The Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab at USCB focuses research on neuroimaging, hearing, and acoustic communication of marine animals. Discover nature!
Dr. Eric W. Montie
Department of Natural Sciences
University of South Carolina Beaufort
First and foremost, our lab strives to understand the sensory and neurobiology of marine organisms – from snapping shrimp to fish to marine mammals. Specifically, we are interested in brain architecture, hearing, and acoustic communication. The more applied part of our research program focuses on studies that investigate how natural and man-made stressors impact the sensory and neurobiology of these organisms. These stressors include man-made chemicals, harmful algal blooms, noise pollution, and climate change. We use techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, auditory evoked potentials, and passive acoustics (i.e., the act of listening to underwater sounds) using long-term monitoring devices. This research has involved work on biomedical models such as zebrafish, goldfish, and rats, as well as wild marine organisms like spotted sea trout, red drum, flounder, California sea lions, harp seals, hooded seals, grey seals, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, pygmy killer whales, and right whales. Our ultimate goal is to combine laboratory experiments with model organisms and field studies with wild animals in order to improve our knowledge of the natural world and its reaction to environmental factors.
To critically think, perform research, and learn as much as we can about our natural world for its protection and use for the next generation.
USCB Adopt A Dolphin Membership:
Levels of Adoption:
Diatom - phytoplankton ($30)
Copepod - zooplankton ($50)
Fiddler crab ($100)
Menhaden ($300)
Toadfish ($1,000)
Red Drum ($3,000)
Sand Shark ($10,000)
Menhaden, Toadfish, Red drum, and Sand Shark members can name their own dolphin!
email [email protected] for more information!
