Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
CURRICULUM VITAE
Kelton Wells McMahon, Ph.D.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Biology Department, MS 50
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
Phone: (508) 289-3966; Fax: (508) 457-2089
Email: kmcmahon@whoi.edu
Lab Webpage: http://www.whoi.edu/sbl/liteSite.do?litesiteid=4290
Personal Webpage: http://www.whoi.edu/people/kmcmahon
Education
2011-present
Post-doctoral Investigator (Biology): Department of Biology, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA and Red Sea Research
Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia.
Supervisors: Dr. Simon R. Thorrold (WHOI) and Dr. Michael Berumen (KAUST)
2005-2011
Ph.D. Candidate (Biological Oceanography) Massachusetts Institute of
Technology-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in
Oceanography: Applied Ocean Science and Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Simon R. Thorrold
Dissertation Title: “Functional connectivity of coral reef fishes in a tropical
seascape assessed by compound-specific stable isotope analyses.”
2001-2005
B.Sc. (Biology) Bates College, Summa Cum Laude
Advisors: Dr. William Ambrose Jr. (Biology) and Dr. Beverly Johnson (Geology)
Honors Thesis Title: “The impact of a changing food supply on Arctic benthos:
Digestibility of ice algae and phytoplankton”
Academic Honors and Awards
Best Student Paper Award (2009) 4th International Otolith Symposium
Sally Richardson Best Student Paper Award (2009) 33rd Annual Larval Fish Conference
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (2006-2009) Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution
Ocean Life Fellowship (2005-2006) Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Graduate Council Fellowship (2005) Offer Declined
Presidential Award (2005) Offer Declined
Summa Cum Laude (2005) Bates College
Inducted to Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society (2005)
Howard Hughes Summer Fellowship (2004-2005) Bates College
Dean’s Honors List (2001-2005) Bates College: (8 consecutive semesters)
Arthur Crafts Award (2001) Bates College
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
Publications
12. McMahon KW, Thorrold SR (In prep) Ocean ecogeochemistry applied to connectivity and
trophic dynamics in marine populations: A review.
11. McMahon KW, Berumen ML, Thorrold SR (In prep) Functional connectivity of coral reef
fishes in a tropical seascape. Science
10. McMahon KW, Berumen ML, Mateo I, Elsdon TS, Thorrold SR (In press) Carbon isotopes in
otolith amino acids identify residency of juvenile snapper (Family: Lutjanidae) in
coastal nurseries. Coral Reefs
9. McMahon KW, Fogel ML, Johnson BJ, Houghton LA, Thorrold SR (2011) A new method to
reconstruct fish diet and movement patterns from 13C values in otolith amino acids.
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 68:1330-1340
8. McMahon KW, Fogel ML, Elsdon T, Thorrold SR (2010) Carbon isotope fractionation of
amino acids in fish muscle reflects biosynthesis and isotopic routing from dietary
protein. Journal of Animal Ecology 79: 1132-1141
7. Elsdon T, Ayvazian S, McMahon KM, Thorrold SR (2010) Experimental evaluation of
stable isotope fractionation in fish muscle and otoliths. Marine Ecology Progress
Series 408: 195-205
6. Graham BS, Koch PL, Newsome SD, McMahon KW, and Aurioles D (2009) Using isoscapes
to trace the movements and foraging behavior of top predators in oceanic
ecosystems. In Isoscapes: Understanding Movement, Pattern and Process on Earth
Through Isotope Mapping (eds. J. West, G. J. Bowen, T. E. Dawson, K. P. Tu).pp. 299318, Springer, New York
5. Skomal GB, Zeeman SI, Chisholm JH, Summers EL, Walsh HJ, McMahon KW, Thorrold SR.
(2009) Mesopelagic trans-equatorial migrations by basking sharks in the western
Atlantic Ocean. Current Biology 19:1019-1022
4. Carroll M, Johnson B, Henkes G, McMahon KW, Voronkov A, Ambrose W, Denisenko S.
(2009). Bivalves as indicators of environmental variation and potential
anthropogenic impacts in the southern Barents Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin
59:193-206
3. Ambrose WG, Carroll ML, Greenacre M, Thorrold SR, McMahon KW. (2006) “Variation in
bivalve growth in a Norwegian high-Arctic fjord: Evidence for local- and large-scale
climatic forcing.” Global Change Biology 12:1595-1607
2. McMahon KW, Ambrose WG, Johnson BJ, Sun M-Y, Lopez GR, Clough LM, Carroll ML
(2006) Benthic community response to ice algae and phytoplankton in Ny Ålesund,
Svalbard. Marine Ecology Progress Series 310:1-14 (Issue’s feature article)
1. McMahon KW, Johnson BJ, Ambrose WG. (2005). Diet and movement of the killifish,
Fundulus heteroclitus, in a Maine salt marsh assessed using gut contents and stable
isotope analyses. Estuaries 28:966-973
Research Grants
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
International Society for Reef Studies/Ocean Conservancy Coral Reef Research Fellowship
(2008)
Ocean Life Institute Student Research Grant (2008)
Isoscapes Travel Grant (2008)
Howard Hughes Travel Grant (2005)
Bates College Student Research Grant (2004)
Howard Hughes Student-Faculty Research Grant (2004)
Howard Hughes Travel Grant (2004)
Bates College Student Research Grant (2003)
Research Experience
Post-doctoral Research (2011-present) Investigating the importance of coastal wetland
habitats to tropical marine fisheries through compound-specific stable isotope analysis.
Adapting compound-specific stable isotope analysis technique to conduct 15N analyses of
individual amino acids.
Graduate Research (2007-2011): Ph.D thesis 1) developing methods to conduct compoundspecific stable isotope analysis on individual amino acids from otoliths and 2) examining
ontogenetic migration and connectivity between juvenile nursery habitats and coral reefs for
snapper Lutjanus spp. Acquired funding, conducted field and lab work, data analysis and
interpretation, wrote manuscripts. McMahon et al. (in press) Coral Reefs; McMahon et al.
(2011) Can J Fish Aquat Sci 68:1330-1340; McMahon et al. (2010) J. Anim. Ecol. 79: 11321141; Elsdon et al. (2010) Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 408: 195-205
Co-investigator (2007-present): Examining inter-annual to inter-decadal climate
variability in the Arctic Ocean via analysis of δ18O, δ13C and trace element microchemistry in
shells of the bivalve Serripes groenlandicus. Conducted lab work, data analysis,
interpretation and contributed to the manuscripts. Collaborators: Dr. WG Ambrose (Bates
College), Dr. ML Carroll (Akvaplan-niva, Norway), Dr. B Johnson (Bates College). Carroll et al.
(2009) Mar. Poll. Bull. 59:193-206
Co-investigator (2006-present): Tracking ocean-basin scale migration of basking sharks and
whale sharks with PSAT telemetry and stable isotope analysis. Determining the postdepositional metabolic stability of shark vertebrae using bomb-radiocarbon analysis of bulk
collagen, lipids and individual amino acids. Conducted lab work, data analysis and
interpretation, and contributed to the manuscript. Collaborators: Dr. SR Thorrold (WHOI), Dr.
G. Skomal (MA Division of Marine Fisheries), Dr. M Berumen (KAUST). Skomal et al. (2009)
Curr. Biol. 19:1019-1022.
Graduate Research (2006-2007): Conducted meta-analysis of published plankton δ13C and
δ15N values and seawater δ18O and δ2H values for the Atlantic Ocean to develop ocean-basin
scale isoscapes (2D MATLAB contour plots spatial isotope data). Conducted lab work, data
analysis, and contributed to the manuscript. Collaborators: Dr. SR Thorrold (WHOI)
Undergraduate Thesis (2004-2005): “Impacts of a changing food supply on Arctic benthos:
Digestibility of ice algae and phytoplankton.” Acquired funding, conducted field work including
cruise time aboard the R/V Jan Mayen, and lab work, data analysis and interpretation, and
wrote the manuscript. Collaborators: Dr. WG Ambrose (Bates College), Dr. BJ Johnson (Bates
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
College), Dr. GR Lopez (SUNY Stony Brook), Dr. ML Carroll (Akvaplan-Niva, Norway), Dr. MY Sun (University of Georgia), Dr. LM Clough (Eastern Carolina University). McMahon et al.
(2006) Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 310:1-14.
Co-Investigator (2003): “Variation in bivalve growth in a Norwegian high-Arctic fjord:
Evidence for local- and large-scale climatic forcing.” Conducted lab work, data analysis,
interpretation, and contributed to the manuscript. Collaborators: Dr. WG Ambrose (Bates
College), Dr. ML Carroll (Akvaplan-niva, Norway), Dr. M Greenacre (Pompeu Fabra University,
Spain), Dr. SR Thorrold (WHOI). Ambrose et al. (2006) Global Change Biol. 12:1595-1607
Lead Investigator (2003): “Diet and regional feeding habits of the common mummichog,
Fundulus heteroclitus, in a Maine salt marsh assessed using stable carbon and nitrogen and gut
content analyses.” Acquired funding, conducted field and lab work, data analysis and
interpretation, and wrote the manuscript. Collaborators: Dr. WG Ambrose (Bates College), Dr.
BJ Johnson (Bates College). McMahon et al. (2005) Estuaries 28:966-973
Research Assistant (2002-2003): “Impacts of Phragmites control on selected ecological
functions within tidelands of the Lieutenant River.” Examined Phragmites expansion rates,
litter decomposition rates, and marsh fish and invertebrate habitat use in Phragmites
dominated marshes versus control marshes pre- and post-Phragmites eradication (with
herbicide and mowing). Conducted field and lab work, data analysis, and interpretation.
Collaborators: Dr. RS Warren (Connecticut College), Dr. PE Fell (Connecticut College).
Teaching Experience
Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS) (2010-present): Falmouth High School mentor
Guest Lecturer, Sea Education Association (2010): SEA semester, advanced undergraduates
Teacher’s Assistant, MIT/WHOI (2010): Biological Oceanography 7.43, graduate students
Guest Lecturer, Connecticut College (2010): Biology/Botany 294, advanced undergraduates
Co-Instructor, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2009): Developed and co-taught
three week course “Human Impacts on the Marine Environment,” advanced undergraduates
MIT-WHOI Graduate Student Mentor (2008-present)
Guest Lecturer, Mullen-Hall Elementary School (2008): Multiple lessons on Ocean Science.
Elementary School
Guest Lecturer, Brown University (2008): BIOL 1880: Comparative Biology of Vertebrates.
Advanced Undergraduates
Guest Lecturer, Codman Academy (2007): Marine Biology Course: High School
Technical Writing Assistant, Bates College (2004-2005): Biological Principles, Ecology,
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Academic Tutor, Bates College (2004-2005): Organic Chemistry I and II, Calculus I and II,
Biological Principles, Ecology
Teacher’s Assistant, Bates College (2003-2005): Organic Chemistry I and II, Biological
Principles, Ecology
Conference Presentations
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
McMahon KW “Ontogenetic migration and trophic dynamics.” Oral Presentation at: Red Sea
Research Center Symposium, April 2011, King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
McMahon KW, Fogel M, Thorrold, S. “A new tool for inferring trophic interactions and fish
movement using stable carbon isotope analysis of otolith amino acids.” Poster Presentation
at: ALSO Ocean Sciences Meeting, February 2010, Portland, OR, USA
McMahon KW, Fogel M, Elsdon T, Mataeo I., Thorrold S. “Stable Carbon Isotope Analysis of
Amino Acids in Otolith Protein: A New Tool for Tracking Fish Movement.” Oral Presentation
at: 4th International Otolith Symposium, August 2009, Monterey, CA, USA (Best Student
Paper Award)
McMahon KW, Fogel M, Elsdon T, Thorrold S. “Carbon Isotope Fractionation of Amino Acids
of a Marine Fish.” Oral presentation at: 33rd Annual Larval Fish Conference, July 2009,
Portland, OR, USA (Sally Richardson Best Student Paper Award)
McMahon KW, Fogel M, Elsdon T, Thorrold S. “Patterns in Carbon Isotope Fractionation of
Amino Acids Between Diet and Consumer in a Model Fish Species.” Oral presentation at: 6th
Annual Isotope Ecology Conference, August 2008, Honolulu, HI, USA
McMahon KW, Lysiak N, Brin L, Buckman K, Kneeland J, Gibbons F, Thorrold SR. “Ocean
ecogeochemistry applied to connectivity analyses in marine populations.” Poster
presentation at: Isoscapes Conference, April 2008, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
McMahon KW, Ambrose WG, Johnson BJ, Sun M-Y, Lopez GR, Clough LM, Carroll ML. “The
impacts of a changing food supply on Arctic benthos: Digestibility of ice algae and
phytoplankton.” Oral presentation at: 34th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. April 2005,
Williamsburg, VA, USA
McMahon KW. “The Impacts of a Changing Food Supply on Arctic Benthos.” Oral
Presentation at: Mount David Research Symposium, March 2005, Lewiston, ME, USA
McMahon KW, Ambrose WG, Johnson BJ. “Contributions of local food items to the diet of
Fundulus heteroclitus: Analysis of δ13C/δ15N and gut contents.” Poster presentation at: 33rd
Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. March 2004, Mobile, AL, USA
McMahon, KW. “Contributions of Local Food Items to the Diet of Fundulus heteroclitus”
Poster presentation at: Mount David Research Symposium, March 2004, Lewiston, ME, USA
McMahon KW. “Impacts of Phragmites control on selected ecological functions within
tidelands of the Lieutenant River.” Poster presentation at: Connecticut College Research
Symposium, August 2003, New London, CT, USA
Invited Talks and Seminars
McMahon KW “Functional connectivity of snapper in a Red Sea coral reef seascape.” June 2011,
ARC Centre of Excellence, Coral Reef Studies Seminar, James Cook University, Townsville,
Australia
McMahon KW “Tracking fish migration in the marine environment.” June 2010, Sea Education
Association, Woods Hole, MA
McMahon KW, “Tracking fish migration in the marine environment: new approaches to an old
question.” February 2010, Connecticut College, New London, CT
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
McMahon KW “Stable carbon isotope analysis of amino acids in otolith protein: a new tool for
tracking fish movement.” November 2009, WHOI Biology Department Seminar, Woods Hole, MA
McMahon KW “The secret lives of coral reef fishes: tracking migration in the marine
environment.” September 2009, WHOI Ocean Science Journalism Fellows Lecture, Woods Hole, MA
McMahon KW “Tracking animal movement in the marine environment.” February 2009, Biology
Department Seminar, Bates College, Lewiston, ME
McMahon KW “Tracking coral reef fish migration: a chemical approach to an ecological question.”
October 2008, WHOI Trustee and Corporation Member Lecture, Woods Hole, MA
McMahon KW “Where do the juvenile coral reef fish play?” September 2008, WHOI Ocean Science
Journalism Fellows Lecture, Woods Hole, MA
McMahon KW “Impacts of a changing food supply on Arctic benthos: digestibility of ice algae and
phytoplankton.” April 2005, Dr. G. Lopez’s Lab, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
McMahon KW “The impact of a changing food supply on Arctic benthos: digestibility of ice algae
and phytoplankton.” October 2004, Dr. A. Flecker’s Lab, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Published Abstracts (presented by collaborators)
Ambrose WG, Carroll ML, Clough LM, Greenacre M, McMahon KW, Henkes G, Edgerly J “Bivalve
(Serripes groenlandicus) and gastropod (Neptunea heros) growth in coastal northwest Alaska
reflects Arctic climate regime shifts and local environmental factors.” International Polar Year
Open Science Conference, June 2010, Olso, Norway.
Skomal GB, Zeeman SI, Chisholm JH, Summers EL, Walsh HJ, McMahon KW, Thorrold SR.
“Mesopelagic trans-equatorial migrations by basking sharks in the western Atlantic Ocean” 25th
Annual American Elasmobranch Society Meeting, July 2009, Portland, OR, USA
Graham B, Fry B, Popp B, Koch P, Newsome S, McMahon KW. “Using isoscapes to trace the
movements and foraging behavior of predators in oceanic ecosystems.” 6th Annual Isotope
Ecology Conference, August 2008, Honolulu, HI, USA
Carroll ML, Denisenko SG, Voronkov A, Ambrose WG, Henkes G, McMahon KW. “Arctic bivalves
as indicators of environmental variation from intra-annual to centennial timescales.” Ocean
Sciences Meeting, ASLO, March 2008, Orlando, FL, USA
Johnson BJ, Ambrose WG, Henkes G, McMahon KW, Carroll ML. “Shifts in the δ13C of Serripes
groenlandicus Shell Organic Matter: A Proxy for Intra- and Interannual Changes in Primary
Production in the Arctic?” National American Chemical Society (ACS) Meeting, August 2007,
Boston, MA, USA
Henkes GA, Johnson BJ, Ambrose WG, McMahon KW, Carroll ML, Hop H “Environmental
Conditions in a Norwegian High Arctic Fjord: Evidence from Serripes groenlandicus (Bivalvia)
Growth Rates and Shell Organic Carbon Isotope Composition” 1st International
Sclerochronology Conference, July 2007, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Carroll ML, Ambrose WG, Greenacre M, Clough L, McMahon KW, Thorrold SR, Henkes GA,
Stinson L, Edgerly J. “Arctic bivalves as proxies of local and large-scale climatic variations:
Analysis of pan-Arctic growth patterns.” 1st International Sclerochronology Conference, July
2007, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
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Curriculum Vitae
Kelton W. McMahon
Carroll ML, Ambrose WG, Greenacre M, Clough LM, McMahon KW, Stinson L, Edgerly J,
Thorrold S. “Arctic bivalves as proxies of local and large-scale climatic variations: Analysis of
pan-Arctic growth patterns.” Ecosystems Dynamics in the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea.
March 2007, Tromsø Norway
Johnson BJ, Ambrose WG, McMahon KW, Carroll ML. “Shifts in the δ13C of Serripes
groenlandicus Shell Organic Matter: A Proxy for Intra- and Interannual Changes in Primary
Production in the Arctic?” New England Geological Society American Annual Meeting. March
2007, Durham, NH, USA
Johnson BJ, Ambrose WG, McMahon KW, Carroll ML. “Shifts in the δ13C of Serripes
groenlandicus Shell Organic Matter: A Proxy for Intra- and Interannual Changes in Primary
Production in the Arctic?” Arctic Frontiers Meeting, January 2007, Tromsö, Norway
Ambrose WG, Carroll ML, Nolan K, Retelle M, Greenacre M, McMahon KW. “Climate Change on
Svalbard: Evidence from Modern and Fossil Bivalves.” Arctic Frontiers Meeting. January 2007,
Tromsö, Norway
Clough LM, Ambrose WG, Betournay S, Carroll ML, Lopez GR, Meltzer K, Sun M-Y, McMahon
KW, Richardson M. “The Digestibility of Ice Algae and Phytoplankton: Impacts on Arctic Benthic
Macrofauna.” Ocean Sciences Meeting. February 2006, Honolulu, HI, USA
Carroll ML, Ambrose WG, Greenacre M, McMahon KW, Thorrold SR. “Patterns of Variation in
Bivalve Growth in a Norwegian High-Arctic Fjord: Evidence for Local- and Large-Scale Forcing.”
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Summer Meeting. June 2005,
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Ambrose WG, Carroll ML, Greenacre M, McMahon KW, Thorrold SR. “Patterns of Variation in
Bivalve Growth in a Norwegian High-Arctic Fjord: Evidence for Local- and Large-Scale Forcing.”
34th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting. April 2005, Williamsburg, VA, USA
Carroll ML, Clough LM, Sun M-Y, Lopez GR, Ambrose WG, McMahon KW. “Response of Arctic
benthic communities to variable food supplies associated with climatic change: Ice algae vs.
phytoplankton.” Gordon Research Conference on Polar Marine Sciences. March 2005, Ventura,
CA, USA
Manuscript reviewer for: Amino Acids, Estuaries, Journal of Sea Research, Marine Ecology Progress
Series, Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Progress in Oceanography, Journal of Experimental Marine
Biology and Ecology
Grant reviewer for: National Science Foundation
Dive certifications: NAUI Advanced Open Water, NAUI Rescue Diver, NAUI Nitrox, NAUI Drysuit,
IANTD Closed-Circuit rebreather
Society membership: American Association for Underwater Scientists, American Fisheries Society,
Advancing the Science of Limnology and Oceanography, Divers Alert Network, Phi Beta Kappa Society,
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Current as of August 2011
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