People

Education

Ph.D. 1994 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
M.S. 1987 University of Houston
B.S. 1984 The Ohio State University

Research Interests

The predominant thrust of my research concerns host-parasite interactions in bivalve molluscs.  A second focus aims to enhance our understanding of the ecological impact of bivalves, particularly the eastern oyster, at the population, community and ecosystem levels.

Current Research Projects

• Field and Modeling Studies in Support of Understanding Disease Resistance in Estuarine Populations and Response to Climate Change.  NSF-Ecology of Infectious Diseases

• DELSI (Delaware Estuary Living Shoreline Initiative)

Enhancement of shellfish communities along erosional marsh edges.  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Shoreline stabilization and ecosystem enhancement of eroding marsh habitats using intertidal reef communities.  New Jersey Sea Grant

• Evaluation and Genetic Analysis of Hard Clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, Stocks for QPX Resistance.  USDA Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center

• Investigations into the potential health and economic benefits of bivalve/finfish co-culture.  USDA Northeast Regional Aquaculture Center

• Project PORTS (Promoting Oyster Restoration Through Schools).  National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Cumberland County Improvement Authority

• Delaware Bay New Jersey oyster seed bed and shell plant monitoring program.  USACE and State of New Jersey

Selected Publications

Powell, E.N., J. Kraeuter, K. Ashton-Alcox, S.E. Ford and D. Bushek. 2008. Long-term trends in oyster population dynamics in Delaware Bay: Regime shifts and response to disease. J. Shellfish Res. 27(4): 729-755.

Taylor, J. and D. Bushek. 2008. Intertidal oyster reefs can persist and function in a temperate North American Atlantic estuary. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 361:301-306.

Richards, G.P., M.A. Watson, E.J. Crane, I.G. Burt, and D. Bushek. 2008. Shewanella and Photobacterium in oysters and seawater from the Delaware Bay. Appl. Env. Micro. 74(11):3323-3327.

Bushek, D., B.Landau and E. Scarpa. 2008. Perkinsus chesapeaki in stout razor clams Tagelus pleius from Delware Bay. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 78: 243-247.

Bushek, D., A. Kornbluh, H. Wang, X. Guo, G. DeBrosse and J. Quinlan. 2008.  Fertilization interference between Crassostrea ariakensis and Crassostrea virginica: a gamete sink?  J. Shellfish Res. 27(3): 593-600.

Coen LD, R.D. Brumbaugh, D. Bushek, R. Grizzle, M.W. Luckenbach, M.H. Posey,  S.P. Powers, G.S. Tolley.  2007.  AS WE SEE IT: Ecosystem services related to oyster restoration.  Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 341:303-307

Bushek D., M. Heidenreich and D. Porter.  2007. The effects of several common anthropogenic contaminants on proliferation of the parasitic oyster pathogen Perkinsus marinus.  Mar. Env. Res. 64:535-540.  doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.03.004

Allen, D.M., S.S. Haertel-Borer, B.J. Milan, D. Bushek and R.D. Dame.  2007.  Geomorphological determinants of nekton use in intertidal salt marsh creeks.  Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 329:57-71.

Ellin, R. and D. Bushek.  2006 Adaptation of Ray’s fluid thioglycollate medium assay to detect and quantify planktonic stages of Perkinsus parasites.  J. Shellfish Res. 25(3):1037-1042.

Bushek, D. and S. Boyd.  2006. Seasonal Abundance and Occurrence of the Asian Isopod Synidotea laevidorsalis in Delaware Bay, USA.  Biological Invasions, 8(4):697-702. Toline, C.A., P. Kenny and D. Bushek.  2005.  Cement-coated stakes enhance recruitment of damaged oyster reefs (South Carolina).  Ecological Restoration, 23(4):277-288.

Bushek, D. and D.M. Allen.  2005.  Motile suspension feeders in estuarine and marine ecosystems.  In:  The Comparative Role of Suspension Feeders in Ecosystems, RF Dame and S Olenin (eds),  NATO Science Series: IV – Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 47.  Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.  pp 53-71.

Bushek, D., D Richardson, M.Y. Bobo and L.D. Coen.  2004.  Short-Term Shell Pile Quarantine Reduces the Abundance of Perkinsus marinus Remaining in Tissues Attached to Oyster Shell.  J. Shellfish Research, 23(2):369-373.

Courses Taught

11:628:317       Aquaculture
(http://marine.rutgers.edu/courses/11628317.html)

01/11:628:364  Oceanographic Methods & Data Analysis (http://marine.rutgers.edu/courses/11628364.html)

Current Students

Recent Students

Other

President 2007-2009, National Shellfisheries Association