Curriculum vitae
Amy Alexis Larson
Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego,
California 92182
Phone: 619 594-6574
e.mail: alarson@sciences.sdsu.edu
Education:
Joint Doctoral Program in Ecology, University of California at Davis & San Diego State
University
Degree: Ph.D., in progress
Dissertation: The relative importance of chemical and structural complexity in habitat
modification for a soft-sediment community.
Project Advisors: John J. Stachowicz, Brian T. Hentschel
Marine Science Research Center, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Degree: Masters of Science, 2000
Thesis: Community parameters and the role of substrate type in characterizing the distribution
of Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) in Great South Bay, New York
Project Advisor: Robert M. Cerrato
University of California, San Diego
Degree: Bachelor of Science, 1996
Major: Ecology Behavior and Evolution
Minor: French Studies.
Sorbonne, University of Paris via State University of New York at Oswego
Level: College of French Language and Civilization, 1994
Research Interests:
Structuring mechanisms in soft-sediment marine benthic communities; positive interactions;
chemical ecology; foundation species; non-indigenous species
Teaching:
Instructor. Experimental Ecology (Field Ecology) Laboratory (354L). San Diego State
University. 2003.
Teaching Assistant: Experimental Ecology (354). San Diego State University. 2002 – 2003.
Teaching Assistant: Foundations of Biology: Molecules to Organisms; Organisms to
Ecosystems. State University of New York, Stony Brook. 1997-1998.
Academic committees:
Treasurer for the Ecology Graduate Student Association. San Diego State University. 20032004.
Student Representative to Graduate Program Committee. Marine Sciences Research Center,
State University of New York. 1998-2000.
Award:
Sea Grant Scholar, New York Sea Grant Institute. 1998-2000
Work History:
Research Assistant. Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University with Dr. Brian
Hentschel, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2000.
Research Assistant. Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York with Prof.
Robert Cerrato, Stony Brook, New York, 1998.
Full time laboratory technician. Scripps Institution of Oceanography in Prof. Lisa Levin’s
laboratory, La Jolla, California. 1996-1997
Presentations:
Larson, A.A. and R.M Cerrato. The role of substrate type in characterizing the distribution of
Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) in Great South Bay, New York. 2003 Annual Meeting of the
National Shellfisheries Association. New Orleans, Louisiana. April 2003.
Larson, A.A. and J. J. Stachowicz. The role of physical structure and chemical defense in
structuring an infaunal mudflat community. 32nd Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. University of
Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut. March 2003.
Larson, A.A. and B.T. Hentschel. Growth rates of interference-feeding spionid polychaetes in
laboratory flumes: effects of interspecific density and biogenic disturbance. 30th Annual Benthic
Ecology Meeting. University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire. March 2001.
Larson, A.A., V.A. Gerard, R.M. Cerrato. Potential impact of Hemigrapsus sanguineus, via
predation on mussels and littorine snails. First National Conference on Marine Bioinvasions.
M.I.T. Cambridge, Massachusetts. January 1999.
Publications:
Gerard, V.A., R.M. Cerrato, A.A. Larson (1999). Potential impacts of a western Pacific grapsid
crab on intertidal communities of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. Biological Invasions 2:1-9.
Levin, L.A., D. Talley, T. Talley, A. Larson, A. Jones, G. Thayer, C.Currin, C. Lund (1995).
Restoration of a Spartina marsh function: An infaunal perspective. Society for Ecological
Restoration, 1995 International Conference. Seatlle, Washington.
Professional Organizations:
Western Society of Naturalists
Ecological Society of America
(updated September 2003)