June 2012
BRITTANY NICOLE BLOMBERG
Doctoral Student, Coastal and Marine System Science
Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412-5869
E-mail: Brittany.Blomberg@tamucc.edu
Education
B.S., Biology, December 2008, Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Positions Held
2009-present Graduate Research Assistant, Ecosystem Studies and Modeling, Harte Research
Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
2010-2011
Adjunct Instructor, Professional Ethics, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
(Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011)
2009
Teaching Assistant, Organic Chemistry I Laboratory, Texas A&M University –
Corpus Christi (Fall 2009)
2008-2009
Research Technician, Purdue University - Fort Wayne
Publications
Blomberg, B.N. and P.A. Montagna. (in prep.). Secondary production hotspots in the Gulf of
Mexico: Using Ecopath models to estimate secondary production of a large marine ecosystem.
Presentations & Published Abstracts
Blomberg, B.N., J. Francis, L. Hutchison, J. Beseres Pollack, P. Montagna and D. Yoskowitz.
2012. Linking ecosystem services to an oyster reef emergy model: a conceptual
framework. Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting, Port Aransas, TX, April 11-12, 2012.
Nevins, J.A., J. Beseres Pollack, G. Stunz, B.N. Blomberg, L.M. George. 2012. Characterizing
the oyster reef community of Sabine Lake: a before-after-control-impact study. Texas
Bays and Estuaries Meeting, Port Aransas, TX, April 11-12, 2012.
George, L.M., B.N. Blomberg, J. Nevins and J. Beseres Pollack. 2012. Relative habitat value
of alternative substrates for oyster reef restoration in St. Charles Bay, Texas. Texas Bays
and Estuaries Meeting, Port Aransas, TX, April 11-12, 2012.
Rodriguez, M.C., B.N. Blomberg, J. Beseres Pollack. A preliminary analysis of oyster
settlement on a restored oyster reef. Texas Bays and Estuaries Meeting, Port Aransas,
TX, April 11-12, 2012.
Pollack, J., S. Ray, B. Lebreton, B.N. Blomberg and S. Rikard. 2012. Patchiness of Dermo
(Perkinsus marinus) disease foci in the Aransas-Copano, Texas estuarine system.
National Shellfisheries Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, March 25-29, 2012.
Blomberg, B.N., J. Francis, L. Hutchison, J. Beseres Pollack, P. Montagna and D. Yoskowitz.
2012. A conceptual framework for linking ecosystem services to an oyster reef emergy
model. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Norfolk, VA, March 21-24, 2012.
Beseres Pollack, J., B. Lebreton, B.N. Blomberg and P. Montagna. 2012. Do benthic
microalgae have a role as a food resource for oysters in a Texas estuary? Consequences
for oyster reef restoration. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Norfolk, VA, March 21-24, 2012.
June 2012
Lebreton, B., P. Montagna, J. Beseres Pollack, B.N. Blomberg, and L. Adams. 2012.
Composition and quality of suspended particulate organic matter in relation with
freshwater inflow in the Mission-Aransas Estuary, Texas. Benthic Ecology Meeting,
Norfolk, VA, March 21-24, 2012.
Blomberg, B.N., J.B. Pollack and P.A. Montagna. 2011. Using reclaimed oyster shell to restore
subtidal reef habitat in South Texas. Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
Conference, Daytona Beach, FL, November 6-10, 2011.
*Blomberg, B.N., J.B. Pollack and P.A. Montagna. 2011. Using reclaimed oyster shell to
restore subtidal reef habitat in South Texas. Society for Advancement of Chicanos and
Native Americans in Science Conference, San Jose, CA, October 27-30, 2011.
*Outstanding Research Presentation Award
Palmer, G., D. Overath, J. Pollack, and B.N. Blomberg. 2011. Genetic variation of Crassostrea
virginica along a salinity gradient. Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native
Americans in Science Conference, San Jose, CA, October 27-30, 2011.
Muela, J., B.N. Blomberg, and J. Pollack. 2011. Oyster reef management strategies: Texas and
Louisiana. Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
Conference, San Jose, CA, October 27-30, 2011.
Blomberg, B.N. and P.A. Montagna. 2011. Secondary productivity hotspots in the Gulf of
Mexico. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Mobile, AL, March 16-20, 2011.
Blomberg, B.N. and P.A. Montagna. 2010. Marsh vegetation modeling. Nueces River Basin
Environmental Advisory Group Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX, March 17, 2010.
Kim, H-C., B.N. Blomberg and P.A. Montagna. 2009. Marsh vegetation modeling. Nueces
River Basin Environmental Advisory Group Meeting, Choke Canyon State Park,
Calliham, TX, October 21, 2009.
Technical Reports
CSA International, Inc. 2010. A comparison of marine productivity among Outer Continental
Shelf planning areas. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Herndon, VA. OCS Study BOEM 2010-xxx.
218 pp. + app. (Co-author of Chapters 5.0, 6.0, Appendix B, and Appendix C).
Media
*Sink Your Shucks. Lauren Hutchison and Brittany Blomberg. Narration: Wes Tunnell.
Animation: Tiara Marshall. Harte Research Institute, 2011.
*Winner: Best Conservation Film, Beneath the Waves Film Festival, 2011, Mobile, AL
Honors and Awards
2012 College of Graduate Studies Scholarship, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
($500)
2012 Outstanding ELITE Cohort Member – Gold Awardee
2011 Travel Scholarship, ELITE Title V Graduate Program ($750, to present at the 21st
Biennial Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation, Daytona, FL)
2011 Outstanding Research Presentation, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native
Americans in Science, National Conference ($250)
June 2012
2011 Travel Scholarship, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in
Science (registration, air travel, room and board covered, to present at National
Conference, San Jose, CA)
2010 Travel Scholarship, Restore America’s Estuaries ($745, to attend 5th National
Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration,)
2006-08 Dean’s List and Semester Honors, Purdue University
2006 National Dean’s List recipient
2004-06 The University of Tampa Dean’s Scholarship ($7,000/year)
2004 Olive B. Cole scholarship ($1,000)
2004 Whitetails Unlimited Scholarship ($500)
Research Experience
 Restoration of oyster reef habitat in Texas (2011-present)
 Modeling methods to identify secondary production “hotspots” in the Gulf of Mexico
(2010-2011)
 Modeling methods to examine how marsh communities respond to changes in water
flow, inundation and salinity in the Nueces Delta, Texas (2009)
 Using acoustic telemetry to track movement and habitat use of sharks in Bahamas (2009)
 Characterization and delineation of mangrove forests of Bimini, Bahamas (2009)
 Testing effectiveness of manufactured antimicrobial surfaces (2008-2009)
 Isolation of digestion resistant algae for plankton food chain studies, Indiana (2008)
 Size at maturity for Daphnia pulicaria in response to fish kairomones, Indiana (2007)
 Occurrence and substrate choice of the variable boring sponge (Siphonodictyon
coralliphagum) in Roatan, Honduras (2006)
Service & Outreach
2012
Guest Lecturer, Kostoryz Elementary, Corpus Christi, TX
2012
Poster Judge, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
Undergraduate Research Symposium, Corpus Christi, TX
2012
Guest Lecturer, Texas Maritime Museum, Rockport, TX
2011
Guest Lecturer, Gulf of Mexico Foundation, Corpus Christi, TX
2011
Poster Judge, Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Undergraduate
Poster Session, Daytona Beach, FL
2011
Poster Judge, Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in
Science (SACNAS) Undergraduate Poster Session, San Jose, CA
2011
Poster Judge, Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Symposium, Corpus Christi, TX
2011-2012
National Ocean Science Bowl, Corpus Christi, TX
2009
Research Volunteer, Bimini Biological Field Station, Bimini, Bahamas.
2005-2006
Animal Husbandry Volunteer, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, FL