Crystal LouAllen Hightower
Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
101 Bienville Blvd
Dauphin Island, AL 36528
Email: clouallen@disl.org
Phone: (251) 861-2141 ext. 2384
EDUCATION
2011-Present
University of South Alabama; Dauphin Island Sea Lab (Advisor: Dr. Sean P. Powers)
2006
University of North Alabama, Florence, AL
B.S., Marine Biology (Chemistry minor)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2011- Present
Graduate Research Assistant
Fisheries Ecology Lab
University of South Alabama
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
THESIS TITLE: “Evaluating the current status of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in offshore waters of the north
central Gulf of Mexico: age and growth, abundance, and mercury concentration”
Thesis-Independent Research Projects
 Ecotoxicology of northern Gulf of Mexico Fishes (with SP Powers, R Kiene, and A Robertson)
 Abundance and community composition of fishes along a Mediterranean MPA gradient: a time
series comparison (with A Kroetz, K Heck, J Cebrian, JL Sanchez-Lizasso, A Marshak, and S
Madsen)
 Predator-Prey Interactions in Phragmites Habitat: A Comparison of Traditional and Non-Traditional
Experimental Design (with A Kroetz , K Heck, and J Mattilla)
2010-2011
Oyster Intake Lab
NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration
Industrial Economics, Incorporated
Oyster Intake Lab Manager
Organized and managed intake lab. Ordered supplies, scheduled staff, and scheduled intake of oyster larval,
quadrat, dredge and settlement plate samples; processed oyster quadrats and dredges including enumerated and
prepared samples for contaminant and gonad analysis; prepared larval samples for secure shipment to larval
processing lab; and analyzed settlement plates. Conducted data entry and sent updates to principal investigators.
Sargassum Field Survey Coodinator
Ordered supplies, scheduled staff, and scheduled aerial surveys. Scheduled and participated in HUET and
underwater survival training in New Iberia, LA. Conducted helicopter aerial transect surveys in order to locate and ID
Sargassum clumps, mats, and lines. Participated in aerial spotting surveys and communicated sargassum
coordinates to sampling team on vessel via radio. Scheduled and conducted data intake. Conducted data entry and
sent updates to principal investigators.
2006-2011
Fisheries Ecology Lab
University of South Alabama
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Research Technologist I
Planned and executed field work including vessel operation, biological sampling methods, fish tagging techniques,
and field observation; conducted regular samplings of marine environments via boat and beach access in Mississippi
Sound, Mobile Bay, Perdido, and the Gulf of Mexico; participated in expeditions, field trips, and oceanographic
cruises to research marine activity; evaluated data and prepared reports of research findings using a PC; maintained
laboratory equipment; ordered supplies and equipment; followed appropriate safety procedures in the handling,
storage, and disposal of biohazardous materials. Laboratory analysis skills included: vertebrate and invertebrate
identification, benthic sorting, gut contents of fishes (sorting and identification), oyster settlement plate analysis,
oyster and oyster spat processing, otolith preparation and age determination.
2003-2004
Dauphin Island Sea Lab- Undergraduate coursework
Sampled, identified, and studied marine vertebrates focusing on the biology, ecology, physiology, and systematics of
marine vertebrates local to the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding estuaries. Studied marine invertebrates focusing on
the morphology, natural history, and evolutionary relationships of the various invertebrate taxa. Studied marine
behavior and interactions. Trained in identifying coastal birds and their behaviors.
2001-2006
University of North Alabama- Undergraduate coursework
Gained field experience in aquatic biological sampling and analysis techniques. Studied local North Carolina wren
population under Dr. T. Haggerty including sampling and tagging techniques. Gained in depth chemical instrumental
methods experience including instrument calibration, instrument functionality, and statistical analysis.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2009-PRESENT
Guest Lecturer, Discovery Hall Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab
2012
Guest Lecturer, Vestavia Hills Elementary School, Cahaba Heights, AL. “Fisheries Ecology for 5th graders”
2011
Teaching Assistant, Marine Vertebrate Zoology (Dr. F. Hernandez), Dauphin Island Sea Lab
2010
Guest Lecturer, Mars Hill Bible School, Florence, AL. “So you want to be a Marine Biologist?”
PUBLICATIONS
Powers, S.P., M.W. Johnson, C.L. Hightower, and M.D. Kenworthy. (2010) Age, Growth, Mortality, and Diet
Composition of Vermilion Snapper from the North-Central Gulf of Mexico. Transactions of the American
Fisheries Society, 139: 1136-1149.
Powers S.P., C.L. Hightower, J.M. Drymon, and M.W. Johnson. (2012) Age composition and distribution of red
drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in offshore waters of the north central Gulf of Mexico: evaluating a stock under a
federal harvest moratorium. Fishery Bulletin, 110[3]: 283-292.
PRESENTATIONS
2012
Hightower, C.L., Powers, S.P. “Examining Mercury in Northern Gulf of Mexico Red Drum” (Oral) Mississippi Alabama Sea
Grant Bays and Bayous Symposium, Biloxi, MS.
2012
Hightower, C.L., and Powers, S.P. “2011 Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Red Drum Results” (Oral) ADSFR Luncheon,
Mobile, AL.
2012
Hightower, C.L., Powers, S.P. and Evans, D.W. “Examining Mercury in Northern Gulf of Mexico Red Drum” (Poster) USA
Research Forum, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL.
2012
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, J.M. Drymon and M.W. Johnson. “Age Composition and Distribution of Red Drum (Sciaenops
ocellatus) in Offshore Waters of the North Central Gulf of Mexico: Evaluating a Stock Under a Federal Harvest Moratorium”
(Oral) Gulf of Mexico Graduate Student Symposium, Dauphin Island, AL.
2011
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, J.M. Drymon and M.W. Johnson. “Evaluating the Status a Red Drum in the Offshore Waters of
the Northern Gulf of Mexico” (Oral) Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Boardwalk Talks, Dauphin Island, AL.
2011
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, and M.W. Johnson. “Age Distribution and Abundance Estimates of Adult Red Drum,
Sciaenops ocellatus, in Offshore Waters of the North Central Gulf of Mexico” (Poster) USA Research Forum, University of
South Alabama, Mobile, AL.
2011
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, and M.W. Johnson. “Age Distribution and Abundance Estimates of Adult Red Drum,
Sciaenops ocellatus, in Offshore Waters of the North Central Gulf of Mexico” (Poster) Benthic Ecology Meeting, Mobile, AL.
2011
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, and M.W. Johnson. “Age Distribution and Abundance Estimates of Adult Red Drum,
Sciaenops ocellatus, in Offshore Waters of the North Central Gulf of Mexico” (Poster) Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Bays
and Bayous Symposium, Mobile, AL.
2010
Hightower, C.L., and Powers, S.P. “2009 Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo Red Drum Results” (Oral) ADSFR Luncheon,
Mobile, AL.
2010
Powers, S.P., C.L. Hightower, and M.W. Johnson. “Age Distribution and Abundance Estimates of Adult Red Drum,
Sciaenops ocellatus, in Offshore Waters of the North Central Gulf of Mexico” (Oral) Alabama Fisheries Association Meeting,
Florence, AL.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/SERVICE
2006-2012
Discovery Day Coordinator, Fisheries Ecology Lab, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL.
2012
Alabama Coastal Cleanup
2009
Hightower, C.L., S.P. Powers, and F.J. Fodrie. “History of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo” (brochure)
LEADERSHIP
2012
2012
Gulf of Mexico Graduate Student Symposium, Co-Chair
Marine Science Graduate Student Organization Executive Board- Student/Faculty Representative
MEMBERSHIPS
2011-Present
University of South Alabama Marine Science Graduate Student Organization
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
CPR/AED American Heart Association (2003-present)
American Red Cross First Aid
Alabama vessel operator license
SSI Open Water SCUBA Diver
AAUS Scientific Diver 30’
NAUI Rescue Diver
IACUC-“Working with the IACUC” certification
Helicopter Underwater Egress Training & Underwater Survival certification
REFERENCES
Dr. Sean P. Powers, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528.
Phone: (251) 861-2141 (ext. 2265), Email: spowers@disl.org
Dr. Joel Fodrie, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, NC 28557.
Phone: (252) 726-6841 (ext. 149), Email: jfodrie@unc.edu
Dr. J. Marcus Drymon, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528.
Phone: (251) 861-2141 (ext. 2133), Email: mdrymon@disl.org