Benjamin L. Peierls, Ph.D. Candidate
UNC-Chapel Hill
Institute of Marine Sciences
3431 Arendell Street
Morehead City , NC 28557
Phone:
252-726-6841 ext.135
Fax: 252-726-2426
Email
Research Interests:
Estuarine microbial ecology, bacterial metabolism, carbon and nutrient cycling, ecosystem modeling
Education:
- 1997 M.S.
Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 1986 A.B.
Biology, Cornell University
Bio:
Most of my research experiences to date have involved planktonic microbial communities and the biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems. In particular, I am interested in estuarine microbial metabolism and its relationship to carbon and nutrient cycling. My dissertation research is focused on heterotrophic bacterioplankton productivity along the salinity gradient of the Neuse River/Pamlico Sound estuarine system. Spatial and temporal patterns of this and related parameters are being used to help identify the dominant controls of bacterial productivity and to understand the link between microbial metabolism and ecosystem function. I am intrigued as to how that linkage and the system components are affected by ecosystem perturbations like tropical cyclones. To help characterize the estuarine carbon cycle, I have tried to determine bacterial growth efficiencies using respiration and productivity measurements.
For my master's thesis, I examined the fluxes of rainwater organic nitrogen to coastal waters and the bioavailability of that nitrogen source to coastal phytoplankton. I spent six years before graduate school as a research technician at the Institute of Ecosystem Studies (Millbrook, NY) where I became part of a team studying the phytoplankton ecology of the freshwater Hudson River and global river nitrogen. I also spent a few years as a technician at the Institute of Marine Sciences before beginning my dissertation work. My scientific experience began in high school where a biology teacher got me involved in a small research project on anchor ice, an odd phenomenon where Great South Bay (Long Island, NY) sediments freeze under a fluid water column.
Awards:
- 2003 Estuarine Research Federation Travel Award
- 2001 Southeastern Estuarine Research Society Travel Award
- 2001 UNC at Chapel Hill Department of Marine Sciences Traineeship
Publications:
Paerl, H. W., L. M. Valdes, A. R. Joyner, B. L. Peierls, M. F. Piehler, S. R. Riggs, R. R. Christian, L. A. Eby, L. B. Crowder, J. S. Ramus, E. J. Clesceri, C. P. Buzzelli, and R. A. Luettich, Jr. 2006. Ecological response to hurricane events in the Pamlico Sound System, North Carolina, and implications for assessment and management in a regime of increased frequency. Estuaries and Coasts 29:1033-1045.
Paerl, H.W., L.M. Valdes, B.L. Peierls, J.E. Adolf, and L.W. Harding, Jr. 2006. Anthropogenic and climatic influences on the eutrophication of large estuarine ecosystems. Limnology and Oceanography 51:448-462.
Peierls, B. L., R. R. Christian, and H. W. Paerl. 2003. Water quality and phytoplankton as indicators of hurricane impacts on a large estuarine ecosystem. Estuaries 26:1329-1343.
Paerl, H.W., J.D. Bales, L.W. Ausley, C.P. Buzzelli, L.B. Crowder, L.A. Eby, J.M. Fear, M. Go, B.L. Peierls, T.L. Richardson, and J.S. Ramus. 2001. Ecosystem impacts of three sequential hurricanes (Dennis, Floyd, and Irene) on the United States' largest lagoonal estuary, Pamlico Sound, NC . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98:5655-5660.
Paerl, H.W., J.D. Bales, L.W. Ausley, C.P. Buzzelli, L.B. Crowder, L.A. Eby, M. Go, B.L. Peierls, T.L. Richardson, and J.S. Ramus. 2000. Hurricanes' hydrological, ecological effects linger in major U.S. estuary. Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union 81:457,459,462.
Paerl, H.W., J.D. Willey, M. Go, B.L. Peierls, J.L. Pinckney, and M.L. Fogel. 1999. Rainfall stimulation of primary production in western Atlantic Ocean waters: roles of different nitrogen sources and co-limiting nutrients. Marine Ecology Progress Series 176:205-214.
Paerl, H. W., J. L. Pinckney, J. M. Fear, and B. L. Peierls. 1998. Ecosystem responses to internal and watershed organic matter loading: consequences for hypoxia in the eutrophying Neuse River Estuary , North Carolina , USA . Marine Ecology Progress Series 166:17-25.
Peierls, B. L. and H. W. Paerl. 1997. Bioavailability of atmospheric organic nitrogen deposition to coastal phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography 42:1819-1823.
Peierls, B. L. 1997. The flux and bioavailability of atmospheric organic nitrogen to North Carolina coastal marine ecosystems. M.S. Thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Paerl, H. W., M. A. Mallin, C. A. Donahue, M. Go, and B. L. Peierls. 1995. Nitrogen loading sources and eutrophication of the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina: Direct and indirect roles of atmospheric deposition. Water Resources Research Institute Report No. 291. Water Resources Research Institute of the University of North Carolina, Raleigh.
Cole, J.J., B.L. Peierls, N.F. Caraco, and M.L. Pace. 1993. Nitrogen loading of rivers as a human-driven process, p. 141-157. In M. J. McDonnell and S. T. A. Pickett (eds.), Humans as components of ecosystems: the ecology of subtle human effects and populated areas. Springer-Verlag, New York .
Cole, J. J., N. F. Caraco, and B. L. Peierls. 1992. Can phytoplankton maintain a positive carbon balance in a turbid, freshwater, tidal estuary? Limnology and Oceanography 37:1608-1617.
Cole, J. J., N. F. Caraco, and B. Peierls. 1991. Phytoplankton primary production in the tidal, freshwater Hudson River, New York (USA), p. 1715-1719., Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie. E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart .
Peierls, B. L., N. F. Caraco, M. L. Pace, and J. J. Cole. 1991. Human influence on river nitrogen. Nature 350:386-387.
Findlay, S., M.L. Pace, D. Lints, J.J. Cole, N.F. Caraco, and B. Peierls. 1991. Weak coupling of bacterial and algal production in a heterotrophic ecosystem: the Hudson River estuary. Limnology and Oceanography 36:268-278.
Hobbies:
Trumpet, ultimate, sailing
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