Mote Marine Laboratory

Fields of Competence

Fisheries Ecology, Stock Enhancement, Seagrass Ecology, Ecology of Sandy Beaches, Habitat Selection, Predator-Prey Interactions, Aquatic Food Webs, Plant-Animal Interactions, Experimental Design, Biostatistics, Computer Programming, Oceanographic Methods, Tagging Methods, Marine Aquaculture.

Experience

Dr. Leber joined Mote Marine Laboratory in August 1996 as a Senior Scientist and Director of the Center for Fisheries Enhancement. Dr. Leber occupies the Charles M. Breder Chair, which was established at Mote to support the study of the biology, behavior, and conservation of fishes. He is directing a multi-disciplinary research center that includes studies of fish population ecology; marine stock enhancement; marine aquaculture; stock assessment; fish dispersal, age and growth patterns; habitat requirements; habitat selection; and current problems in fisheries management. Most of these studies involve collaborative interactions with researchers from other institutions. Dr. Leber has more than 25 years of experience in his fields of expertise. Prior to joining Mote, Dr. Leber was Program Manager of the Stock-Enhancement Program at the Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo, Hawaii. Since 1985, his research has focused on developing marine fish and crustacean aquaculture technology; development and evaluation of responsible hatchery-release technology for replenishing depleted populations of marine organisms; development of a prototype marine stock-enhancement program for the State of Hawaii; and testing and refining coastal stock-enhancement techniques in Florida.

1983
Ph.D. (Marine Ecology)
Department of Biological Science
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

1977
M.S. (Biology)
Biology Department
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

1969
B.S. (Biology)
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Academic and Professional Honors

Dr. Leber holds the Charles M. Breder Chair in Fisheries Ecology at Mote Marine Laboratory. 1996 - present.

Panel member, United States--Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR) established by Cabinet-Level meeting of Joint U.S.--Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs; and charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation by exchanging information related to aquaculture that could benefit both countries. (member since 1995).

Member, Steering Committee and the International Scientific Committee for Third International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching. Sponsored by the USA. 2004 - present.

Chairman, International Scientific Committee for Second International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching. Sponsored by the Japan Fisheries Agency and Japan Sea-Farming (stock enhancement) Association. 2000-2002.

Member, International Scientific Committee for Norwegian Programme for the Development and Encouragement of Sea Ranching. Committee planned the 1st International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching held in Bergen, Norway, in 1997.

Chairman, World Aquaculture Society International Working Group on Stock Enhancement. The charter is focused on fostering scientific debate about a responsible approach to stock enhancement. Also plans stock-enhancement symposia for the Annual Conference of World Aquaculture Society. 1997-2000.

President, American Fisheries Society, Hawaii Chapter. 1995-1996.

Secretary-Treasurer, American Fisheries Society, Hawaii Chapter. 1992-1993.

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Department of Benthic Ecology, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, Florida. 1984 - 1985.

James R. Fisher Award: Presented by Sigma Xi at Florida State University for manuscript entitled "Influence of decapod foraging and microhabitat complexity on seagrass communities: a field test of the refuge hypothesis." 1983 recipient.

Best Student Paper Award: Presented by Atlantic Estuarine Research Society. 1977.

Outstanding Graduate Student: monetary award. East Carolina University Biology Department's 1977 recipient.

National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellow: Competitive award from University of Maryland's Chesa­peake Biological Laboratory. Summer 1969.

Marine Stock Enhancement:

Bell, Johann D., Kenneth M. Leber, H. Lee Blankenship, Neil R. Loneragan, Reiji Masuda and Geraldine Vander Haegen (Editors). 2008. A New Era for Restocking, Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching of Coastal Fisheries Resources. Special Issue, Reviews in Fisheries Science 16(1-3). 402 pp.

Bell, J.D., K.M. Leber, H.L. Blankenship, N.R. Loneragan, and R. Masuda. 2008. A new era for restocking, stock enhancement and sea ranching of coastal fisheries. Reviews in Fisheries Science 16(1-3): 1-9.

Brennan, N.P., C.W. Walters, and K.M. Leber. 2008. Manipulations of stocking magnitude: addressing density dependence in juvenile cohorts of common snook Centropomus undecimalis. Reviews in Fisheries Science 16(1-3): 215-227.

Tringali, M.D., K.M. Leber, W.G. Halstead, R. McMichael, J. O’Hop, B. Winner, R. Cody, C. Young, C. Neidig, H. Wolfe, A. Forstchen, and L. Barbieri. 2008. Marine Stock Enhancement in Florida: A Multi-disciplinary, Stakeholder-supported, Accountability-based Approach. Reviews in Fisheries Science. 16(1-3):51-57.

Brennan, N.P., K.M. Leber, and B. R. Blackburn. 2007. Use of coded-wire and visible implant elastomer tags for marine stock enhancement with juvenile red snapper. Fisheries Research. 83:90-97.

Brennan, N.P., M.C. Darcy, and K.M. Leber. 2006. Predator-free enclosures improve post-release survival of stocked common snook. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 335(2): 302-311.

Leber, K. M., R. N. Cantrell and P.S. Leung. 2005. Optimizing Cost-Effectiveness of Size at Release in Stock Enhancement Programs. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:1596-1608.

Brennan, N. P., K. M. Leber, H. L. Blankenship, J. M. Ransier, R. DeBruler, Jr.. 2005. An evaluation of coded wire and elastomer tag performance in juvenile common snook under field and laboratory conditions. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25:437-445.

Bartley, D.M. and K.M. Leber (Editors). 2004. Marine Ranching. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No 429. Food and Agricultureal Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy. 213 pp.

Leber, K. M. 2004. Marine Stock Enhancement in the USA: Status, trends and needs. Pp 11-24 In Leber, K.M., S. Kitada, T. Svåsand and H.L. Blankenship (Editors) Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching: Developments, Pitfalls and Opportunities. 2^nd Edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 562 pp.

Leber, K. M., S. Kitada, T. Svåsand and H.L. Blankenship (Editors). 2004. Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching: Developments, Pitfalls and Opportunities. 2^nd Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford. 562 pp. Preview at Blackwell's web site for the book

Leber, K. M. 2002. Advances in marine stock enhancement: shifting emphasis to theory and accountability. Pp 79-90 In Stickney, R. R. and J. P. McVey (eds) Responsible Marine Aquaculture CABI Publishing, New York.

Blaylock, R. B., Leber, K. M., Lotz, J. M., and D. A. Ziemann. 2000. The U.S. Gulf of Mexico Marine Stock Enhancement Program (USGMSEP): The use of aquaculture technology in “responsible” stock enhancement. Bulletin of the Aquaculture Association of Canada 100(3):16-22.

Tringali, M.D. and K. M. Leber. 1999. Genetic considerations during the experimental and expanded phases of snook stock enhancement. Bull. National Research Institute Aquaculture (Japan) Suppl. 1:109-119.

Leber, K. M. 1999. Rationale for an Experimental Approach to Stock Enhancement. Pages 63-75 in Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching (Ed. by B.R. Howell, E. Moksness, and T. Svåsand) Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. 606 pages.

Pruder, Gary D., David A. Ziemann, Kenneth M. Leber, Jeffrey M. Lotz, William E. Hawkins, and Lytha D. Conquest. 1999. U.S. Gulf of Mexico marine stock enhancement five-year program: 1999 – 2004: Program management for planning, execution, review, and evaluation. Bull. National Research Institute Aquaculture (Japan) Suppl. 1:89-99.

Leber, K. M., N. P. Brennan and S. M. Arce. 1998. Recruitment patterns of juvenile, cultured Pacific threadfin, Polydactylus sexfilis (Polynemidae), released along sandy marine shores in Hawaii. Bulletin of Marine Science 62(2):389-408.

Leber, K. M., H. L. Blankenship, S. M. Arce, and N. P. Brennan. 1997. Influence of release season on size-dependent survival of cultured striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, in a Hawaiian estuary. Fishery Bulletin, 95(2):267-279.

Leber, K. M. and C-S. Lee. 1997. Marine stock-enhancement potential with striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, in Hawaii. Bulletin of National Research Institute for Aquaculture, Suppl.3:117-134.

Leber, K. M. and S. M. Arce. 1996. Stock enhancement effect in a commercial mullet Mugil cephalus fishery in Hawaii. Fisheries Management and Ecology 3:261-278.

Leber, K. M., S. M. Arce, D. A. Sterritt, and N. P. Brennan. 1996. Marine stock-enhancement potential in nursery habitats of striped mullet, Mugil cephalus, in Hawaii. Fishery Bulletin 94(3):452-471.

Blankenship, H. Lee and Kenneth M. Leber. 1995. A responsible approach to marine stock enhancement. In Uses and effects of cultured fishes in aquatic ecosystems. American Fisheries Society Symposium 15:165-175.

Leber, K. M., N. P. Brennan, and S. M. Arce. 1995. Marine enhancement with striped mullet: are hatchery releases replenishing or displacing wild stocks? in Uses and effects of cultured fishes in aquatic ecosystems. American Fisheries Society Symposium 15:376-387.

Leber, K. M. 1995. Significance of fish size-at-release on enhancement of striped mullet fisheries in Hawaii. Journal World Aquaculture Society 26(2):143-153.

Marine Aquaculture:

Moss, S. M., G. D. Pruder, K. M. Leber and J. A. Wyban. 1992. Shrimp microcosm results: the relative enhancement of Penaeus vannamei growth by selected fractions of shrimp pond water. Aquaculture 101: 229-239

Freeman, D. W., E. O. Duerr, and K. M. Leber. 1992. Use of bagasse as a feed input to semi-intensive shrimp growout ponds. Journal World Aquaculture Society 23: 23-30.

Wyban, J. A., G. D. Pruder, K. M. Leber and L. Burzell. 1989. Paddlewheel effects on shrimp growth, production and crop value in commercial earthen ponds. Journal World Aquaculture Society 20(1): 18-23.

Leber, K. M. and G. D. Pruder. 1988. Using experimental microcosms in shrimp research: the growth-enhancing effect of shrimp pond water. Journal World Aquaculture Society 19(4): 197-203.

Marine Ecology:

Leber, K. M. and H. S. Greening. 1986. Community studies in seagrass meadows: a comparison of two methods for sampling microinvertebrates and fishes. Fishery Bulletin 84(2): 443-450.

Leber, K. M. 1985. Influence of decapod foraging and microhabitat complexity on seagrass communities: a field test of the refuge hypothesis. Ecology 66(6): 1951-1964.

Leber, K. M. 1982. Seasonality of macroinvertebrates on a temperate, high wave energy sandy beach. Bulletin of Marine Science 32: 86-98.

Leber, K. M. 1982. Bivalves (Tellinacea: Donacidea) on a North Carolina Beach: Contrasting population size structures and tidal migrations. Marine Ecology Progress Series 7: 297-301.

Leber, K. M. 1981. Spatial patterns of Ocypode quadrata: A re-evaluation. (Decapods, Brachyura). Crustaceana 41: 110-112.

Miscellaneous:

Cantillo A. Y., E. Collins, K. M. Leber and S. Stover, Eds. 2004. Charles M. Breder, Jr.: Atlantis, 1934. NOAA/Mote Marine Laboratory/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Publication. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS CCMA 169. 49 pp.

Department: Fisheries Enhancement