COMPLETED PUBLICATIONS 

Journal Papers


Witman, J.D., F. Smith, and M. Novak. 2017 Experimental demonstration of a trophic cascade in the Galápagos rocky subtidal: Effects of consumer identity and behavior. PLoS ONE 12(4): e0175705. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175705

Krumhansl, K. A., D. K. Okamoto, A. Rassweiler, M. Novak, J. J. Bolton, K. C. Cavanaugh, S. D. Connell, C. R. Johnson, B. Konar, S. D. Ling, F. Micheli, K. M. Norderhaug, A. Pérez-Matus, I. Sousa-Pinto, D. C. Reed, A. K. Salomon, N. T. Shears, T. Wernberg, R. J. Anderson, N. S. Barrett, A. H. Buschmann, M. H. Carr, J. E. Caselle, S. Derrien-Courtel, G. J. Edgar, M. Edwards, J. A. Estes, C. Goodwin, M. C. Kenner, D. J. Kushner, F. E. Moy, J. Nunn, R. S. Steneck, J. Vásquez, J. Watson, J. D. Witman, and J. E. K. Byrnes. 2016. Global patterns of kelp forest change over the past half-century. Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences 113:13785-13790. DOWNLOAD.

Pérez-Matus A, F Sánchez, JC González-But, and RW Lamb. 2016. Understory algae associations and predation risk influence broad-scale kelp habitat use in a temperate reef fish. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 559: 147–158. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D., R.W. Lamb, and J.E.K. Byrnes. 2015. Towards an integration of scale and complexity in marine ecology. Ecological Monographs 85(4): 475-504. DOWNLOAD.

Altieri, A.H., and J.D. Witman. 2014. Modular mobile foundation species as reservoirs of biodiversity. Ecosphere 5(10): 124. DOWNLOAD.

Palardy, J.E. and J.D. Witman 2014 Flow, recruitment limitation and the maintenance of diversity in marine benthic communities. Ecology  95: 286-297. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J. D. 2013. Are regional effects on local diversity more important in marine than in terrestrial communities ? Oikos. 122:301-305. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D., P.K. Dayton, S. Arnold, R.S. Steneck and C. Birkeland in press. Scuba revolutionizes marine science. Smithsonian Contributions to Marine Science. DOWNLOAD.

Dee, L. E, J.D. Witman and M. Brandt. 2012 . Refugia and top-down control of the pencil urchin Eucidaris galapagensis in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 416-417: 135-143. DOWNLOAD.

Brandt, M., J.D. Witman and A. Chiriboga 2012. Influence of a dominant consumer species reverses at increased diversity. Ecology 93: 868-878. DOWNLOAD.

Palardy, J. and J.D. Witman 2011. Water flow drives biodiversity by mediating rarity in marine benthic communities. Ecology Letters 14: 63-68. DOWNLOAD.

Lee, D. E., J.H. Robinson, J.D. Witman, S.E. Copeland, F. Smith, E.M. Harper and M. Lamare. 2010 Observations on recruitment, growth and ecology in a diverse living brachiopod community, Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand. Special Papers in Paleontology 84:177-191.

Witman, J.D., M. Brandt and F. Smith 2010. Coupling between subtidal prey and consumers along a mesoscale upwelling gradient in the Galapagos Islands. Ecological Monographs 80: 153-177. DOWNLOAD.

Irving, A. D. and J.D. Witman 2009. Positive effects of damselfish override negative effects of urchins to prevent a habitat switch. Journal of Ecology 97: 337-347. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J. D., M. Cusson, P. Archambault, A. J. Pershing and N. Mieszkowska. 2008. The relation between productivity and species diversity in temperate – Arctic marine ecosystems. Ecology 88: S66S80. DOWNLOAD.

Ellis, J.C., M. J. Shulman, M. Wood, J. D. Witman, and S. Lozyniak 2007. Regulation of intertidal food webs by avian predators on New England rocky shores . Ecology 88: 853-863.

Shelton, A O., D. A. Woodby, K. Hebert and J. D. Witman 2006. Evaluating age determination and spatial patterns of growth of the red sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus franciscanus) in southeast Alaska. Transactions of American Fisheries Society 135: 1670-1680.

Lindsey, E, L., Altieri, A.H. and J.D.Witman 2006. Influence of biogenic habitat on the recruitment and distribution of a subtidal xanthid crab. Marine Ecology Progress Series 306: 223-231. 

Ellis, J.C., Fariña, J.M., and Witman, J.D. 2006. Nutrient transfer from sea to land: the case of gulls and cormorants in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Animal Ecology.75: 565- 574.

Altieri, A.H and J.D. Witman. 2006. Local extinction of a foundation species in a hypoxic estuary: integrating individuals to ecosystem. Ecology 87: 717-730.

Ellis, J.C., Chen, W., O’Keefe, B., Shulman, M.J., and Witman, J.D. 2005. Predation by gulls on crabs in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 324:31-43. 

Hill, M.F, J.D. Witman and H.Caswell 2004. Markov chain analysis of succession in a rocky subtidal community. American Naturalist 164: E46-E61. DOWNLOAD.

Siddon, C.E and J.D.Witman 2004. Behavioral indirect interactions: multiple predator effects and prey switching in the shallow rocky subtidal. Ecology 85: 2398-2945. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D, R.J. Etter and F. Smith. 2004. The relationship between regional and local species diversity in marine benthic communities: a global perspective. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 101: 156644 – 15669. DOWNLOAD.

Genovese, S.J. and J.D. Witman 2004. Wind mediated diel variation in flow speed in a Jamaican back reef environment: effects on ecological processes. Bulletin of Marine Science 75: 281-293. 

Siddon,C.E. and J.D.Witman. 2003 Influence of chronic, low-level hydrodynamic forces on subtidal community structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series 261: 99-110.

Byrnes, J.E. and J.D. Witman. 2003 Impact assessment of an invasive flatworm, Convoluta convoluta, in the Southern Gulf of Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 293: 173-191. 

Farina, J.M., S.Salazar, K.P. Wallem, J.D. Witman and J.C. Ellis. 2003. Nutrient exchanges between marine and terrestrial ecosystems: the case of the Galapagos sea lion Zalophus wollebaecki. Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 873-887.

Witman, J.D and F. Smith. 2003. Rapid community change at a tropical upwelling site in the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Biodiversity and Conservation 12: 25-45.

Witman, J.D., S.J. Genovese, J. F. Bruno, J. W. McLaughlin and B. I. Pavlin. 2003. Massive prey recruitment and the control of rocky subtidal communities on large spatial scales. Ecological Monographs 73: 441-462. DOWNLOAD.

Lucky, A., T.L. Erwin and J.D. Witman 2002. Temporal and spatial diversity and distribution of arboreal Carabidae in a Western Amazonian Rain Forest. Biotropica 34: 376 – 386.

Hill, M.F., J.D. Witman and H. Caswell 2002. Spatio-temporal variation in Markov Chain models of subtidal community succession. Ecology Letters, 5: 665-675.

Bruno, J.F., C. Siddon, J.D. Witman and P.L. Colin. 2001. El Niño related coral bleaching in Palau, Western Caroline Islands. Coral Reefs. 20: 127-136.

Genovese, S.J and J.D. Witman. 1999. Interactive effects of flow speed and particle concentration on growth rates of an active suspension feeder. Limnology and Oceanography. 44: 1120- 1131. 

Smith, F. and J.D. Witman. 1999. Species diversity in subtidal landscapes: maintenance by physical processes and larval recruitment. Ecology 80: 51-69. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D and K.R. Grange. 1998. Links between rain, salinity and predation in a rocky subtidal community. Ecology 79: 2429-2447. 

Leichter, J.J. and J.D. Witman. 1997. Water flow over subtidal rock walls: effects on distribution and growth of suspension feeders. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 209: 293-307. 

Bruno, J.F. and J.D.Witman. 1996. Defensive mechanisms of scleractinian cup corals against overgrowth by colonial invertebrates. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 207: 229-241. 

Pile, A.J., M.R. Patterson and J.D. Witman. 1996. In situ grazing on plankton < 10 um by the boreal sponge Mycale lingua. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 141: 95-102.

Andres, N. G. and J.D. Witman 1995. Trends in community structure on a Jamaican reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 118: 305-310. 

Lesser, M.P, J.D. Witman and K.P. Sebens. 1994. Effects of flow and seston availability on scope for growth of benthic suspension feeding invertebrates from the Gulf of Maine. Biological Bulletin. 187: 319-335. DOWNLOAD.

Sheild, C.J. and J. D. Witman. 1993. The impact of Henricia sanginolenta predation on the finger sponges, Isodictya spp. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 166: 107 -133. 

Witman, J.D., J.J. Leichter, S.J. Genovese, and D.A. Brooks. 1993. Pulsed phytoplankton supply to the rocky subtidal zone: influence of internal waves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 90: 1686-1690. DOWNLOAD.

Dumas, J.V. and J.D. Witman 1993. Predation by gulls on two rocky intertidal crabs, Cancer irroratus and Carcinus maenus. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 169: 89-101.

Witman, J. D. 1992. Physical disturbance and community structure of exposed and protected reefs: a case study from St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. American Zoologist 32: 641-634.

Witman, J. D. and K. P. Sebens. 1992. Regional variation in fish predation intensity: a historical perspective in the Gulf of Maine. Oecologia 90: 305 - 315. DOWNLOAD.

Edmunds, P.J and J.D. Witman. 1991. Effect of Hurricane Hugo on the primary framework of a reef along the south shore of St. John, US Virgin Islands. Marine Ecology Progress Series 78: 201-204. 

Witman, J. D. 1988. Effects of predation by the fireworm Hermodice carunculata on milleporid hydrocorals. Bulletin of Marine Science. 42: 446-458. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J. D. 1988. Stability of Atlantic kelp forests. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 3: 285-286. 

Witman, J. D. 1987. Subtidal coexistence: storms, grazing, mutualism, and the zonation of kelps and mussels. Ecological Monographs 57: 167-187. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J. D. 1985. Refuges, biological disturbance, and rocky subtidal community structure in New England. Ecological Monographs 55: 421-445. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D. and T.H. Suchanek. 1984. Mussels in flow: drag and dislodgment by epizoans. Marine Ecology Progress Series.16: 259 - 268. DOWNLOAD.

Witman, J.D. and R.A. Cooper. 1983. Disturbance and contrasting patterns of population structure in the brachiopod Terebratulina septentrionalis from two subtidal habitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 73: 57-79. 

Books & Monographs

Chapters in Books

Suchanek, T.H., R. Carpenter, J.D Witman, C. D. Harvell. 1983. Sponges as important space competitors in deep Caribbean coral reef communities. NOAA Symposium Series for Undersea Research Reports: Coral Reefs V1: 55 – 67

Witman, J. D. and K. P. Sebens. 1988. Benthic community structure at a subtidal rock pinnacle in the central Gulf of Maine. In. I. Babb and M. De Luca Eds Benthic Productivity and Marine Resources of the Gulf of Maine. National Undersea Research Program Research Report 88-3:67-104.

Sebens, K.P., J.D. Witman, R. Allmon, and E.J. Maney. 1988. Early community development experiments in rocky subtidal habitats (Gulf of Maine, 30 - 80 m). In. I. Babb and M. De Luca Eds Benthic Productivity and Marine Resources of the Gulf of Maine. National Undersea Research Program Research Report 88-3: 45 - 66.

Witman, J. D. and K. P. Sebens. 1990. Distribution and ecology of sponges at a subtidal rock ledge in the central Gulf of Maine. Pp. 391-396. In K. Rutzler, Ed, New Perspectives in Sponge Biology. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.

Witman, J.D., 1996. Dynamics of Gulf of Maine benthic communities. Pp 51-69 in, D. and E. Braasch Eds. The health of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem: cumulative impacts of multiple stressors. RARGOM Report 96-1. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.

Witman, J.D. 1998. Natural disturbance and colonization on subtidal hard substrates in the Gulf of Maine. Pp. 30-37 in. E. M. Dorsey and J. Pederson Eds. Effects of fishing gear on the sea floor of New England. MIT Sea Grant Publication 98-4.

Witman, J.D and P.K. Dayton. 2001 Rocky subtidal communities. Pp 339-366 in Bertness, M.D., S.D. Gaines and M. Hay Eds. Marine Community Ecology. Sinauer Press

Branch, G.M., J.D. Witman, R. Bensted-Smith, R.H. Bustamante, G.M. Wellington, F. Smith and G. Edgar. 2002 Conservation Criteria For The Marine Biome, Pp. 72-79 In A Biodiversity vision for the Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin Foundation and World Wildlife Fund, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos.

Bensted-Smith, R., T. Allnut, G.M. Branch, R.H. Bustamante, C. Causton, E. Dinerstein, G. Powell, H. Snell, A. Tye, G.M. Wellington and J.D. Witman. 2002. Summary of the Vision For Conservation of Galapagos Biodiversity and the Issues Central to Its Achievement, Pp. 107-115. In A Biodiversity vision for the Galapagos Islands. Charles Darwin Foundation and World Wildlife Fund, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos.

Witman, J.D., M.R. Patterson and S.J. Genovese. 2004 Benthic pelagic linkages in subtidal communities: influence of food subsidy by internal waves. Pp 133-153 in Polis, G.A., M.E. Power and G.R. Huxel Ed. Food webs at the landscape level. University of Chicago Press.

Witman, J.D., J.C. Ellis and W.B. Anderson. 2004 The influence of physical processes, organisms and permeability on cross-ecosystem fluxes. Pp 335-349 in Polis, G.A., M.E. Power and G.R. Huxel Eds. Food webs at the landscape level. University of Chicago Press.

Witman, J.D. 2007 Benthic - pelagic coupling. Pp 68-71. In: Encyclopedia of tidepools and rocky shores M.W. Denny and S.D. Gaines (eds.) University of California Press, Berkeley, CA

Witman, J.D. and K. Roy 2009. Introduction. Chapter 1 in Marine Macroecology. University of Chicago Press. Pp. vii – xv. J.D. Witman and K. Roy editors

Roy, K.R. and J.D. Witman 2009. Species diversity of shallow marine invertebrates: patterns, processes and prospects. Chapter 4 in Marine Macroecology Pp. 101-121. University of Chicago Press. J.D. Witman and K. Roy editors

Leichter, J.J. and J.D. Witman 2009. Basin-scale oceanographic influences on marine macroecological patterns. Chapter 8 in Marine Macroecology. Pp. 203-226. University of Chicago Press. J.D. Witman and K. Roy editors

Witman, J. D. and K. R. Roy 2009. Experimental marine macroecology. Chapter 13 in Marine Macroecology. University of Chicago Press. Pp. 341-356 J.D. Witman and K. Roy editors

Kotta, J. and J.D. Witman 2009. Regional scale patterns Pp 89-99. In: Hard Bottom Communities: patterns, scales, functions, shifts. M. Wahl (Ed), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany