Carmela Cuomo, Ph.D.

Carmela Cuomo, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus

Biology & Environmental Science Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Education

Ph.D. Yale University, Geology & Geophysics
M.Phil. Yale University, Geology & Geophysics
B.A. Adelphi University, Biology & Geology

Selected Recent Publications

Cuomo, C. & R. Valente, (in review). Bottom Water Geochemistry as a Structuring Influence on Marine Benthic Communities: An Analysis Using Sediment Profile Imaging. Estuaries.

Valente, R. & C. Cuomo (2005) Did multiple sediment-associated stressors contribute to the 1999 lobster mass mortality event in Western Long Island Sound, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 28:529-540

Cuomo, C., R. Valente, & D. Dogru (2005). Seasonal Variation in Sediment & Bottom Water Chemistry of Western Long Island Sound: Implications for Lobster Mortality. Journal of Shellfish Research. 24: 805-814

Cuomo, C. and P. Van Patten (2004). Long Island Sound: The State of the Estuary, Proceedings of the 6th. Biennial Long Island Sound Conference, October 2002, Office of Long Island Sound Programs, Connecticut Sea Grant.

Cuomo, C, R. Valente, & D. Dogru. (2004). Monitoring of Bottom Water and Sediment Conditions at Critical Stations in Western Long Island Sound. Proceedings of the 6th. Biennial Long Island Sound Conference, October 2002, Office of Long Island Sound Programs, Connecticut Sea Grant.

Cuomo, C. and R. Valente, 2003. Monitoring of Bottom Water and Sediment Conditions at Critical Stations in WLIS. EPA Special Report, Office of LIS Programs.

Cuomo, C., 2000. The benthos of the lower Quinnipiac River: a preliminary study in: The Proceedings of the Long Island Sound Conference, October 1998, SUNY Purchase, Purchase, NY.

Cuomo, C., 2000. An Initial Assessment of the Benthic Communities and Associated Sediment Characteristics of the Lower Quinnipiac River, prepared as part of the Quinnipiac River Non-Point Source Pollution Assessment. Project Report Number 319-9804 in: A Summary Report of the Quinnipiac River Watershed Biological Survey, R.Pupedis, ed., Yale University Center for Coastal & Water-shed Systems, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and The Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Research Interests

Sedimentary and biological controls on anoxic and hypoxic bottom water conditions

The link between hypoxia and lobster die-offs in Western Long Island Sound

Sediment oxygen demand as a structuring influence on the development of anoxic "dead" zones

Marine policy issues related to emplacement of power lines, natural gas pipelines, & other energy-related structures.

Limulus polyphemus aquaculture

Geomicrobiological relationships within bacterial mats

Biomineralization by microbial mats - ancient and modern

Preservation of fecal pellets within microbial mats -- both ancient and modern.

Development of remote sensing tools to assess benthic changes in small estuaries and riverine systems

The benthic fauna of the Quinnipiac, Branford, and Housatonic Rivers

Bioaccumulation by benthic organisms

The paleoecological relationships of the earliest metazoans

The identification of biogenic pelletal fabrics in the rock record

The relationship between pelletal fabrics and hydrocarbon source rock potential.

Improving K-12 science education in both public & private schools

Areas of Expertise

Marine & Estuarine Animal-Sediment-Geochemical Interactions

Marine & Coastal Hypoxic and Anoxic Systems

Sediment Sulfide Geochemistry

Geomicrobiology

Estuarine and marine benthic ecology

Marine Invertebrate Organisms

Environmental Science

Stratigraphy & Paleoecology of Black Shales

Environmental Evolution through Time

Affiliations

Curatorial Affiliate, Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History

Vice-President of the Board, The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association

Member & Co-Chair, US EPA, Long Island Sound Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee

Member, Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center, Scientific Advisory Committee,

Member, The Sound School, Scientific Advisory Committee

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In the Media

In the Media

Carmela Cuomo, an associate professor of biology and environmental science, has been breeding horseshoe crabs in captivity in order to combat the declining numbers. The blue blood from the crabs is vital to the medical field.