Erin Shields

Education

M.S. Marine Science. College of William and Mary, School of Marine Science, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, 2008.

B.A. Biology. Connecticut College, 2004.

Research Interests

As a team member of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia, I manage the submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) program and support the water quality monitoring program conducted at our reserve sites and throughout the estuarine environments of the Chesapeake Bay. I am involved in the collection and synthesis of data for the Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS) http://web2.vims.edu/vecos/. My research relates changes in water quality to SAV abundance and species dynamics, currently focusing specifically on eelgrass resilience to climate change.

Selected Publications

• Plaisted, H.K, E. Shields, A. Novak, C. Peck, F. Schenck, J. Carr, P.A. Duffy, N.T. Evans, S. Fox, S. Heck, R. Hudson, T. Mattera, K. Moore, B. Neikirk, D. Parrish, B. Peterson, F. Short and A. Tinoco. 2022. Influence of rising water temperature on the temperate seagrass species eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in the northeast USA. Frontiers in Marine Science 9: doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.920699
• Johnson, A., E. Shields, R. Orth, G. Kendrick. 2021. Recovery dynamics of the seagrass Zostera marina following mass mortalities from two extreme climatic events. Estuaries and Coasts 44(2), 535-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-020-00816-y
• Shields, E.C., D.B. Parrish, K.A. Moore. 2019. Short-term temperature stress results in seagrass community shift in a temperate estuary. Estuaries and Coasts 42(3): 755-764.
• Shields, E.C., K.A. Moore, D.B. Parrish. 2018. Adaptations by Zostera marina dominated seagrass meadows in response to human disturbances. Diversity 10(4): 125.
• Jul Hammer, K., J. Borum, H. Hasler-Sheetal, E.C. Shields, K. Sand-Jensen, K.A. Moore. 2018. High temperatures cause reduced growth, plant death and metabolic changes in eelgrass, Zostera marina L. Marine Ecology Progress Series 604: 121-132.
• Shields, E.C. and K.A. Moore. 2016. Effects of sediment and salinity on the growth and competitive abilities of three submersed macrophytes. Aquatic Botany 132: 24-29.
• Moore, K.A., E.C. Shields, D.B. Parrish. 2014. Impacts of varying estuarine temperature and light conditions on Zostera marina (Eelgrass) and its interactions with Ruppia maritima (Widgeongrass). Estuaries and Coasts 37(1): S20-S30.
• Shields, E.C., K.A. Moore, D.B. Parrish. 2012. Influences of salinity and light availability on abundance and distribution of tidal freshwater and oligohaline submersed aquatic vegetation. Estuaries and Coasts 35: 515-526.
• Moore, K.A., E.C. Shields, D.B. Parrish, R.J. Orth. 2012. Eelgrass survival in two contrasting systems: role of turbidity and summer water temperatures. Marine Ecology Progress Series 448: 247-258.