8807 Big Bluff Avenue

Las Vegas, Nevada 89148 U.S.A.

Tel. 702-368-0355 Fax 702-368-0699

Education

Ph. D. Coastal Oceanography (Marine Algal Ecology) – Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, 2000

M. S. Biochemistry/Molecular Biology – Institute of Genetic Medicine - University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., 1993

B. A. Biochemistry – Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., 1991

1. Universidade do Algarve: Algarve, Portugal - March 2001 to Oct 2001: Post-Doctoral Researcher

Post-doctoral research focused on reproductive ecology of Fucus vesiculosus and F. spiralis: comparing external fertilization success, timing of gamete release, gamete dispersal, recruitment, and post-recruitment mortality of two congeners with different reproductive strategies along a wave exposure gradient using manipulative experiments and natural populations. Laboratory work entailed evaluating amount of time for zygote adhesion, and gamete dispersal under controlled conditions. Co-authored a grant (in review) to study selection at biogeographic boundaries of marine primary producers.

2. CICESE, Dept. Ecology: Ensenada, Mexico - January 2001 to present: Associate Professor

Associate Researcher/Professor (Investigador Asociado C) – Division of Oceanology, Dept. of Ecology. Research focuses on kelp forest resources as part of the fisheries ecology group, physical-biological coupling in the kelp forest ecosystem (ENSO and global change), kelp-urchin-abalone interactions, and spore and larvae dispersal. Responsible for advising graduate students, conducting independent research, and for teaching graduate courses in marine ecology. Responsible for three main graduate classes: 1) Molecular Ecology, 2) Kelp Forest Ecology, and 3) Rocky Shore Ecology. Principal investigator of three grants: 1) "Biological-Physical Coupling in the Kelp Forests of Baja California", 2) "Molecular Ecology of Kelp Forest Resources", and 3) "Speciation in Marine Algae at their Distributional Limits".

3. Universidad Autónoma de Baja California - January 1995 to December 2000: Doctoral Student and Undergraduate Lecturer

• Doctoral thesis focused on the Ecology, Physiology and Genetics of Marine Algae. Field work entailed El Niño/La Niña monitoring of M. pyrifera populations, demography and population dynamics of marginal kelp populations, and the response of the kelp forest ecosystem to oceanographic conditions using manipulative experiments. Laboratory work concentrated on measuring photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, growth, and tissue nitrogen in the field and in cultured plants, as well as conducting genetic analyses (isoenzymes and DNA) of plants maintained in different environments at different stages in their life cycle. Ecotypic populations were identified and stress-survival adaptations were characterized. Authored and co-directed a 1yr and 2 yr grant addressing both basic and applied research on M. pyrifera in Mexico.

• Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology I undergraduate course at Faculty of Sciences (2^nd yr undergraduate course).
• Assisted in giving lectures in graduate courses on ecology and aquaculture of Macrocystis at Faculty of Marine Sciences. Lectured as invited speaker in graduate program seminar series. Was responsible for laboratory and field training of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professors, in seaweed culturing and molecular techniques. Consulted on national and international kelp reforestation and transplantation projects.

4. Non-profit, Environmental, and Part-time work - December 1992 to December 1994

• Various part-time positions while contemplating future graduate studies. Volunteer, grant writer, fundraiser, and interim board member of 501-c-3 non-profit ecological groups in the US and overseas.

5. University of Southern California – Dept. Bioc. & Mol. Biology - August 1991 to December 1992

• Laboratory Research Assistant – Performed Polymerase Chain Reaction, DNA isolation, purification and digestion, electrophoresis; participated in grant writing.

• Teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels with particular interest in developing and encouraging the scientific thought process and hypothesis formation in marine ecology.
• Basic and applied research in marine ecology with emphasis on reproductive ecology, biogeography, oceanographic-benthic relationships, ecophysiology, and molecular ecology. Use of basic research in model ecosystems to teach students to ask questions and design experiments to answer them.

Peer review:

Ladah. Lydia B. (2000) Life on the edge: Stress survival adaptations in southern limit M. pyrifera. Journal of Phycology V. 36 No. 3 supplement. (abstract only)

Ladah, Lydia B., Bermudez, R., Serrao, E. and Pearson, G. (2001) The effect of water motion on reproductive success of marine species with external fertilization: Monoecious reproduction as an adaptation to high wave energy in Fucus? Phycologia in press. (abstract only)

In preparation or review:

Ladah, Lydia B., Bermudez, R., Pearson, G., and Serrao, E. The absence of a dioecious fucoid (Fucus vesiculosus) from exposed coasts near its southern-limit in the Eastern Atlantic where a hermaphroditic fucoid (Fucus spiralis) occurs?

Ladah, Lydia B., Bermudez, R., Pearson, G., and Serrao, E. Timing of gamete release during the tidal cycle in Fucus spiralis and Fucus vesiculosus.

Ladah, Lydia B. and Zertuche-Gonzalez, J.A. Deep-water Macrocystis pyrifera survival in a Northern Baja California (Mexico) kelp forest during the mass disappearance of El Niño 1997-98.

Ladah, Lydia B., Durazo-Arivisu, R. and Zertuche-Gonzalez, J.A Effect of temperature-nitrate relationships along the Baja California coastline on giant kelp forest carrying capacity.

Ladah, Lydia B. and Zertuche-Gonzalez, J.A. Ecotypic adaptation of the giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera (Laminariales), at its southern limit of distribution in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ladah, Lydia B, and Zertuche-Gonzalez, J.A. High temperature and low nutrient stress tolerance of micrscopic stages of Macrocystis pyrifera from its southern limit compared to the center of its range in the Northern Hemisphere – seed bank formation may differ between populations.

Ladah, Lydia B. and Zertuche-Gonzalez, J.A. Development of spores, gametogenesis, and zygote production of Macrocystis pyrifera under El Niño like conditions in the laboratory.

Popular press:

Ladah, Lydia B. (1995). Kelping out Todos Santos Islands. Surfing April 1995.

Ladah, Lydia B. (1997). Bosques Debajo Del Mar: el Kelp Gigante. Mundo Marino, No. 3, Spain.

Taller de Intercalibración de Monitoreo de ENSO y Simposio de La Niña (Intercalibration of ENSO Monitoring and La Niña Symposium). Lima, Peru. Nov. 10, 2000.

"Macrocystis pyrifera as a biological indicator of ENSO impact in the Northeast Pacific"

American University of Beirut, Department of Ecology, Seminar Series. Beirut, Lebanon. May 21, 2001. (pending) "Life histories as survival strategies in brown algae"

University of Evora, Evora, Portugal. May 30, 2001. "Evolutionary advantage of some brown algal life histories" 

Western Society of Naturalists, Ventura, California, USA. Nov 9 - 12, 2001. Characteristics of the mating system and life history of marine brown algae as an evolutionary advantage in distrubed environments.

Phycological Society of America, San Diego, California, U.S.A. July 15 - 19, 2000.

Oral presentation: Life on the edge: Stress survival adaptations in southern limit M. pyrifera

III Congreso Mexicano de Ficología (Third Mexican Phycological Congress) La Paz, Baja California, México. October 26 - 29, 1999. Oral Presentation: Sobrevivencia ecotípica de esporas de Macrocystis pyrifera en el límite sur de su distribución: Una población más adaptada al estrés? (Ecotypic survival of M. pyrifera spores at the southern limit of distribution: A population better adapted to stress?). Won best student paper award.

Western Society of Naturalists San Diego, California, USA. December 26 - 30, 1998

Oral Presentation: Stress tolerance of microscopic stages of Macrocystis pyrifera from Bahía Tortugas, Baja California, Mexico (southern limit).

XI Congreso Nacional de Oceanografía (Eleventh National Oceanography Congress) Ensenada, Baja California, México. April 26 - 30, 1998

Oral Presentation: Demografía de poblaciones de Macrocystis pyrifera durante 1996 y 1997 en Baja California, México. (Demography of M. pyrifera populations during 1996 and 1997 in Baja California, Mexico)

XVIth International Seaweed Symposium Cebu City, Philippines April 12 - 17, 1998

Oral Presentation: Population dynamics of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) during 1996 and 1997 in Baja California.

Awards

2000: Hoshaw Travel Award. Phycological Society of America. July 2000.

1999: Primer Lugar en el concurso estudiantil: modalidad Doctorado. III Congreso Mexicano de Ficología. (Best Student Paper, First Place, Ph.D. Student Division, Third Mexican Phycological Congress). October 1999.

1998: Student travel award. Western Society of Naturalists. December 1998.

1998: Student travel award: International Seaweed Symposium. April 1998.

Membership in Professional Societies

Sociedad Ficológica de México (Phycological Society of Mexico)

Western Society of Naturalists

Phycological Society of America

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography

The Logical Design and Analysis of Experiments. Dr. Anthony Underwood and Dr. Gee Chapman, University of Sydney. Sept. 3 to 13, 2001. Sardinia, Italy.

Molecular Studies of Marine Biodiversity, Dr. Jose Lopez, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, June 18 to July 2, 2000. Andros Island, Bahamas.

Ecology of Giant Kelp Forests and Management of their Fishery, Dr. Michael Foster, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, October 7 - 9, 1996. La Paz, Baja California, Mexico.

Estrategias Reproductoras en Moluscos Bivalvos y Gasterópodos Prosobranquios (Reproductive Strategies in Bivalve Mollusks and Gastropods), Dr. Erik R. Baqueiro Cardenas, Instituto Nacional de Pesca, C.R.I.P. de Campeche, August 25 - 28, 1998. Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

Research Projects/Grants authored

Funded:

SIMAC 970106007: "Caracterización Ecofisiológica y Genética de Poblaciones de Macrocystis pyrifera en Baja California". 8/1997 to 8/1999. (Ecophysiology and Population Genetics of Macrocystis pyrifera in Baja California) Co-PI, Direct funds: 189,600 Mexican pesos (about $21,000 US dollars)

SEGUNDA CONVOCATORIA INTERNA DE INVESTIGACION (UABC) 4078-22: "Caracterización Ecológica, Fisiológica y Genética de Poblaciones de Macrocystis pyrifera en Baja California, México". 10/1997 to 9/1998 (Ecological, Physiological, and Genetic Characterization of Macrocystis pyrifera in Baja California, Mexico) Co-PI, Direct funds: 30,000 Mexican pesos (about $3500 US dollars)

Internal Project: CICESE: Molecular ecology of kelp forest resources in Baja California. 10/2001 to 12/2001. PI. (20,000 pesos, or 2000 US dollars for the months Oct to Dec, 2001)

Pending:

FCT (Portugal): "Marine primary producers at their southern limit in biogeographic transition zones: strategies for survival under strong selective pressure". Collaborator, Direct Funds: $237,100 US dollars (47,420 Portuguese contos or 47,420,000 Escudos)

CONACYT (Mexico): "AMELIS: Algas Marinas en su limite sur bajo fuerte presión selectiva". PI, Direct Funds: 1,879,000 Mexican pesos (about 200,000 US dollars)

Internal Project: CICESE: (2002 continuation): Molecular ecology of kelp forest resources in Baja California. PI. (60,000 pesos, or 6000 US dollars for 2002)

 Teaching Experience

• Graduate courses for Winter semester 2002: Kelp Forest Ecology and Resources, and Molecular Ecology (8 credits total).
• Graduate committee advising of two MS students and one PhD student in Marine Ecology. January 2001 to present.
• Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology I, U.A.B.C Faculty of Science. February to June 2000.
• Seminar Course on "Técnicas de Cultivo de Macrocystis pyrifera para fines de Restauración" (Cultivation techniques of M. pyrifera for Reforestation Purposes). February to December 1998
• Social Service Laboratory (genetics), Field (ecology), and Scientific Diving Training of students in Professional Service Stage (Stage 2), undergraduate level at the U.A.B.C. Faculty of Marine Sciences.
• Rafael Bermudez Zavala, September to December 1997. 380 training hours. Research data presented at the ‘Congreso Estudiantil de Oceanología’ (Student Oceanography Congress), 1997, Ensenada, Mx.
• Jenifer Arroyo Teran, October 1997 to February 1998. 380 training hours.
• Maximo Diez García, June to September 1999. 600 training hours.
• Alberto Lanz, September 1999 to March 2000. 600 training hours.

Personal Information

Birthdate: June 27, 1970 - U.S. Citizen

Languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, French (50%)

Computer Skills: All word processors, data and spreadsheet programs, thermograph and ambient monitoring programs, statistical analyses programs, microscope digital camera, microscope photo analyses and some HTML training.

Other Activities