Faculty and Staff

Heidi Hertler, PhD, SFS Alumna

Heidi Hertler, PhD, SFS Alumna

Title
Center Director
Location
Turks and Caicos Islands
Pronouns
She/Her/Hers
Education
Ph.D. in Environmental Science
Drexel University (USA)
M.S. in Oceanography
Florida State University (USA)
B.S. in Biology
Bates College (USA)
SFS Alum
U.S. Virgin Islands Fall '87
Teaching
SFS 4910 Directed Research
The School for Field Studies
Back to All Staff
about

Faculty Profile

Heidi joined SFS’s Turks and Caicos Island field station as Center Director in 2011. Her research interests include relationships between land use and coastal marine systems including mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs and the integration of science and research into environmental strategies and policies for the conservation of biodiversity and coastal resources. She uses water chemistry, plant biology and invertebrate physiology to answer basic and applied questions. Through community outreach, we increase the local understanding of our impacts on the near shore environments; collect data that can be utilized by community member, presented at local and national conferences and in peer review publications; and encourage environmental stewardship of the marine environment through awareness of the impact we have on these systems.

As a teacher and alumna of SFS, Heidi believes it is her role to provide the basic tools and motivation for learning. This includes creating a stimulating environment where students can participate in the learning event. She incorporates field and laboratory experiences (including snorkeling, SCUBA, and underwater photography and videography), oral presentations, and hands-on activities (i.e. service learning) as part of her courses. She strives to create an atmosphere where participants are challenged to achieve their full potential, and in doing so, she too is challenged.

Professional Affiliations

2013 - present
Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean, Chair Student Grant-in-Aid
1995 - present
Member Sigma-Xi
1992 - present
Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation
1995 - present
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
1990 - present
National Association of Underwater Instructors

Research Projects

The research conducted at SFS field stations is designed to answer key questions related to critical and related social and environmental problems and to provide our hosts with detailed and accurate information for decision making and action. Faculty and student research projects are linked to the Center’s Strategic Research Plan, which defines an overarching research directive.

Project I: Coral Reefs Surviving Change

Tourism is an important source of income for many small island nations; however, increased tourism and the creation of the infrastructure that supports this industry often have harmful effects on the environment.  Climate change may compound the effects.  Long term monitoring of reef diversity and health, increases the understanding of our local ecosystems on which we are dependent.

outputs

Publications

Implications of Resource Management on Near Shore Ecosystems in Southwest Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. 2012. In: Spatial Planning: Strategies, Developments and Management. Eds. E. Ciccotelli, B. Caló. Nove Science Publishers. pp 57-83.

Oysters as Indicators in Subtropical Climates.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. 2011. Association for the Science of Limnology and Oceanograhpy, San Juan, PR.

Spatial Variability Associated with Shifting Land Use: Water Quality and Sediment Metals in La Parguera, Southwest Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, A.R. Boettner, G.I. Ramírez-Toro, H. Minnigh, J. Spotila, D.A. Kreeger. 2009. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58: 672-678.

Oyster Mariculture in Puerto Rico – A Pilot Study of Evaluation of Methods and Feasibility.

H. Hertler, J. Levine, G. Ramirez-Toro. 2019. World Aquaculture:

Characterization of the Structure and Coverage of the Mangrove Forest in Parguera, Southwest Puerto Rico. Gulf and Caribbean Research:

H. Hertler, T.M. Frontera Piza, R.R. Christian, M.M Brinson, M. Crespo-Medina, T. Rodriguez, H. Minning, G. Ramirez-Toro. In Review. (In Review.)

Implications of Resource Management on Near Shore Ecosystems in Southwest Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. In: Spatial Planning: Strategies, Developments and Management. Eds. E. Ciccotelli, B. Caló. Nove Science Publishers. pp 57-83. 2012.

Oyster Mariculture in Puerto Rico – A Pilot Study of Evaluation of Methods and Feasibility.

H. Hertler, J. Levine, G. Ramirez-Toro. World Aquaculture: In Press. 2019.

Global Status and Conservation Potential of Reef Sharks.

M.A. MacNeil, D. Chapman, M. Heupel, C. Simpfendorfer, M. Heithaus, M. Meekan, E. Harvey, J. Goetze, C. Speed, L. Currey-Randall, T. Gorham, M. Bond, C. Sherman, M.J. Rees, V. Udyawer, J.E. Cinner, A. Henderson and H. Hertler. Nature (In Review)

Biodiversity assessment of tropical shelf eukaryotic communities via pelagic eDNA metabarcoding.

J. Bakker, O. Wangensteen, C. Baillie, D. Buddo, D. Chapman, A. Gallagher, T. Guttridge, H. Hertler, S. Mariani. Ecology and Evolution. (In Review)

Characterization of the Structure and Coverage of the Mangrove Forest in Parguera, Southwest Puerto Rico.

T.M. Frontera Piza, H. Hertler, G. Ramirez-Toro, R.R. Christian, M.M Brinson, M. Crespo-Medina, T. Rodriguez, H. Minning. (In Review)

Environmental DNA reveals tropical shark diversity in contrasting levels of anthropogenic impact.

J. Bakker, O.S. Wangensteen, D.D. Chapman, G. Boussarie, D. Buddo, T.L. Guttridge, H. Hertler, D. Mouillot, L. Vigliola, S. Mariani. Scientific Reports: 7-16886. 2017.

Potential impact of coastal development on nearshore bacterial diversity, Southwest Puerto Rico.

G. Schultz, J.J. Kovatch, H Hertler. Caribbean Naturalist, 42: 1-22. 2017

Undergraduate Research at the School for Field Studies' (SFS) Center for Marine Resource Studies in the Turks & Caicos Islands

M. Graham MacLean, H. Hertler, M. Seifert. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 36: 21-27. 2016.

Detection of shifts in coral reef fish assemblage structure over 50 years at reefs of New providence Island, the Bahamas highlight the value of the Academy of Natural Sciences’ collections in a changing world.

K. Ilves, A. Quattrini, M.W. Westneat, R.I. Eyton, G. Chaplin, H. Hertler, J. Lundberg. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 162: 61-87. 2013.

Determining Lesion Progression Rate of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease using Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry.

F. Elmer, Y.D. Cruz, C. Dock, A.A. Ortega, S.J. Wedel, and H. Hertler. 2021. Gulf and Caribbean Research 32(1): 12-17.

Chemical characterization of Sargassum inundation from the Turks and Caicos: Seasonal and post stranding changes.

B.V. Nielsen, J.J. Milledge, H. Hertler, S. Maneein, M.M. Al Farid, D. Bartlett. 2021. Phycology 1(2): 143-162

Ecological consequences of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

M. M. Heres, B.H. Farmer, F. Elmer, H. Hertler. 2021.Coral Reefs 40: 609-624.

Contrasting color loss and restoration in survivors of the 2014-2017 coral bleaching event in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A.L. Knipp, J.C. Pettijohn, C. Jadot, H. Hertler. 2019. SN Applied Science: 2:331.

Grants and Awards

NoveL Education Tools to Foster Local Ecosystem Sustainability Practices. PI Franziska Elmer and Heidi Hertler (RESEMBID)

Support South Caicos Reef Resilience. PI Heidi Hertler, Alizee Zimmerman (TCReef Fund) and Leneita Fix (The Reef Institution) (East Bay Resort / South Caicos Coral Reef Consortium)

Young Citizen Scientists in South Caicos making an Impact post Hurricanes. Pl: H. Hertler (PADI Foundation)

Down the Wall: exploring the deep coral reef of the Turks and Caicos Islands. PI: H. Hertler, F. Elmer (James Cameron Foundation and National Geographic)

Impact of Marine Protected area on Megafauna around South Caicos, TCI. PI: H. Hertler, C. de Fontaubert. (The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation)

Climate Change Impacts on the Nesting Turtle Population of the Turks and Caicos Islands. PI: H. Hertler, C. de Fontaubert. (The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation)

Implementing the Green Infrastructure Plan for La Parguera. (NOAA Coral Conservation.) PI: H. Hertler, P. Sturm, G.I. Ramírez. 2011

Presentations

Oysters as Indicators in Subtropical Climates.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. Association for the Science of Limnology and Oceanography, San Juan, PR. 2011.

Oysters as Indicators in Sub-Tropical Dry Climates.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro, D. Kreeger. National Shellfish Association, Savannah, GA. 2009.

Flat Tree Oysters as Indicators in Sub-Tropical Dry Climates.

H. Hertler, L. Martinez, D.A. Kreeger, H. Minnigh, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. Estuarine Research Foundation, Providence, RI. 2007.

Effects of New Land Development on Seagrasses in the Vicinity of La Parguera, Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro, H. Minnigh. International Conference on the Status of Biological Sciences in the Caribbean and Latin America, Guyana, South America. 2007.

Engaging Small Coastal Communities in Developing and Sustaining Monitoring Programs, Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, G.I. Ramírez-Toro, H. Minnigh. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Victoria, BC. 2006.

Mangrove Oysters as Bioindicators in Sub-Tropical Dry Climates.

H. Hertler, L. Martinez, D.A. Kreeger, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. 98th Annual International National Shellfish Association Conference. Monterey, CA. 2006.

Effects of Land Development on Seagrasses in the Vicinity of La Parguera, Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, D.A. Kreeger, G.I. Ramírez-Toro. 17th Biennial International Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Seattle, WA. 2003.

A Comparison of the Effects of Nutrient and Sediment Loadings in Temperate and Sub-Rropical Seagrass Communities

H. Hertler, D.A. Kreeger. 16th Biennial International Estuarine Research Federation Conference, St. Petersburg, FL. 2001.

Effects of New Land Development on Seagrasss at La Parguera, Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, D.A. Kreeger, G.I. Ramírez-Toro.
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Albuquerque, NM. 2001.

Are We Really Managing Our Natural Resources in La Parguera, Puerto Rico.

H. Hertler, D.A. Kreeger, J.P. Spotilla. 15th Biennial International Estuary Research Foundation Conference, providence, RI. 2000.