Harry Daniels
Senior Associate Dean
NC State University
Department of Applied Ecology
Area(s) of Expertise
I have been working collaboratively with other researchers to investigate the effects of warming coastal waters on temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma). Increasing water temperature causes populations of these flounder to shift toward a higher percentage of male fish. Since the female flounder grow approximately three times faster than the males and attain a much larger size, the females constitute a very high proportion of the commercial and recreational fishing harvest, which may not be sustainable for the long term viability of the fishery. Our research has focused on defining the developmental window when sex determination occurs and evaluating the sex ratios of wild populations in different nursery habitats.