Personal Information:

Director,

Blakely Island Field Station

Professor,
Department of Biology
Seattle Pacific University

3307 3rd Avenue West, Ste. 205
Seattle, WA 98119
 

Office Location: 204 Science Building

Lab Location: 205 Science Building

Phone/Voice Mail: (206) 281-3640      

FAX: (206) 281-2882                      
Email: tnelson@spu.edu

"I am SO over cold water and seaweeds."

Education:

B. S. in Biology from Seattle Pacific University (1987)

Ph.D. in Botany (Biomathematics minor) from the University of Washington (1995)

Dissertation Title: Interactions and Dynamics of Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.), Epiphytes, and Grazers in Subtidal Meadows of Puget Sound

Research Interests:

Marine Plant Ecology

Green Tides (Blooms of Ulvoid Macroalgae)

Seagrasses

Biomathematics

Publications and Presentations:

Nelson, TA and Smith, BC. (In prep.) Determination of EC-50 for extracts of Ulva and Ulvaria on oyster larval development.

Nelson, TA, Jackson, D, and LeGrand, N. Subcellular localization of dopamine in the marine chlorophyte Ulvaria obscura.

Nelson, T.A., Haberlin, K., Nelson, A.V., Ribarich, H., Hotchkiss, R., Van Alstyne, K.L., Buckingham, L., Simunds, D.J., and

Fredrickson, K. 2008. Ecological and physiological controls of species composition in green macroalgal blooms. Ecology 89:1287-1298.

Van Alstyne, KL, Koellermeier, L, and Nelson, TA. (2007) Spatial variation in dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP)
production in Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) from the Northeast Pacific. Marine Biology 150:1127-1135.

Nelson, T. A.,  D. Lee, and B. C. Smith.  (2003) Toxic extracts from ulvoid macroalgae:  Are “green tides” harmful algal blooms?  Journal of Phycology 39(5):874-879.

Nelson, T. A., A. V. Nelson and M. Tjoelker.  (2003) Seasonal patterns in ulvoid algal biomass, productivity, and key environmental factors in the Northeast Pacific.   Botanica Marina 46:263-275. 

Nelson, T. A., D. Lee, B. C. Smith, and R. Prins.  (2002) Are "green tides" harmful algal blooms? Allelopathic properties of extracts from Ulva fenestrata and Ulvaria obscura.   Annual meeting of the Phycological Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.

Nelson, T. A., K. L. van Alstyne, and H. Ribarich.  (2002) The effects of nitrogen regime on growth, [CHN], [DMSP], [chlorophyll], [protein] and nitrogen uptake rate in Ulvaria obscura and Ulva fenestrata.  Annual meeting of the Phycological Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.

Rhodes, M. J. and T. A. Nelson.  (2002) Interannual variation in coral reef plant communities of central Belize.  Annual meeting of the Phycological Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin.

Nelson, T. A and A. Lee.  (2001)  A manipulative experiment demonstrates that ulvoid algal blooms reduce eelgrass shoot density.  Aquatic Botany 71:149-154.

Nelson, T. A. (2001)  Species composition and controls of ulvoid algal blooms in Washington State.  Journal of Phycology 37(3 supplement):38.

Nelson, T. A. (2000)  Preliminary studies of seasonality, ecology, and species composition of ulvoid algal blooms in Washington State (Abstract).  Journal of Phycology 36(3 supplement):51.

Jones, K., A. Lee and T. Nelson.  (2000)  A characterization of ulvoid blooms and their abiotic environment in the San Juan Island Archipelago.  Fourteenth Northwest Algal Symposium, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Lee, A., K. Jones and T. Nelson. (2000)  Environmental determinants of ulvoid algal species composition.  Fourteenth Northwest Algal Symposium, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Nelson, T. A. (1997) Epiphyte-grazer interactions on Zostera marina (Anthophyta: Monocotyledones):  Effects of density on community function.  Journal of Phycology 33:743-752.

Nelson, T. A. (1997)  Interannual variance in a subtidal eelgrass community.  Aquatic Botany 56:245-252.

Nelson, T. A. and J. R. Waaland. (1997)  Seasonality of eelgrass, epiphyte, and grazer biomass and productivity in subtidal eelgrass meadows subjected to moderate tidal amplitude.  Aquatic Botany 56:51-74.

Nelson, T. A.  (1996)  Implications of a simple predator-prey model for epiphyte-grazer dynamics in subtidal eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows.  Ecological Summit ‘96, Copenhagen:  Program and Abstracts.

Skubatz, H.,  T. A. Nelson, and B. J. D. Meeuse (1993) Selective inhibition of heat-production in Sauromatum guttatum inflorescences by glyphosate. Plant Physiology (Life Science Advances) 12:5-8.

Skubatz, H., T. Nelson, B. J. D. Meeuse, and A. J. Bendich  (1991)  Heat production in the Voodoo lily (Sauromatum guttatum) as monitored by infrared thermography.  Plant Physiology 95:1084-1088.

Skubatz, H., T. Nelson, A. Dong, B. J. D. Meeuse, and A. Bendich  (1990)  Infrared thermography of Arum lily inflorescences.  Planta 182:432-436.

Undergraduate Research Projects Presented at Regional Meetings:

Sharp, J. and T. Nelson.  2008.  Depth distribution of ulvoid algae in the Puget Sound area.  Sixth Erickson Undergraduate Research Conference, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA.  

Imhoff, L.D., J. Olson, and T. Nelson.  2007.  Video surveys, diver transects, and automated environmental data collection suggest that the occurrence of “green tides” is linked to very small scale spatial processes.  Sixteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Willamette University, Salem, OR.

Olson, J., L. Imhoff and T. Nelson.  2007.  Desiccation tolerance determines species composition in green tide seaweeds. Sixteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Willamette University, Salem, OR

Peter, L. and T. Nelson.  2006.  Comparison of green algal bloom intensity and related parameters at paired “bloom” and “non-bloom” sites. Fifteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, University of Portland, Portland, Oregon.

Ronhovde, E., C. Guerra, and T. Nelson.  2006.  Underwater video analysis allows for the mapping of green algal blooms throughout the inland marine waters of Washington State.  Fifteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, University of Portland, Portland, Oregon.

Neblett, C. and T. Nelson.  2005.  River otter latrine sites:  Developing methods for public involvement in density estimates.  Fourteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Northwest Nazarene University, Boise, Idaho.

Ziemann, R. and T. Nelson. 2005. The effect of grazing on weed cover and species composition on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Erickson Undergraduate Research Conference, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington.

Reese, B. and T. Nelson. 2005. Aquatic refugium: Aquatic plants as aquarium filters. Third Erickson Undergraduate Research Conference, Seattle Pacific University , Seattle , WA .

Hotchkiss, R. and T. Nelson. 2004. Nitrogen physiology of Ulvaria obscura and Ulva fenestrata : Do species and environmental [N] interact in determining growth rate? Thirteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Life Science Program, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon.

Galiher, J. 2004. Characterization of the enzyme-based destruction of seagrass cell walls. Thirteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Life Science Program, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon.

Treece, E. 2004. Catch and release mortality of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). Thirteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Life Science Program, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon.

Vanderpol, B. and T. Nelson. 2004. Using noxious week distribution to evaluate procedures for the implementation of GIS and ecoinformatics at Blakely Island Field Station. Thirteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Life Science Program, Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon.

Buckingham, L., D. Jackson and T. Nelson. 2003. Localization of dopamine in a seaweed. Twelfth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.

Harper-Smith, S. 2003. Visualizing the effects of introduced trout on food webs in alpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada. Twelfth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.

Van Mason, A., C. Baldwin and T. Nelson. 2003. Preliminary investigations using Pterygophora californica as a model system for seaweed age-structured growth and physiology. Twelfth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.

McPhearson, J. and T. Nelson. 2002. Salinity effects on growth and protein content of Ulva fenestrata and Ulvaria obscura. Eleventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Walker, R. 2002. Altered gene expression in multiple myeloma plasma cells correlated to variations in the IgH super-enhancer. Eleventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Hignell, J. B. and R. Render. 2002. Grazer deterrence in ulvoid green algae. Eleventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Rhodes , Melody. 2002. Interannual variation in coral reef plant communities of central Belize. Eleventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Lee, D., H. Ribarich and T. Nelson. 2001. Allelopathic properties of 'green tide' seaweeds (i.e., ulvoid macroalgae). Tenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Ribarich, H., D. Lee and T. Nelson. 2001. Nutrient effects on the growth and chemical composition of Ulva fenestrata and Ulvaria obscura. Tenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Prins, R., D. Lee, and T. Nelson. 2001. Enzyme inhibition caused by extracts of 'green tide' seaweeds (i.e., ulvoid macroalgae). Tenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Gonzaga University , Spokane, Washington.

Lyons, C. and T. Nelson. 2001. The role of Fucus mucus in desiccation resistance. Tenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Rhodes , M. and T. Nelson. 2001. Interannual variation in coral reef plant communities. Tenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington.

Haberlin, K., M. Tjoelker, and T. Nelson. 2000. Feeding preferences of intertidal grazers for two green macroalgal genera, Ulva and Ulvaria on Presented at the Ninth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

M. Tjoelker, K. Haberlin, and T. Nelson. 2000. Characteristics of ulvoid algal blooms in the Pacific Northwest. Presented at the Ninth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Jones, K., A. Lee and T. Nelson. 1999. A characterization of ulvoid blooms and their abiotic environment in the San Juan Island Archipelago. Presented at the Eighth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Linfield College, Linfield, Oregon.

Lee, A., K. Jones and T. Nelson. 1999. Environmental determinants of ulvoid algal species composition. Presented at the Eighth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Linfield College, Linfield, Oregon.

Carey, E., A. Lee, K. LaFleur, and T. Nelson. 1998. A characterization of “green tides” and selected physical-chemical factors in the vicinity of Blakely Island , Washington. Presented at the Seventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho.

Lee, A., K. LaFleur, and T. Nelson. 1998. Why are morphologically similar ulvoid algal species found at different tidal elevations? Presented at the Seventh Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Northwest Nazarene College, Nampa, Idaho.

Ivaska, E. and T. Nelson, 1997. Distribution of benthic organisms in the vicinity of Blakely Island , Washington. Presented at the Sixth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Willamette University, Salem, OR.

Gregg, J. and T. Nelson, 1997. Tidal and spatial variation of sea water qualities in the vicinity of Blakely Island , Washington. Presented at the Sixth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Willamette University, Salem, OR.

Wassink, K., T. Nelson, and B. Congdon, 1997. Interannual variation in phytoplankton community structure in two lakes. Presented at the Sixth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research, Murdock College Science Program, Willamette University, Salem, OR.

Grant Funding:

Extramural Grants:

Principal Investigators: Kathryn L. Van Alstyne and Timothy A. Nelson
Title: ECOHAB: Harmful ulvoid macroalgal blooms: Causes, controls and effects.
Funding Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Funding Period: 3 years (September 2005 through September 2008)
Amount: $454,516

Principal Investigators: Kathryn L. Van Alstyne and Timothy A. Nelson
Title: RUI: Harmful ulvoid macroalgal blooms in Washington State.
Funding Agency: National Science Foundation.
Funding Period: 3 years (September 2005 through September 2008)
Amount: $212,202

Principal Investigator: Timothy A. Nelson
Title: An ecological investigation of "green tides" (blooms of ulvoid macroalgae) in North Puget Sound.
Funding Agency: Murdock College Research Program for Life Sciences.
Funding Period: 2 years (April 1998 through April 2000)
Amount: $45,889 ($7,389 in matching funds provided by SPU)

Intramural Grants:  

Principal Investigator: Timothy A. Nelson
Title: Establishment of Permanent Transects to Establish Long Term Patterns in Marine Community Structure and Function
Funding Source: Seattle Pacific University Faculty Research Grant
Funding Period: One Year (1997)
Amount: $2,050.  

Principal Investigator: Timothy A. Nelson
Title: An ecological investigation of “green tides” (blooms of ulvoid macroalgae) in North Puget Sound
Funding Source: Seattle Pacific University Faculty Research Grant
Funding Period: One Year (1998)
Amount: $1,752.

Principal Investigator: Timothy A. Nelson
Title: Are “green tides” harmful algal blooms?
Funding Source: Seattle Pacific University Senior Faculty Grant
Funding Period: One Year (July 2002-July 2003)
Amount: $2,500

Professional Memberships:

• Ecological Society of America
• Phycological Society of America
• International Phycological Society
• British Phycological Society
• Estuarine Research Federation
• Sigma Xi

Courses Taught:

Currently

• Marine Botany
• Marine Ecology
• Introductory Oceanography
• Tropical Marine Biology (Belize)
• Ecology
• Evolutionary Mechanisms
• Vascular Plant Taxonomy
• General Biology (for majors)

• Environmental Physiology
• Plant Physiology
• Nonmajors' Biology
• Introductory Environmental Science
• Biostatistics
• Protistology
• Biology of Nonvascular Plants
• Tropical Marine Biology (Hawaii)

University Service:

• Undergraduate Policies and Evaluation Committee (2004-07)
• Celtic Theme House Advisor (2004-05)
• College of Arts and Sciences Dean Search Committee (2002-2003)
• Faculty Status Committee (2001-2005, Chair in 2003-2005)
• Environmental Stewardship Club Advisor (1997-2002)
• Committee on Racial and Ethnic Affairs (1997-2000, Chair in 1999-2000)
• Task Force on Faculty Development (1997-98)
• Student Life Committee (1996-97)
• Diving Safety Committee (1995-present)
• Blakely Island Field Station Advisory Committee (1995-present)

Hobbies & Other Interests:

• SCUBA Diving
• Gardening
• Running
• Soccer