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Biology

Marine Science

Welcome to
Dr. Wendy L. Ryan's
Web Page

SPRING 2010

Office Hours

M	10:00 AM - Noon	BH 243
W	10:00 AM - Noon	BH 243
H	Noon - 1:00 PM	BH 243

And by appointment...
Phone x34310
(610-683-4310)
ryan@kutztown.edu

Class Schedule

AEROSE 2004 Research Cruise
	At left, a late-stage embryo following decompression from a gas pressure of 13000 KPa N2. Note the bubbles that have formed in the head region and yolk sac.
Education: Ph.D. - Marine Biology Dissertation title: An Analysis of the Role of Hydrophobic Surfaces and Crevices in Bubble Formation at Low Gas Supersaturation. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 1991. M.S. - Marine Biology Thesis title: Gas Supersaturation Thresholds for Bubble Formation in and Damage to Sea Urchin Eggs and Embryos. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 1988. B.S. - Biology with High Honors Michigan State University, 1984. Research Interests: My research interests include the mechanisms of gas bubble formation as they relate to decompression sickness. I have worked with both in vitro and in vivo systems in an attempt to clarify our understanding of this process. Most recently I have used fish embryos and newly hatched fry to study the bubble formation in vertebrates, as it might involve the presence or function of specific organ systems or structures. Fish also suffer from a gas bubble-related condition, gas bubble trauma, and are thought to be particularly sensitive to gas supersaturation.  This may make it easier to study the conditions and system(s) responsible for gas bubble formation in these organisms. I have recently initiated a new project examining the feeding strategies and energy budget of the sea anenome Aiptasia .  So far preliminary results on both size-based prey selection and the productivity of the algal symbionts have proven to be very interesting. As the former principle investigator for the Coastal Dolphin Research Project sponsored by the Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, VA, I am interested in the population status and habitat use of the migratory stock of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) along the upper latitudes of its range in the nearshore waters off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA. For more information, please see... Curriculum Vita Marine and other Biology Web Sites Professionally Oriented Web Sites Please address correspondence to:  ryan@kutztown.edu