Research

My research interests are in the areas aquaculture and ecology.  Much of my research has been in the Micronesia, Guam, and Hawaii. Projects have included a diverse array of topics including aquaculture,  herbivorous reef fishes, marine algae, and the streams of Micronesia. .  Recent projects have involved the inland culture of marine shrimp and aspects of the physiology and ecology of invasive plants and seaweed.

Professional Societies:

Selected Service Activities:
•Founding member, The New Alchemy Institute, a non-profit research and educational institute focused on the development of environmentally soft technologies, 1972
•Consultant to the State of California in regard to aquatic systems as a means to re-use agricultural irrigation water, 1977
•Chairman, Guam's Sea Grant Advisory Board, 1982-1985
•Member, Technical Advisory Board, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, 1987-1994.
•Consultant to the Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, 1988.
•Member, Guam Territorial Aquarium Board, 1994 to 1997.
•Member, Technical Advisory Committee, Pacific Aquaculture Association. 1990-1997.
•Member, National Association of Marine Laboratory Directors. 1994 to 1997.

Publications:

Glenn, E.P., E. Vasquez, G. Gutensperger, J.J. Brown, and S.G. Nelson.  2006.  Salt tolerance and osmotic adjustment of Spartina alternifolora and the invasive M haplotype of Phragmites australis (Poaceae) along a salinity gradient.  American Journal of Botany 93(12):  1784-1790.

McKeon, C., E.P. Glenn, W.J. Waugh, C. Eastoe, F. Jordan, and S.G. Nelson.  2006.  Growth and water and nitrate uptake patterns of grazed and ungrazed desert shrubs growing over a nitrate contamination plume.  Journal of Arid Environments 64(1):  1-21.

Bymers, L., E.P. Glenn, S.G. Nelson, and K. Fitzsimmons.  2005.  Succession and diversity of marine algae in Biosphere II’s tropical reef macrocosm.  Ecological Engineering 25:  442-456.

Nagler, P., H.  Hinojosa-Huerta, E.P. Glenn, J.E. Garcia-Hernandez, R. Romo, C. Curtis, A. Huete, and S.G. Nelson.  2005.  Regeneration of native trees in the presence of native saltcedar in the delta of the Colorado River, Mexico.  Conservation Biology 19: 

Vasquez, E.A., E.P. Glenn, J.J. Brown, G.R. Gutenspergen, and S.G. Nelson.  2005.  Growth characteristics and salinity tolerance underlying the cryptic invasion of North American salt marshes by an introduced haplotype of the common reed Phragmites australis (Poaceae).  Marine Ecology Progress Series 298:  1-8.

McKeon, C. A., F. L. Jordan, E.P. Glenn, W.J. Waugh, and S.G. Nelson.  2005.   Rapid nitrate loss from a contaminated desert soil.  Journal of Arid Environments.  Journal of Arid Environments 61(1):  119-136.

Ryder, E., S. Nelson, C. McKeon, E. Glenn, S. Napolean, and K. Fitzsimmons.  2004.  Effect of water motion on the cultivation of Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta) on Molokai, Hawaii.  Aquaculture 238:207-219.

Langdon, C., W.S. Broecker, D.E. Hammond, E. Glenn, K. Fitzsimmons, S.G. Nelson, T.H. Peng, I. Hadas, and G. Bonani.  2003.  Effect of elevated CO2 on the community metabolism of an experimental coral reef.  Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17, issue 1, article no. 1011.

Nagler, P.L., S.G. Nelson, and E.P. Glenn.  2003.  Effects of fertilization treatment and stocking density on the growth and yield of the economic seaweed Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta) in cage culture at Molokai, Hawaii.  Aquaculture 219(1-4):  379-391.

Ryder, E., S. G. Nelson, E. P. Glenn, P. Nagler, S. Napolean, and K. Fitzsimmons.  2003.  Review:  Production of Gracilaria parvispora in two-phase polyculture systems in relation to nutrient requirements and uptake.  International Phycology Congress, Japan.
   
Glenn, E.P., V. Gerhart, S.G. Nelson, D. Moore, P. Nagler, and C. Machado. 2001 . A community-based polyculture system in Hawaii that incorporates all the life stages of Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta).  Proceedings of the 17th Annual Seaweed Symposium, Cape Town.  

Leberer, Trina and S. G. Nelson.  2001.  Factors affecting the distribution of atyid shrimps in two tropical insular rivers.  Pacific Science 55(4):389-398.

Glenn, E., J. Waugh, D. Moore, C. McKeon, and S.G. Nelson.  2001.  Revegetation of a former uranium mill site in the Great Basin Desert.  Journal of Environmental Quality.  30:1154-1162.

Nelson, S.G., E.P. Glenn, J. Conn, D. Moore, T. Walsh, M. Akutagawa.  2001.   Cultivation of Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta) in shrimp-farm effluent and floating cages in Hawaii: a two-phase polyculture system.  Aquaculture 193: 239-248.

Nelson, S.G. and E.P. Glenn. 2000.  Spore and sporeling production in the development of aquaculture systems for species of Gracilaria and related seaweeds.  p. 1-21 in M. Fingerman and R. Nagabhushanam (eds.), Recent Advances in Marine Biotechnology Volume 4: Aquaculture, Part A Seaweeds and Invertebrates.  Science Publishers, Inc. USA.

Concepcion, G. B. and S. G. Nelson. 1999.  Effects of a dam and reservoir on the distributions and densities of macrofauna in tropical streams of Guam (Mariana Islands).  Journal of Freshwater Ecology 14(4): 447-454.

Glenn, E., D. Moore, M. Akutigawa, A. Himler, T. Walsh, and S. G. Nelson.  1999.  Correlation between Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta) biomass production and water quality factors on a tropical reef in Hawaii.  Aquaculture 178:  323-331.

Nelson, S. G.  1999.  Chapter 9.  Aquatic ecosystems.  p.109-119 in M. Rapaport (editor)  The Pacific Islands: Environment and Society.  The Bess Press, Honolulu.

Akutagawa, Malia, S.G. Nelson, D. Moore, E.Glenn.  1999.  Limu Grower’s Manual.  Molokai Limu Project, Ke Kua’aina Hanauna Hou, HC-01, Box 741, Kaunakaiai, Hawaii 96748.

Nelson, S. G.  and K. F. J. Tang.  1998.  Identification, control, and prevention of diseases on fish farms in Guam.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 104.

Nelson, S. G., J. E. Parham, R. B. Tibbatts, F. A. Camacho, T. Leberer, and B. D. Smith. 1997.  Distributions and microhabitats of the amphidromous gobies in streams of Micronesia.  Micronesica 30(1): 83-91.

Nelson, S. G., F. A. Camacho, J. E. Parham, R. B. Tibbats, T. Leberer, and B. D. Smith. 1997.  Surveys of the macrofauna of the Nanpil Kiepw and Lehn Mesi Rivers of Pohnpei.  South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme Technical Report Series.

Nelson, S. G.  1996.  Culture of grouper in Taiwan and Indonesia with regard to the live-fish trade in Asia.  Commissioned report to The Nature Conservancy.

Nelson, S. G., B. D. Smith, J. E. Parham, B. Tibatts, and F. A. Camacho.  1995.  A survey of the streamfishes of the upper reaches of the Ngermeskang River, Palau, with recommendations for conservation and biomonitoring.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 100.  18 p.

Nelson, S. G. and Suzanne DeC. Wilkins.  1994.  Growth and respiration of embryos and larvae of the rabbitfish Siganus randalli.  Journal of Fish Biology 44:513-525.

Meyer, K. D., V. J. Paul, H. R. Sanger, and S. G. Nelson. 1994.  Effects of seaweed extracts and secondary metabolites on feeding by the herbivorous surgeonfish Naso lituratus.  Coral Reefs 13:105-112.

Collins, L. A. and S. G. Nelson. 1993.  The effects of temperature on oxygen consumption, growth, and development of embryos and yolk-sac larvae of Siganus randalli (Pisces: Siganidae).  Marine Biology 117:195-204.

Lacson, J. M. and S. G. Nelson. 1993.  Genetic distances among fishes of the genus Siganus (Siganidae) from the Western Pacific.  Marine Biology 116:187-192.

Nelson, S. G. and Y. M. Chiang.  1993.  An exploratory analysis of the food habits of herbivorous surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) from French Polynesia.  Proceedings of the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium, Guam, Vol.2:  920-926.

Paul, V. J., K. D. Meyer, and S. G. Nelson.  1993. Deterrent effects of seaweed extracts and secondary metabolites on feeding by the rabbitfish Siganus spinus. Proceedings of the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium, Guam, Vol. 2:867-874.

Nelson, S. G., S. A. Lock, and L. C. Collins.  1992.  Growth of the rabbitfish Siganus randalli Woodland in relation to the feasibilty of its culture on Guam.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 97.

Nelson, S. G. and L. G. Eldredge.  1991.  Distribution and status of introduced cichlid fishes of the genera Oreochromis and Tilapia in the islands of the South Pacific and Micronesia.  Asian Fisheries Science 4:11-22.

Paul, V. J., S. G. Nelson, and H. R. Sanger.  1990.  Feeding preferences of adult and juvenile rabbitfish Siganus argenteus in relation to chemical defenses of tropical seaweeds.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 60:23-34.

Nelson, S. G. and W. J. FitzGerald, Jr.  1990.  Development of aquaculture in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands:  a feasibility study.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 96.

Nelson, S. G.  1990.  Guam.  In:  T. Tanaka, K. R. Uwate, J. V. Juario, C. S. Lee, and R. Foscarini (eds.)  Proceedings of the regional workshop on milkfish culture development in the south Pacific, Tarawa, Kiribati, 21-25 November 1988.  FAO South Pacific Aquaculture Development Project, Suva and U.S. Agency for International Development, Suva, and Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara.

Moreira, G. S. and S. G. Nelson.  1990.  The effects of temperature on the respiratory metabolism of Calcinus laevimanus (Randall, 1839) (Crustacea, Anomura) in different salinities.  Journal of Thermal Biology 15:37-39.

Nelson, S. G.  1989.  A regional survey of the aquaculture sector in the Pacific. Aquaculture Development and Coordination Programme, United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Nelson, S. G. and K. R. Uwate.  1989.  Planning for aquaculture development in the U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands.  Miscellaneous Report of the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.

Nelson, S. G.  1989.  An assessment of the potential for freshwater aquaculture in Yap proper. p. 61-69 In:  S. G. Nelson (ed.) Inland Aquatic Habitats of Yap.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 92.

Nelson, S. G.  1989.  The freshwater fishes of Yap. p. 10-20  In:  S. G. Nelson (ed.) Inland Aquatic Habitats of Yap.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 92.

Nelson, S. G.  1988.  Development of aquaculture in the U.S.-affiliated islands of Micronesia.  p. 61-83 In:  B. D. Smith (ed.)  Topic reviews in insular resource development and management in the Pacific U.S.-affiliated islands.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 88.

Nelson, S. G.  1988.  Development of phycocolloid-related industries in Oceania.  South Pacific Commission Workshop on Pacific Inshore Fishery Resources, Noumea, New Caledonia, 14-25 March 1988. SPC/Inshore Fish. Res./WP.12.  15 p.

Nelson, S. G. and S. deC. Wilkins.  1988.  Sediment processing by the surgeonfish Ctenochaetus striatus at Moorea, French Polynesia.  Journal of Fish Biology 32:817-824.

Nelson, S. G. and A. W. Siegrist.  1987.  Comparison of mathematical formulations for simulating the photosynthesis-light relations of tropical marine macrophytes.  Bulletin of Marine Science 41:617-622.

Nelson, S. G.  1987.  A survey of existing fish ponds on Yap proper with recommendations for the development of subsistence fish culture.  Marine Resources Management Division, Yap State Department of Resources and Development, Colonia, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia 96493.  14 p.

Tsuda, R. T., S. G. Nelson, V. J. Paul, and K. L. Van Alstyne.  1987.  Survey of potentially important economic seaweeds in Yap Lagoon, Micronesia.  Marine Resources Management Division, Yap State Department of Resources and Development, Colonia, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia 96943.  15 p.

Nelson, S. G., M. A. Simmons, and A. W. Knight. 1986. The energy burden of the bobyrid parasite Argeia pauperata (Crustacea, Isopoda) on the grass shrimp Crangon franciscorum (Crustacea, Crangonidae).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 83A:121-124.

Nelson, S. G.  1986.  Aquaculture and mariculture development in the U.S. Pacific insular areas. Commissioned Report for the Office of Technology Assessment, United States Congress.  (Available from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161)

Birkeland, C., S. G. Nelson, S. Wilkins, and P. Gates.  1985.  Effects of grazing by herbivorous fishes on coral reef community metabolism.  Proceedings of the Fifth International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, Vol. 4:47-51.

Nelson, S. G. 1985.  Immediate enhancement of photosynthesis by marine macrophytes in response to ammonia enrichment.  Proceedings of the Fifth International Coral Reef Congress, Tahiti, Vol. 5:65-70.

Nelson, S. G., M. A. Simmons, and A. W. Knight.  1985.  Calorigenic effect of diet on the grass shrimp Crangon franciscorum (Crustacea; Crangonidae).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 82A:373-376.

Nelson, S. G. and R. K. Kropp.  1985.  Ammonia excretion and nitrogen assimilation by Macrobrachium lar (Crustacea; Palaemonidae).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 81:699-704.

Nelson, S. G.  1984.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory.  Laboratory Series 28.  Fisheries 9(1):48-51.

Leith, ArDean, S. G. Nelson, and P. Gates.  1984.  Mass mortality of Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces, Cichlidae) in Fena Lake, Guam associated with a Pseudomonas infection.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 85, 19 p.

Yang, S. S., S. G. Nelson, W. J. Swei, C. Y. Liu, and Y. M. Chiang.  1983.  Quality of agar and Gracilaria collected from Taiwan and Micronesia.  Journal of the Chinese Agricultural Chemical Society 21:208-216. (in Chinese).

Nelson, S. G., S. S. Yang, C. Y. Wang, and Y. M. Chiang.  1983.  Yield and quality of agar from species of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) collected from Taiwan and Micronesia.  Botanica Marina 26:361-366.

Nelson, S. G., D. B. Matlock, and J. P. Villagomez.  1982.  Distribution and growth of the agarophyte Gracilaria lichenoides (Rhodophyta) in Saipan Lagoon.  Sea Grant Quarterly 4(1):1-6.

Nelson, S. G. and R. N. Tsutsui.  1982.  Browsing by herbivorous reef-fishes on the agarophyte Gracilaria edulis at Guam, Mariana Islands.  Proceedings of the Fourth International Nelson, S. G., B. D. Smith, and B. R. Best.  1981.  Kinetics of nitrate and ammonium uptake by the tropical freshwater macrophyte Pistia stratiotes L.  Aquaculture 24:11-19.

Nelson, S. G. and F. A. Cushing, Jr.  1982.  Survey of a brackish  lake on Pulusuk with regard to its potential for fish culture.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report 77,19 p.

Nelson, S. G. and R. T. Tsutsui.  1981.  Ammonia uptake by Micronesian species of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta).  University of Guam Water and Energy Research Institute Technical Report 23, 11 p.

Nelson, S. G. and R. K. Kropp.  1981.  Ammonium excretion by the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium lar in relation to diet.  University of Guam Agriculture Experiment Station Technical Report 23, 5 p.

Nelson, S. G., R. N. Tsutsui, and B. R. Best.  1980.  Preliminary evaluation of the mariculture potential of Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) in Micronesia:  Growth and ammonia uptake. p. 72-79.  In:  I. A. Abbott and M. S. Foster (eds.), Seaweeds of the Warm Pacific.  California Sea Grant Program, University of California, La Jolla.

Nelson, S. G., B. D. Smith, and B. R. Best.  1980.  Nitrogen uptake by tropical freshwater macrophytes.  University of Guam Marine Laboratory Technical Report  19 p

Nelson, S. G., M. A. Simmons, and A. W. Knight.  1979. Ammonia excretion by the estuarine shrimp Crangon franciscorum (Crustacea:  Crangonidae) in relation to diet.  Marine Biology 54:25-31.

FitzGerald, W. J. Jr. and S. G. Nelson.  1979.  Development of aquaculture in an island community (Guam, Mariana Islands).  Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Meeting of the World Mariculture Society:39-50.

Nelson, S. G. and A. W. Knight.  1977.  Ecological energetics and its application to the evaluation of diets for aquatic species, with special regard to the Giant Malaysian Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.  Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the World Mariculture Society:779-783.

Nelson, S. G., H. W. Li, and A. W. Knight.  1977.  Calorie, carbon and nitrogen metabolism of juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Mann) (Crustacea, Palaemonidae) with regard to trophic position.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 58A:319-327.

Nelson, S. G., A. W. Knight, and H. W. Li.  1977.  The metabolic cost of food utilization and ammonia production by juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea: Palaemonidae).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 58A:67-72.

Nelson, S. G., D. A. Armstrong, A. W. Knight, and H. W. Li. 1977.  The effects of temperature and salinity on the metabolic rate of the Malaysian prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea:  Palaemonidae).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 56A:533-537.

Knight, A. W., and S. G. Nelson.  1977.  Feasibility evaluation of the use of aquatic life to remove nutrients from irrigation waste water.  Phase I Report.  California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Planning and Research.  66 p.

Nelson, S. G. and C. O. Krekorian.  1976.  Dynamics of parental care in Copeina  arnoldi Regan (Pisces, Characidae).  Behavioral Biology 17:507-518.

Nelson, S. G., A. C. Anderson, M. H. Momeni, and R. R. Yeo. 1976.  Test to sterilize sexually undifferentiated fry of Tilapia zillii Grev (Pisces, Cichlidae) using cobalt-60 gamma irradiation.  Progressive Fish Culturist 38:131-134.