer, D.M. 1994. Functional ciliary groups of the feeding palps of spionid polychaetes. Proceedings of the Fourth International Polychaete Conference, held in Angier, France. Memiores du Museum National D'Histiore Naturelle 162: 81-84.

Dauer, D.M. 1997. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Marenzellaria viridis (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Proceedings of the Fifth International Polychaete Conference, held in Qindoa, China. Bulletin of Marine Science 60: 512-516.

Dauer, D.M. 1997. Dynamics of an estuarine ecosystem: Long-term trends in the macrobenthic communities of the Chesapeake Bay, USA (1985-1993). International Symposium on Long-term changes in marine ecosystems: methods of analysis, case studies and between-site comparisons, Arcachon, France. Oceanologica Acta. 20: 291-298.

Dauer. D.M. 2000. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Spio setosa. Bulletin of Marine Science. Proceedings of the Sixth International Polychaete Conference, held in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. 67: 269-275.

Dauer, D.M., H. K. Mahon and R, Sardá. 2003. Functional morphology and feeding behavior of Streblsospio benedicti and S. shrubsolii (Polychaeta: Spionidae). Hydrobiologia 496:207-213

Pardo, E.V. and D.M. Dauer. 2003. Particle size selection in individuals from epifaunal versus infaunal populations of the nereid polychaete Neanthes succinea (Polychaeta:Nereididae). Hydrobiologia. 496:355-360.

Manuscripts in Press (total 0)

Manuscripts Submitted

Pardo, E.V., K. Worsaae and D.M. Dauer. 2002. Particle size selection in two species of interface feeding spionid polychaetes of the genus Scolelepis. Submitted to Marine Biology.

Chainho,P., J.L. Costa, M.L. Chaves, M.F. Lane, D.M. Dauer, M.J. Costa. 2003. Seasonal and spatial patterns of distirbution of subtidal benthic invertebrate communites in the Modego estuary, Portugal. Submitted to Hydrobiologia.

Manuscripts in Preparation

Dauer, D.M., R.W. Alden III, and A.J. Rodi, Jr. 2002. Colonization potential of macrobenthic communities in a highly urbanized estuarine watershed.