Home      Research        Publications & Presentations        Teaching/K-12 Interests        Curriculum Vitae        Photos        Links        Contact Information

 
PRESENT ADDRESS                                                                                                                                 HOME ADDRESS                     

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill                                                                                                   1700 Baity Hill Drive     

Department of Marine Sciences                                                                                                                         Apartment 316

328 Chapman Hall CB# 3300                                                                                                             Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chapel Hill, North Carolina                                                                                                                                     27514-1700

27599-3300                                                                                                      

919-843-8752 (Office)                                                                                       

919-262-1254 (Fax)

karl_castillo@unc.edu

www.unc.edu/~kdcastil

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RESEARCH INTEREST

Coral Ecophysiology

My research seeks to describe the physiological mechanisms underlying ecological observations on coral reefs. Therefore,
as a coral physiological ecologist, I address ecological questions about controls over the growth, diversity, and geographical
distribution of corals. These physiological processes are affected by interactions between  corals and their physical, chemical,
and biotic environment.

 
Other Interests

General Biology, Marine Biology, Conservation Biology, Coral Reef Ecology, Global Change Biology, Marine Physiological Ecology,
Marine Community Ecology

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EDUCATION
 

Postdoctoral Research Associate

            University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marine Sciences Department (July 2008)

            Coral Ecophysiology and Conservation (Advisors: Dr. John Bruno and Dr. Justin Ries)

 
Ph. D.  University of South Carolina, Marine Science Program (May 2008) 

Dissertation: “Local Scale Coral Physiological Response: A Comparison between Inner

Lagoon and Outer Barrier Reef Conspecifics” (Advisor: Dr. Brian Helmuth)

 
M.S.     University of South Carolina, Marine Science Program (December, 2003)

Thesis: “Effects of Elevated Seawater Temperature on the Scleractinian Coral Montastraea

            annularis from the Inner and Outer Reefs of Southern Belize” (Advisor: Dr. Brian Helmuth)
   

B.S.      Southeast Missouri State University, Department of Biology (May, 1998)

            Majors: Biology and Unified Sciences Education Minor: Environmental Science

            (Advisor: Dr. Margaret Waterman)
 

Trained Teacher’s Diploma

  Belize Teachers’ College, now University of Belize (UB), (October, 1994), Major: Education
 

 Associates Degree

            Dangriga Ecumenical College (May, 1989), Majors: Biology and Chemistry

 
 
TEACHING EXPERIENCE

GK-12 Teaching Fellow, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina, 2007 - 2008                                       

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, 2002 – 2007. Includes teaching labs sections for several courses

Lecturer, Natural Resource Management, University of Belize, Toledo Campus 1998 – 2001. Includes planning and lecturing of several undergraduate and graduate level classes

Science Teacher, Roman Catholic Schools, 1989 – 1998.  Includes teaching, supervision of environmental club activities, gathering of teaching resources, and preparation of teaching aids, and instruction and management of classes

COURSES TAUGHT

Coral Reefs and Climate Change (MASC 741) – Marine Sciences Department – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Co-instructor with Dr. John Bruno and Dr. Justin Ries) – A seminar style class  addressing how global climate change, including acidification and ocean warming, are affecting tropical marine plants and animals with emphasis on reef-building corals (Fall 2009)

Physical and Chemical Oceanography (MSCI 312L) – Marine Science Program – University of South Carolina - An upper level undergraduate class emphasizing properties of seawater, mass balance, biogeochemical cycles, circulation, mixing, waves and tides, continental shelf processes, and estuarine dynamics. Includes three laboratory hours per week with one scheduled field trip (2004, 2005)

Biology of Marine Organisms (MSCI 311L) – Marine Science Program – University of South Carolina - An upper level undergraduate course emphasizing biological concepts and adaptations to the marine environments; Laboratory experiments emphasize principles and techniques of marine biological study. Three laboratory hours per week with a required one-day field trip (2004, 2005).

Oceans and Man (MSCI 210L) – Marine Science Program – University of South Carolina An introductory level marine science course designed to familiarize non-marine science majors with basic marine ecological concepts. This course focuses on the interactions of man with the oceans. Includes one laboratory hour per week with a scheduled weekend field trip (2006, 2007)

The Ocean Environment (MSCI 101L) - Marine Science Program – University of South Carolina An introductory level marine science course that emphasizes oceanic evolution and origin, specifically plate tectonics, ocean circulation, chemical composition, and primary production. Includes three laboratory hours per week and a scheduled field trip (2004, 2005)

Primary Science Biological Concepts – Primary Education - University of Belize An upper level undergraduate course designed specifically to introduce elementary school teachers to more detailed biological concepts, which in turn should allow them to feel more comfortable teaching science at the elementary level (1999, 2000).

Field Ecology – Natural Resource Management Program - University of Belize An upper level undergraduate class designed to expose students to ecological concepts such as population and population interactions, communities and ecosystems from a more field base perspective. Includes two lecture hours per week and one field based laboratory exercise per week (1999 – 2000).

Introduction to Marine Ecology – Natural Resource Management Program – University of Belize. An introductory level marine science course designed to familiarize students with marine ecological concepts. This course focuses on the structure, dynamics, and interactions between populations and communities in marine systems. Three hours per week with a scheduled weekend field trip (1999 - 2000).

HONORS AND AWARDS

Guest Lecture, The Marine Environment (MASC 101/GEOL 103), UNC-Chapel Hill (2008-2009)

Guest Lecture, Marine Ecology (BIOL 462), UNC-Chapel Hill (2008)

Invited Speaker, Conference for Conservation Science, Earthwatch Institute (2008)

Carolina Postdoctoral Fellowship for Faculty Diversity, UNC-Chapel Hill 2008

Preparing Future Faculty Credentials, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina, 2007-2008

GK-12 Fellowship, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina, 2007-2008

Guest Lecture, Marine Ecology (BIOL 575), USC Columbia 2006

Best Poster Presentation, Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference, University of Georgia, Athens GA, 2005

Mellon Scholar, University of Washington, Friday Harbor Laboratories Centennial Celebrations, 2004

Dean’s List, College of Science and Technology, Southeast Missouri State University, 1997-1998

Outstanding Contribution to Student Support Services, for tutoring Trigonometry and Human Anatomy/Physiology, Southeast Missouri State University 1996-1997

Fulbright Scholar, Southeast Missouri State University, Central American Program for Undergraduate Scholars (CAMPUS) 1996-1998

Belize Government Scholarship, Belize Teachers’ College, 1993-1995

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

2009     Castillo KD, Ries JB, Weiss JW. Influence of thermal history on extension rates of Siderastrea siderea from the forereefs, backreefs, and inner reefs of southern Belize. in prep. Coral Reefs

2009     Castillo KD, Ries JB, Weiss JW. Declining skeletal extension rates in forereef and inner reef colonies of Siderastrea siderea on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, southern Belize. in prep. PLoS ONE

2009     Castillo KD, Influence of temperature on changes in dominant benthos cover in the inner lagoon and outer barrier reefs of southern Belize. in prep. Bulletin of Marine Science

2009     Castillo KD, Kemp D. A comparison of thermal history and maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) in inner lagoon and outer barrier reef Montastraea faveolata. in prep. Marine                     Ecology Progress Series

2009     Castillo KD, Lima FP. A comparison of sea surface temperature derived from MODIS Terra/Aqua and subtidal measurements from the inner and outer barrier reefs of southern Belize. in             review Limnology and Oceanography: Methods

2008     Castillo KD, Local scale coral physiological response: A comparison between inner lagoon and outer barrier reefs conspecifics. Ph.D. Dissertation

2005     Castillo KD, Helmuth BS. Influence of thermal history on the response of the Montastraea annularis to short-term temperature exposure. Marine Biology 148:261-270

2004     Castillo KD, Effects of elevated seawater temperature on the scleractinian coral Montastraea annularis from the inner and outer reefs of southern Belize. M.S. Thesis

PRESENTATIONS

2009     Influence of thermal history on inner reef and outer barrier reef coral conspecifics – Marine Science Seminar- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Oral Presentation - Chapel Hill, North Carolina September 30

2009     Spatial and temporal variability of pigmentation in Montastraea faveolata and Porites asteroides from the inner lagoon and outer barrier reefs of southern Belize – Symbiofest – Oral Presentation -Athens, Georgia, May 10

2008     A comparison of thermal history and F_v/F_m in inner lagoon and outer barrier reef Montastraea faveolata “International Coral Reef Symposium 2008 – Oral Presentation – Fort Lauderdale, Florida July 7-11

2008     A comparison of sea surface temperature derived from MODIS TERRA/AQUA and subtidal measurements from inner lagoon and outer barrier reefs of southern Belize,” 2008 Ocean Science Meeting – Oral Presentation – Orlando, Florida  March 2-7, 2008  

2005     A comparison of thermal histories for Montastraea annularis from the inner and outer reef of Southern Belize”, Symbiofest 2005 – Oral Presentation – Athens, Georgia April 29

2005     Managing for resistance – linking coral physiology to marine protected area design” Student Conference on Conservation Science, - Poster – Duke University, Durham NC, March 16-18,

2005     Influence of thermal history on the physiological response of the scleractinian coral Montastraea annularis to short-term temperature changes in the Gulf of Honduras.” Southeastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (SEEC), - Poster – Athens Georgia, March 11-13

2004     Influence of thermal history on the physiological response of the scleractinian coral Montastraea annularis to short-term temperature changes in the Gulf of Honduras.” Managing for Resilience: An Integrated Approach to Coastal Marine Science and Conservation, - Poster – University of Washington, Friday Harbor Labs, August 23-27

2004     Effects of elevated seawater temperature on the scleractinian coral Montastraea annularis from the inner and outer reefs of southern Belize,” Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), - Oral Presentation - New Orleans, Louisiana January 5–9

2003     Resistance and resilience in coral communities along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Corridor -Connectivity and Resilience:  Coordination between MAR, ERP, GCERA, and USC.”  - Oral Presentation - Columbia SC September 7 – 12

1999     Update on the status of Conservation Agricultural Network in Belize” Annual Meeting Rainforest Alliance, - Oral Presentation -New York, New York March 25–31

1999     Current status of watersheds within the Maya Mountain Marine Area Transect (MMMAT)” Annual Freshwater Initiative Meeting, - Oral Presentation - FWI Peoria, Illinois April 7–14

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Aquanaut, Aquarius Underwater Research Habitat, Role of sponges in nitrogen cycling and total respiration, with Dr. Niels Lindquist and Dr. Chris Martens (September 2008)

Ph. D. Research, Coral Physiology, Gulf of Honduras, Belize (2004-2008)

Research Monitoring Team Leader, Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA), (2006)

Conservation Research Field Director, Earthwatch Institute’s Belize Conservation Research Initiative (2005-2006)

Research Assistant, Aquarius Underwater Research Habitat, Decoupling the effects of mass transfer, water motion  and temperature on reef health, to Dr. Brian Helmuth, USC-LUMCON Mission, Key Largo Florida (October 2002)

M.S. Research, Coral Physiology, Gulf of Honduras, Belize (2002-2003)

Research Team Leader, Green Reef/TNC, Grouper monitoring, Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve Site

Scientific Research Coordinator, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE)
 

FUNDED GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Carolina Postdoctoral Fellowship for Faculty Diversity, US$ 87,000.00 – Postdoc Research

Center for Teaching Excellence, US$ 40,500.00 - GK-12 Fellowship

World Wildlife Fund, US$13,000.00 - AGRRA Monitoring Southern Belize

Green Reef/TNC, US$ 3,000.00 - Annual Nassau Grouper Monitoring, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve

Freshwater Initiative Program (TNC), ~US$4,000.00 - Hydrolab Minisonde Mini-Grant

Fulbright Scholarship, ~ US$70,000.00 - Central American Program for Undergraduate Scholars

Belize Government Scholarship, ~US$22,000.00 - Belize Teachers’ College

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITYSERVICE

Reviewer for: Marine Ecology Progress Series, Limnology and Oceanography, Invertebrate Biology

Graduate Students Mentored

Andrea Anton – University of North Carolina – presently Ph.D. student at UNC-Chapel Hill

Ann Mooney – University of North Carolina – presently Ph.D. students at UNC-Chapel Hill

Undergraduate Students Mentored

Andrae Genus – Tuskegee University - presently MS student at Tuskegee University

Isani Chan – University of Belize – presently employed with Belize Fisheries Department

Fern Gutierrez – University of Belize – presently student at University of Belize

Others Service

Treasurer - USC Marine Science Graduate Society (MSGS), South Carolina

Volunteer - South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (assist regional conservation plan)

Timekeeper, Question Writer, Science Judge - National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB), SC

Marine Science Club Volunteer, Spring Valley High School, South Carolina

Board Member - Toledo Community College, Belize

Development Committee Member – University of Belize, Belize

Science Fair Judge – Satchel Ford Elementary, South Carolina

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

SCMEA – South Carolina Marine Educators Association

ASLO – American Society of Limnology and Oceanography

DAN – Divers Alert Network

IANTD - International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers

AAUS – American Academy of Underwater Scientist

REFERENCES

John Bruno, Associate Professor, Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (919) 962-0263, jbruno@unc.edu

Justin Ries, Assistant Professor, Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (919) 962-0269, jries@unc.edu

Brian Helmuth, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences Department and Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina, (803) 777-2100, helmuth@biol.sc.edu

Jed Lyons, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty Director, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of South Carolina, (803) 777–9552, lyons@engr.sc.edu