Ryan P Moyer

Research Oceanographer
U.S. Geological Survey,

Short Biography

Ryan Moyer is a Mendenhall Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the USGS Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies in St. Petersburg, FL. His primary area of expertise is the biogeochemistry of coral skeletons, and his current research involves the use of stable isotope and trace element records in coral skeletons to reconstruct the geochemical history of tropical surface oceans. He earned his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences (2008) from the School of Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the USGS in 2009, Ryan formerly held positions as a Research Assistant with the National Coral Reef Institute (2001 - 2004) and a Pre-College Instructor at the Marine Science Consortium (1999 - 2000).

Publications

Moyer RP, Grottoli AG (2011) Coral skeletal dual isotope (δ13C & Δ14C) record of the delivery of terrestrial carbon to the coastal waters of Puerto Rico. Coral Reefs, doi: 10.1007/s00338-011-0758-y. [Download File]

Yates, K.K., and Moyer, R.P., 2010, Effects of ocean acidification and sea-level rise on coral reefs: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010–3091, 2 p. [Link]

Moyer RP (2008) Carbon Isotopes (δ13C & Δ14C) and Trace Elements (Ba, Mn, Y) in Small Mountainous Rivers and Coastal Coral Skeletons in Puerto Rico. Ph.D. Dissertation, The Ohio State University, School of Earth Sciences, Columbus, OH. 260pp.

Riegl B, Moyer RP, Walker BK, Kohler K, Gilliam DS, Dodge RE (2008) A tale of germs, storms, and bombs: Geomorphology and coral assemblage structure at Vieques (Puerto Rico) compared to St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands). Journal of Coastal Research. 24:1008-1021.

Moyer RP, Grottoli AG (2006) Stable carbon isotopes in coastal Puerto Rico corals and adjacent natural waters: Implications for land-ocean connectivity and land-use history. Eos. Trans. AGU, 87(36), Ocean Sci. Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS25J-14.

Riegl B, Moyer RP, Morris L, Virnstein R, Purkis SJ. (2005) Distribution and seasonal biomass of drift macroalgae in the Indian River Lagoon (Florida, USA) estimated with acoustic seafloor classification (QTCView, Echoplus). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Eco. 326:89-104.

Moyer RP, Riegl B, Banks K, Dodge RE. (2005) Assessing the accuracy of acoustic seabed classification for mapping coral reef environments in South Florida (Broward County, USA). Revista de Biologia Tropical (Int. J. Trop. Biol.). 53(Suppl. 1):175-184.

Riegl B, Moyer RP, Morris L, Virnstein R, Dodge RE. (2005) Determination of the distribution of shallow-water seagrass and drift algae communities with acoustic seafloor discrimination. Revista de Biologia Tropical (Int. J. Trop. Biol.). 53(Suppl. 1):165-174.

Moyer RP, Riegl B, Banks K, Dodge RE (2003) Spatial patterns and ecology of high-latitude benthic communities on a South Florida (Broward County, USA) relict reef system.Coral Reefs.22(4): 447-464

Moyer RP (2003) Macrobenthic Spatial Patterns and Community Structure on the Broward County, Florida (USA) Reefs. MS Thesis, Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center, Dania Beach, FL. 106 pp.

Moyer RP, Riegl B, Dodge RE, Walker BK, Gilliam DS (2002) Acoustic Remote-Sensing of Reef Benthos in Broward County, Florida (USA). Proc. 7th Int. Conf. on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, 20–22 May 2002, Miami, FL. Proceedings published on CD-ROM, Veridian, Ann Arbor, MI.

Riegl B, Andrefouet S, Moyer RP, Walker BK (2002) Integration of Satellite Remote-Sensing of Subtidal Habitats with Vessel-Based Video Survey (Dubai, UAE, Arabian Gulf). Proc. 7th Int. Conf. Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, 20–22 May 2002, Miami, FL. Proceedings published on CD-ROM, Veridian, Ann Arbor, MI.

Walker BK, Riegl B, Dodge RE, Moyer RP. (2002) Integration of Remotely Sensed Optical and Acoustic Data for the Delineation of Reef-Lines in Broward County, Florida (USA). Proc. 7th International Conference on Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments, 20–22 May 2002, Miami, FL. Proceedings published on CD-ROM,Veridian, Ann Arbor, MI.

Moyer RP, Riegl B, Dodge RE, Walker BK (2002) Acoustic Detection of Different Types of Reef Benthos in Broward County, Florida (USA). Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(4), Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS21F-115, 2002.

Riegl B, Moyer RP, Andrefouet S, Dodge RE (2002) Reefal Carbonate Facies off Dubai, Arabian Gulf: Remote-Sensing with Ikonos Satellite Images and Ground-Truthing by Vessel-Based Video Survey. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(4), Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS12Q-03, 2002.

Dodge RE, Walker BK, Riegl B, Moyer RP, Gilliam DS (2002) Mapping of Holocene Reefs in Southeast Florida (USA) by Remotely Sensed Optical and Acoustic Data Together With in situ Techniques. Eos. Trans. AGU, 83(4), Ocean Sciences Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS21F-116, 2002.

My Science Topics

My USGS Science Strategy Areas

The ocean is the ultimate sink for excess anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere, and this has had drastic impacts on seawater chemistry. As the amount of CO2 dissolved in seawater increases, oceanic pH decreases. It is estimated that the surface oceans may have already experienced a reduction of 0.1 pH units since pre-industrial times. Corals are excellent recorders of such changes because they deposit calcium carbonate skeletons in annual bands and can grow for several centuries. Coral-based paleo-pH records have been successfully produced using a coral from the Great Barrier Reef, and the authors of that study concluded that: “Additional paleo-pH records are required from a range of coral reef ecosystems to improve our understanding of the physical and biological controls on reef-water pH, and the long-term impact of future ocean acidification”. My research will use a multi-proxy approach in modern coral cores taken from the Caribbean Sea region in order to determine the relationship between paleo-variations in seawater pH, temperature, and coral growth and calcification. This study will not only address the problem of ocean acidification in a geological context, but will provide data which can be used in models to help better predict the response of coral reef ecosystems to increased atmospheric CO2.

Coral reefs are uniquely complex ecosystems in that they are defined by geological structures (“reefs”) which are built primarily by calcifying biological organisms (primarily coral and algae). Along with their associated habitats, coral reefs, are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. Along with exhibiting the highest biodiversity of any known marine ecosystem, they also provide critical habitat for many fish and invertebrate species that are of great commercial importance within the United States and associated territories. They also provide numerous other important economic services and benefits and help to sustain a large, and ever-growing, human population. However, a recent increase in a combination of anthropogenic and climatic stresses has resulted in degradation and near collapse of many coral reef communities world-wide. Therefore, focused and coordinated science efforts are needed to understand the complex physical, chemical, and biological processes and interactions that are impacting coral reefs and their ability to respond to changing conditions. Improved understanding and information are needed to effectively guide policies and best management practices in order to preserve and restore coral reef resources for future generations.