UCF Biology Faculty

Research Interests

Dr. Walters’ research focuses on human impacts in the marine environment. She is interested in both pure ecology questions and goal-based conservation issues for a wide range of marine and estuarine habitats in the Caribbean and the southeastern US, especially the Indian River Lagoon system (IRL) and the Florida Keys. In the IRL, her program focuses on understanding interactions among organisms on intertidal oyster reefs (including invasive barnacles and mussels), as well as looking at the impacts of recreational boat wakes on the recent declines of these reefs. They are collaborating with The Nature Conservancy on community-based restoration of this critical habitat. Other on-going research in the IRL includes studies on mangroves and salt marsh plants, boat propeller scar impacts on seagrass beds, and dispersal and allelopathic impacts of invasive Brazilian pepper on native flora. Additional research in her lab on invasive species has targeted dispersal of one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species, Caulerpa taxifolia, via e-commerce and retail shops. Outreach to the aquarium industry is currently underway with colleagues from CA Sea Grant. In the Florida Keys, Bahamas and Virgin Islands, she has been collaborating with many scientists to better understand how increases in abundances of certain species of macroalgae significantly reduces recruitment and survival of hard corals and how the return of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarium may change this pattern.

Selected Publications

Beach, K, Walters, L., and H. Borgeas. 2006. Irradiance and nutrient limitation of Dictyota spp. populations in Conch Reef, Florida Keys. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 329:101-112.
Herren, L., Walters, L. and K. Beach. 2006. Fragment generation, survival and attachment of Dictyota spp. at Conch Reef in the Florida Keys, USA. Coral Reefs 25:287-295.
Kuffner, I., Walters, L., Becerro, M., Paul, V., Ritson-Williams, R., and K. Beach. 2006. The role of weedy primary producers in perpetuating the degraded state of coral reefs in the Florida Keys. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323:107-117.
Stam, W., Olsen, J., Zaleski, S., Murray, S., Brown, K., and L. Walters. 2006. A forensic and phylogenetic survey of Caulerpa species (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) from the Florida coast, local aquarium shops and e-commerce: establishing a proactive baseline for early detection. Journal of Phycology 42:1113-1124.
Walters, L., Brown, K., Stam, W. and J. Olsen. 2006. E-commerce and Caulerpa, unregulated dispersal of invasive species. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 4:75-79.
Wall, L., Walters, L., Grizzle, R. and P. Sacks. 2005. Recreational boating activity and its impact on the recruitment and survival of the oyster Crassostrea virginica on intertidal reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 24:965-973.
Boudreaux, M., Stiner, J., and L. Walters. In press. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research.
Walters, L. Sacks, P., and L. Coen. In press. Impact of hurricanes and boat wakes on intertidal oyster reefs in the Indian River Lagoon: reef profiles and disease prevalence. Special Indian River Lagoon Edition of Florida Scientist.
Boudreaux, M. and L. Walters. 2006. Mytella charruana: A new, invasive bivalve in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. The Nautilus 120:34-36.

Highlights

January 2009:

Shannon Segelsky (Bio MS), under the supervision of Dr. Linda Walters, was recently awarded a $1000 scholarship by the Astronaut Trail Shell Club.

March 2008:

At "Women making History Celebration 2008" ceremony the following faculty were recognized as women that enhance research and leadership capacity of UCF. Kimiko Akita (Communication), Archana Dubey (Physics), Cherie Geiger (Chemistry), Linda Walters (Biology), Jane Waterman (Biology) and Cynthia Young (Math). We honor them during Women's History Month at the Women Making History Luncheon.

February 2008: The following people were participants of the CASTL grant.Twelve proposals were submitted, and three were chosen for an award of $2,500 each. The three proposals that were chosen are the following: Drs. J Katt, S Hastings, and J Butler; Nicholson School of Communication, College of Sciences; "The Honors in the Major Thesis Experience". Dr. R Kenney; Nicholson School of Communication, College of Sciences; "How High-Achieving Undergraduate Researchers Describe Their Experience" Drs L Walters and J Waterman; Department of Biology, College of Sciences; and Dr. L Nadelson; Department of Educational Studies, College of Education; "Including Research in Upper-Division Science Courses at Large Universities: Does It Maximize Student Learning and, If So, What Formats are Most Effective?" Congratulations to all!

January 2008:

Dr. Waterman and Dr. Walters; Two Biology Women Faculty members have been selected to be honored at the Women Making History: The Faculty Women of Prominence Project luncheon on March 05. The project is honoring UCF women faculty and administrators who have had significant national and/or international recognition in 2006-2007.They are among 20 women selected across campus for this honor.Congratulations to our awardees!! .

November 2007:

Congrats to: Julia (JJ) Leissin's award from the 2007 Estuarine Research Federation Conference in Providence, RI earlier this month. There were over 1200 presentations and 2000 attendees, and JJ's oral presentation was voted "first place undergraduate presentation". It came with $500 and a certificate. The title of the talk was: Allelopathic Effects of the Exotic Brazilian Pepper Schinus terebinthifolius on Growth of Native Saltmarsh Flora. Co-authors were Nicole Martucci (Undergraduate), Danielle Green (Undergraduate McNair scholar), Melinda Donnelly (Ph.D. candidate) and Linda Walters (faculty mentor).

February 2007: Biologist Linda Walters, with funding from the National Park Service,is studying the damage by powerboat wakes to oyster beds in Mosquito Lagoon at the Canaveral National Seashore.

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