CV - Institute for Ocean Conservation Science

DEMIAN D. CHAPMAN (Ph.D.)
Phone: 631 632 8731
e-mail: demian.chapman@stonybrook.edu
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Current
Assistant Professor, School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Assistant Director of Science, Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, Stony Brook
University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
Prior
Postdoctoral researcher (2007-2008). Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric
Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149 U.S.A.
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH INTERESTS: My primary research interests lie in
elucidating dispersal and reproductive patterns in marine vertebrates (principally
elasmobranch fishes) by integrating genetic and electronic tagging data, with a particular
focus on how these patterns influence the spatial structure of genetic variation, population
dynamics and apply to conservation. I am increasingly interested in the effect of the removal
of large predators on coastal ecosystems and, conversely, how altered trophic structure of
coastal ecosystems has affected the ecology of the remnant large predators. I am also
interested in the development of wildlife forensic resources for law enforcement and trade
monitoring purposes.
EDUCATION
B.Sc. 1995. (Zoology/Ecology), Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New
Zealand.
M.S. 2004. and Ph.D. 2007. (Oceanography-Marine Biology), Nova Southeastern
University Oceanographic Ctr, Dania Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
RESEARCH SUPPORT at SOMAS
The Pew Charitable Trusts (2010-2012)-$ 195,000. (Natal homing in a large coast shark, PI).
National Geographic Society (2010-2011)-$19,800 (Basking shark tracking and surveying-
New Zealand, PI).
NOAA Section 6 (2011-2013)-$2,400,000 (Atlantic sturgeon-tracking and genetics, Co-PI
with M. Frisk, A. Jordan, K. Dunton, D. Conover & E. Pikitch).

National Marine Fisheries Service (2010-2011)-$25,000 (Largetooth sawfish population
genetics, Co-PI with K. Feldheim).
National Marine Fisheries Service (2011-2012) -$37,500 (Species delineation of south
Florida silversides, PI).
Grainger Foundation (2010-2011)-$25,000 (White shark genetics, Co-PIwith K. Feldheim).
Earthwatch International (2011-2014)-$260,000 (Shark Conservation in Belize, PI).
Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission (2011-2013)-$60,000 (Smalltooth sawfish
conservation genetics, PI).
The Roe Foundation (2009-2010)-$40,000 (Are marine reserves protecting sharks on the
Belize Barrier Reef? PI)
The Roe Foundation/Simons Challenge (2012-2013) $60,000 (Shark conservation and
ecology on the Belize Barrier Reef, PI).
The Roe Foundation/Simons Challenge (2012)-$25,000 (The Shark fin identification app,
PI).
The Moore Charitable Trusts (2012-2013)-$ 32,500 (Movements patterns of pelagic sharks in
the Eastern Pacific, PI).
Microwave Telemetry (2012)-$126,000 (in-kind donation of pop-off archival satellite tags,
PI).
Save Our Seas Foundation (2013)-$9,100 (Assessing transboundry movements of oceanic
whitetip sharks, Carcharhinus longimanus in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, PI).
Landeau Foundation/Simons Challenge (2012-2016)- $ 3,200,000 (Shinnecock Bay
Restoration Project, Co-PI with C. Gobler, E. Pikitch and B. Peterson).
The Moore Charitable Trusts (2013)-$124,000 (Shark tracking and nursery area delineation
in The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary, PI).
The Shark Foundation (2013)- $6,000 (Population genetics of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico,
PI).
PUBLICATIONS
1. Chapman D.D. and S.H. Gruber. 2002. A further observation of the prey-handling
behavior of the great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran: predation upon a spotted
eagle ray, Aetobatus narinari. Bulletin of Marine Science 70(3): 947-952.
2. Chapman, D.D., D.L. Abercrombie, E.K. Pikitch, C. Doudy, M. Stanhope and M.S.
Shivji. 2003. A streamlined, bi-organelle, multiplex PCR approach to species
identification: global conservation and trade monitoring for the great white shark,
Carcharodon carcharias. Conservation Genetics 4: 415-425.
3. Chapman, D.D., M.J. Corcoran, G.M. Harvey, S. Malan and M.S. Shivji. 2003. Mating
behavior of southern stingrays, Dasyatis americana (Dasyatidae). Environmental Biology
of Fishes 68: 241-245.
4. Chapman, D.D., P.A. Prodöhl, J. Gelsleichter, C.A. Manire and M.S. Shivji. 2004.
Predominance of genetic monogamy by females in a hammerhead shark, Sphyrna tiburo:
Implications for shark conservation. Molecular Ecology 13: 1965-1974.

5. Chapman, D.D., E.K. Pikitch, E. Babcock and M. Shivji. 2005. Marine reserve design and
evaluation using automated acoustic telemetry: a case-study involving coral reefassociated
sharks in the Mesoamerican Caribbean. Marine Technology Society Journal
39: 42-53.
6. Pikitch, E. K., D.D. Chapman, E. A. Babcock and M. S. Shivji. 2005. Habitat use and
demographic population structure of elasmobranchs at a Caribbean atoll (Glover’s Reef,
Belize). Marine Ecology Progress Series 302:187-197.
7. Shivji, M.S., D.D. Chapman, E.K. Pikitch and P.W. Raymond. 2005. Genetic profiling
reveals illegal international trade in fins of the great white shark, Carcharodon
carcharias. Conservation Genetics 6: 1035-1039.
8. Chapman, D. D., E.K. Pikitch and E.A. Babcock. 2006. Marine Parks Need Sharks?
Science 312: 526-527.
9. Garla, R.C., D.D. Chapman, B.M. Wetherbee and M.S. Shivji. 2006. Movement patterns
of young Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi, at Fernando de Noronha
Archipelago, Brazil: the potential of marine protected areas for conservation of a nursery
ground. Marine Biology 149: 189-199.
10. Garla, R.C., D.D. Chapman, B.M. Wetherbee, M.S. Shivji and A.F. Amorim. 2006.
Habitat of juvenile Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi, at two oceanic insular
Marine Protected Areas in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean: Fernando de Noronha
Archipelago and Atol das Rocas, Brazil. Fisheries Research 81: 236-247.
11. Chapman, D.D., M. S. Shivji, E. Louis, J. Sommer, H. Fletcher and P.A. Prodöhl. 2007.
Virgin birth in a hammerhead shark. Biology Letters 3(4): 425-427 (With cover).
12. Chapman, D.D., E.K. Pikitch, E.A. Babcock and M.S. Shivji. 2007. Deep-diving and
diel changes in vertical habitat use by Caribbean reef sharks, Carcharhinus perezi.
Marine Ecology Progress Series 344: 271–275.
13. Feldheim, K.A., A.J. Stow, H. Ahonen, D.D. Chapman, M.S. Shivji, V. Peddemors and
S. Wintner. 2007. Polymorphic microsatellite markers for studies of the conservation and
reproductive genetics of imperiled sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus). Molecular
Ecology Notes 7(6): 1366-1368.
14. Chapman, D.D., B. Firchau, M.S. Shivji. 2008. Parthenogenesis in a large-bodied
requiem shark (family Carcharhinidae). Journal of Fish Biology 73:1473-1477.
15. Chapman, D.D., et al. 2009. Natal site-fidelity in immature lemon sharks, Negaprion
brevirostris, at a subtropical island. Molecular Ecology 18(16): 3500-3507 (With cover).

16. Chapman, D.D., Pinhal, D., Shivji, M.S. 2009. Genetic stock identification in
endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna lewini. Endangered Species Research
doi: 10.3354/esr00241.
17. Feldheim, K.A., Chapman, D.D., Sweet, D., Fitzpatrick, S., Prodohl, P.A., Shivji, M.S.,
Snowden, B. 2010. Shark virgin birth produces multiple, viable offspring. Journal of
Heredity doi:10.1093/jhered/esp129.
18. Feldheim, K.A., Chapman, D.D. et al. 2010. Genetic markers to support conservation of
the endangered smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata: rapid forensic identification,
sawfish DNA-barcodes, and polymorphic microsatellites. Conservation Genetics
Resources. DOI 10.1007/s12686-010-9175-8.
19. Chapman, D.D., Abercrombie, D.L. 2010.Genetic Identification of Shark Body Parts In
Trade: Rapid, Reliable, Inexpensive. Ocean Science Fact Sheet, Pew Environment Group
(March 2010).
20. Fitzpatrick, S., Shivji, M.S., Chapman, D.D., Prodöhl, P.A. 2011. Development and
characterization of 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci for the blue shark, Prionace glauca,
and their cross shark-species amplification. Conservation Genetics Resources DOI:
10.1007/s12686-011-9395-6
21. Doukakis, P., Hanner, B., Shivji, M., Bartholomex, C., Chapman, D.D, Wong, E.,
Amato,G. 2011. Applying genetic techniques to study remote shark fisheries in
northeastern Madagascar. Mitochondrial DNA. DOI:10.3109/19401736.2010.526112
22. Benavides, M.T.*, Feldheim, K.A., Duffy, C.A., Wintner, S., Braccini, M., Boomer, J.,
Huveneers, C., Rogers, P., Mangel, J.C., Alfaro-Shigueto, J., Cartamil, D.P., Chapman,
D.D. 2011. Phylogeography of the copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) in the
Southern Hemisphere: implications for the conservation of a coastal apex predator.
Marine and Freshwater Research 62: 1-9.
23. Benavides, M.T.,* Horn, R.L., Feldheim, K.A., Shivji, M.S., Clarke, S.C., Wintner, S.,
Natanson, L., Braccini, M., Boomer, J., Gulak, S.J.B., Chapman, D.D. 2011.Global
phylogeography of the dusky shark, Carcharhinus obscurus: implications for fisheries
management and monitoring the shark fin trade. Endangered Species Research 14: 13-22.
24. Chapman, D.D., Simpendorf, C.A., Wiley, T.R., Poulakis, G.R., Trigali, M., Curtis, C.,
Carlson, J., Feldheim, K.A. 2011. Genetic diversity despite population collapse in an
endangered sawfish: Pristis pectinata. Journal of Heredity 102 (6): 643-652. With cover.
25. Hussey, N.E., Chapman, D.D., Abercrombie, D.L., Fisk, A. 2011. “Fin-icky” samples:
using shark fin for stable isotope analysis. Limnology and Oceanography Methods 9:
524-532.

26. Dunton K., Chapman, D.D., O’Leary, S.*, Jordan, A., Frisk, M. 2012. Genetic mixedstock
analysis of Atlantic sturgeon Acispenser oxyrhincus oxyrhincus in a heavy
exploited marine habitat indicates the need for routine genetic monitoring. Journal of
Fish Biology 80: 207-217.
27. Bond, M.E.*, Babcock, E.A., Pikitch, E.K., Abercrombie, D.L., Lamb, N., Chapman,
D.D. 2012. Reef sharks exhibit site-fidelity and higher relative abundance in marine
reserves on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. PLoS ONE 7(3), e32983.
28. Gubili, C., Duffy, C.,Cliff, G., Wintner, S., Shivji, M., Chapman, D.D., Bruce, B.,
Martin, A.P., Sims, D.W., Jones, C.S., Noble, LR. 2012. Application of Molecular
Genetics for Conservation of the Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, L. 1758.
In: Global Perspectives on the Biology and Life History of the White Shark (Ed: M.
Domeier). CRC Press.
29. Pinhal, D, Shivji, M.S., Nachtigall, P.G., Chapman, D.D., Martins, C. 2012. A
streamlined DNA tool for global identification of heavily exploited coastal shark species
(Genus Rhizoprionodon). PLoS ONE 7(4): e34797. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034797.
30. Pinhal, D., Shivji, M.S, Vallinoto, M., Chapman, D.D., Gadig, O.B.F., Martins, C. 2012.
Cryptic hammerhead shark lineage occurrence in the Western South Atlantic revealed by
DNA analysis. Marine Biology 159:829–836.
31. Hussey, N.E., MacNeil, M.A., Olin, J.A., McMeans, B.C. Kinney, M.J., Chapman, D.D.,
Fisk, A.T. 2012. Stable isotopes and elasmobranchs: tissue types, methods, applications
and assumptions. Journal of Fish Biology (Special Issue: The Current Status of
Elasmobranchs: Biology, Fisheries and Conservation) 80, 5: 1449–1484.
32. Chapman, D.D., Wintner, S.P., Abercrombie, D.L., Ashe*, J., Bernard, A.M., Shivji,
M.S., Feldheim, K.A. (In review). Embryonic cannibalism enables paternity
monopoilization despite female promiscuity in the sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus.
33. Feldheim, K.A., Gruber, S.H., Ashe, J.*, DiBattista, J.D., Babcock, E.A., Kessel, S.A.,
Hendry, A.P., Brooks, E.J., Skomal, G., Pikitch, E.K., Ashely, M.V., Chapman, D.D. (In
review). Natal philopatry and local population structure in a large coastal shark: some
females return to their exact birthplace to reproduce.
34. Howey-Jordan, L., Brooks, E.J., Abercrombie, D.L., Jordan, L.K.B., Brooks, A.,
Williams, S., Gospodarczyk, E., Chapman, D.D. (Accepted) Complex migrations,
philopatry and expanded depth range of a severely threatened pelagic shark, the oceanic
whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus) in the western North Atlantic. PLoS ONE.
35. Abercrombie, D.L. and Chapman, D.D. 2012. Identifying sharks fins: oceanic whitetip,
porbeagle and hammerheads. Field Identification guide.

*denotes graduate student advisee of Dr. Chapman.
Selected media coverage of research: Science News (3 stories, 1 cover), TIME Magazine,
ScienceNOW, Discovery Channel, The Washington Post, The New York Times, National
Geographic, Animal Planet, Scientific American, New Scientist, National Public Radio
(NPR), Newsweek, Newsday, The Globe and Mail [Canada], The Guardian [UK],
Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, The New Zealand Herald, NBC 6, Good
Morning America, National Geographic Explorer.
One research paper was reported on the evening news in at least 40 countries worldwide
and was featured in at least 600 media outlets worldwide. It was listed as one of the “Top
science stories of 2007” by Science News. A follow up paper was reported in over 500
media outlets worldwide and was listed as one of the most interesting science stories of
2008 by TIME Magazine. Another research paper on tracking the shark fin trade in late
December 2009 was reported in print, electronic and television media in more than 50
countries.
STUDENTS ADVISED
Graduated:
Martin Benavides (M.S., completed; submitted accepted thesis August 5, 2010).
“Phylogeography of two species of threatened shark, the dusky (Carcharhinus obscurus) and
copper (Carcharhinus brachyurus): zipcoding the global fin trade”
Jimiane Ashe (M.S., completed; submitted accepted thesis August 18, 2011).
“Local and regional population structure and sex-biased dispersal in the lemon shark
(Negaprion brevirostris) within the Western Atlantic”
Rowena Eng (B.S. Hons; completed May 20, 2011).
“A genetic technique for identifying highly degraded and processed shark products, including
shark fin soup”
Current:
Jasmine Valentin (Advanced level Ph.D, NSF Predoctoral Fellow 2010-2012): Dissertation
topic- “Ecology and conservation of grouper on the Belize Barrier Reef”.
Shannon O’Leary (Advanced level Ph.D.): Dissertation topic-“Are endangered marine fish
losing genetic diversity in the Western Atlantic ocean?”.
Mark Bond (Advanced level Ph.D.): Dissertation topic-“ Ecological relationships of apex and
mid-level predators in tropical nearshore ecosystems”.
Claire Hoey (M.S.): “The ecology of four species of large coastal shark in the Northwest
Atlantic 1960-2010: a retrospective analysis using stable isotopes”.

AWARDS
-Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Student of the Year (2006).
-National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellow (2001-2004).
-Wildlife Conservation Society Research Fellow (2000).
-Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Tuition Scholarship (1999-2001).
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Scientific Advisor for the Pew Environment Group Global Shark Campaign (2010-present).
Shark management working group member (Belize)
Peer review (Articles): Science, Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, Royal Society
Biology Letters, Molecular Ecology, Ecology, Marine Ecology Progress Series, Frontiers
in Ecology & Evolution, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Heredity, Bulletin of
Marine Science, Journal of Fish Biology, Endangered Species Research, Coral Reefs,
Fisheries Research, Biological Conservation, Animal Conservation, PLoSOne, Pacific
Science, Brazilian Journal of Oceanography (book chapters): Sharks of the Open Ocean;
(Proposals): National Science Foundation Biological Oceanography Program, WCS
Research Fellowship Program, National Geographic Research and Exploration Grant
Program; (Government documents): National Plan of Action for Sharks (Belize, 2007),
Options of the Protection of White Pointer Sharks (New Zealand Departments of
Conservation and Fisheries, 2005).
REFERENCES
Dr. Ellen K. Pikitch (Ph.D.): Pew Institute for Ocean Science, Rosenstiel School of Marine
and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 126 E. 56th St, New York, NY 10022,
U.S.A. Ph. 212-756-0042; e-mail: epikitch@miami.edu.
Dr. Mahmood S. Shivji (Ph.D.): Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Ctr, Dania
Beach, Florida, U.S.A. Ph. 954-262-3657; e-mail: mahmood@nova.edu.
Dr. Paulo Prodöhl (Ph.D.): School of Biological and Food Sciences, Queen’s University
Belfast, 97 Lisburn Rd., Belfast, N. Ireland, U.K. Ph. (028) 9027 202267; e-mail:
p.prodohl@qub.ac.uk.