Ph.D., Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo. Thesis title: "Investigations regarding the diversity and evolution of symbiotic dinoflagellates." PDF (243 pages, 3.6 MB)

B.Sc., Zoology (With Distinction), University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii.

College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) Dean's Research Award, Auburn University.

Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award, Graduate Student Council, Auburn University.

National Science Foundation (NSF)/Monbusho Research Experience Fellowship for Young Foreign Researchers - Okinawa, Japan.

 1996-99

National Science Foundation (NSF) Minority Graduate Fellowship, Biological Sciences - SUNY at Buffalo.

 1998

Mark Diamond Graduate Initiative Award, State University of New York at Buffalo.

 1993-96

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Fellowship for Undergraduate Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa

50

Thornhill, D.J., Y. Xiang, D.T. Pettay, M. Zhong, S.R. Santos. Population genetic data of a model symbiotic cnidarian system reveal remarkable symbiotic specificity and vectored introductions across ocean basins. Molecular Ecology in press.

49

Phillips, M.J., T.J. Page, M. de Bruyn, J.A. Huey, W.F. Humphreys, J.M. Hughes, S.R. Santos, D.J. Schmidt, J.M. Waters. The linking of plate tectonics and evolutionary divergences (Reply to Bauza-Ribot et al.). Current Biology in press.

48

Havird, J.C. J.R. Weeks, S. Hau, S.R. Santos. Invasive fishes in the Hawaiian anchialine ecosystem: investigating potential predator avoidance by endemic organisms. Hydrobiologia in press.

47

Kirk, N.L., D.J. Thornhill, D.W. Kemp, W.K. Fitt, S.R. Santos. Ubiquitous associations and a peak fall prevalence between apicomplexan symbionts and reef corals in Florida and the Bahamas. Coral Reefs in press.

46

Weese, D.A., Y. Fujita, M. Hidaka, S.R. Santos. 2012. The long and short of it: Genetic variation and population structure of the anchialine atyid shrimp Caridina rubella on Miyako-jima, Japan. Journal of Crustacean Biology 32:109-117. Request Reprint

45

Kocot, K.M., J.T. Cannon, C. Todt, M.R. Citarella, A.B. Kohn, A.Meyer, S.R. Santos, C. Schander, L.L. Moroz, B. Lieb, K.M. Halanych. 2011. Phylogenomics reveals deep molluscan relationships. Nature 477:452-457. Download article directly from Nature website

44

Stephens, J.D., S.R. Santos, D.R. Folkerts. 2011. Genetic differentiation, structure, and a transition zone among populations of the pitcher plant moth Exyra semicrocea: Implications for conservation. PLoS One. 6:e22658. Download article directly from PLoS One website

43

Roopin, M., D.J. Thornhill, S.R. Santos, N.E. Chadwick. 2011. Ammonia flux, physiological parameters, and Symbiodinium diversity in the anemonefish symbiosis on Red Sea coral reefs. Symbiosis. 53:63-74. (featured cover article) Request Reprint

42

Santos, S.R., D.A. Weese. 2011. Invited Contribution: Rocks and Clocks: Linking geologic history and rates of genetic differentiation in anchialine organisms. Hydrobiologia. 677:54-63. Request Reprint

41

Santos, S.R., Y. Xiang, A.W. Tagawa. 2011. Population structure and comparative phylogeography of jack species (Caranx ignobilis and C. melampygus) in the high Hawaiian Islands. Journal of Heredity. 102:47-54. PDF Supplementary Materials Raising Islands feature by Jan TenBruggencate

40

Thornhill, D.J., K. Doubleday, D.W. Kemp, S.R. Santos. 2010. Host hybridization alters specificity of cnidarian-dinoflagellate associations. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 420:113-123. Request Reprint

39

Betancur-R, R., A. Acero P., H. Duque-Caro, S.R. Santos. 2010. Phylogenetic and morphologic analyses of a coastal fish reveals a marine biogeographic break of terrestrial origin in the southern Caribbean. PLoS One. 5:e11566. Download article directly from PLoS One website

38

Russ, A., S.R. Santos, C. Muir. 2010. Genetic population structure of an anchialine shrimp, Metabetaeus lohena (Crustacea: Alpheidae), in the Hawaiian Islands. Revista de Biologia Tropical. 58:159-170. PDF

37

Santos, S.R., J. Toyoshima, R.A. Kinzie III. 2009. Invited Contribution: Spatial and temporal dynamics of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium:Dinophyta) in the perforate coral Montipora capitata. Galaxea JCRS. 11:139-147. PDF

36

Thornhill, D.J., Y. Xiang, W.K. Fitt, S.R. Santos. 2009. Reef endemism, host specificity and temporal stability in populations of symbiotic dinoflagellates from two ecologically dominant Caribbean corals. PLoS One. 4:e6262. Featured Weekly Image in EveryOne, the PLoS One Community Blog Download article directly from PLoS One website

35

Cummings, S.P., P. Gyaneshwar, P. Vinuesa, F.T. Farruggia, M. Andrews, D. Humphry, G.N. Elliott, A. Nelson, C. Orr, D. Pettitt, G.R. Shah, S.R. Santos, H.B. Krishnan, D. Odee, F.M.S. Moreira, J.I. Sprent, J.P.W. Young, E.K. James. 2009. Nodulation of Sesbania species by Rhizobium (Agrobacterium) strain IRBG74 and other rhizobia. Environmental Microbiology. 11:2510-2525. PDF

34

Kirk, N.L., J.P Andras, C.D Harvell, S.R Santos, M.A. Coffroth. 2009. Population structure of Symbiodinium sp. associated with the common sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, in the Florida Keys across distance, depth, and time. Marine Biology. 156:1609-1623. Request Reprint  Supplementary Materials at Marine Biology Website

33

Boyd, R.S., M.A. Wall, S.R. Santos, M.A. Davis. 2009. Variation of morphology and elemental concentrations in the California nickel hyperaccumulator Streptanthus polygaloides (Brassicaceae). Northeastern Naturalist. 16:21-38. Request Reprint

32

Weese, D.A., S.R. Santos. 2009. Genetic identification of source populations for an aquarium-traded invertebrate. Animal Conservation. 12:13-19. (featured cover article) Request Reprint

31

Kocot, K.M., S.R. Santos. 2009. Secondary structural modeling of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) from Pfiesteria-like dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae). Harmful Algae. 8:441-446.  PDF  Supplementary Materials

30

Thornhill, D.J., K.T. Fielman, S.R. Santos, K.M. Halanych. 2008. Siboglinid-bacteria endosymbiosis: A model system for studying symbiotic mechanisms. Communicative & Integrative Biology. 1:1-4.  PDF

29

Craft, J.D., A.D. Russ, M.N. Yamamoto, T.Y. Iwai Jr., S. Hau, J. Kahiapo, C.T. Chong, S. Ziegler-Chong, C. Muir, Y. Fujita, D.A. Polhemus, R.A. Kinzie III, S.R. Santos. 2008. Islands under islands: The phylogeography and evolution of Halocaridina rubra Holthuis, 1963 (Crustacean: Decapoda: Atyidae) in the Hawaiian archipelago. Limnology and Oceanography. 53:675-689.  PDF  Supplementary Material #1  Supplementary Material #2

28

Thornhill, D.J., T.C. LaJeunesse, S.R. Santos. 2007. Measuring rDNA diversity in eukaryotic microbial systems: How intragenomic variation, pseudogenes, and PCR artifacts confound biodiversity estimates. Molecular Ecology. 16:5326-5340.  PDF  Supplementary Materials  Download datasets

27

Ivey, J.L., S.R. Santos. 2007. The complete mitochondrial genome of the Hawaiian anchialine shrimp Halocaridina rubra Holthuis, 1963 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae). Gene. 394:35-44. PDF  View genome  Download datasets

26

Hunter, R.L., T.C. LaJeunesse, S.R. Santos. 2007. Structure and evolution of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region 2 in the symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta). Journal of Phycology. 43:120-128. PDF  Supplementary Materials  Download datasets

25

Kuguru, B., G. Winters, S. Beer, S.R. Santos, N.E. Chadwick. 2007. Adaptation strategies of the corallimorpharian Rhodactis rhodostoma to irradiance and temperature. Marine Biology. 151:1287-1298. PDF

24

Humphry, D.R., M. Andrews, S.R. Santos, E.K. James, L.V. Vinogradova, L. Perin, V.M. Reis, S.P. Cummings. 2007. Phylogenetic assignment and mechanism of action of a crop growth promoting Rhizobium radiobacter strain used as a biofertiliser on graminaceous crops in Russia. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 91:105-113. PDF

23

Cummings, S.P., D.R. Humphry, S.R. Santos, M. Andrews, E.K. James. 2006. The potential and pitfalls of exploiting nitrogen fixing bacteria in agricultural soils as a substitute for inorganic fertiliser. Environmental Biotechnology. 2:1-10. PDF

22

Coffroth, M.A., C.F. Lewis, S.R. Santos, J.L. Weaver. 2006. Environmental populations of the symbiotic dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium (Freudenthal), can initiate symbioses with reef cnidarians. Current Biology. 16:R985-R987. PDF  Supplementary Materials

21

Santos, S.R. 2006. Patterns of genetic connectivity among anchialine habitats: a case study of the endemic Hawaiian shrimp Halocaridina rubra on the Island of Hawaii. Molecular Ecology. 15:2699-2718. PDF

20

Moran, N.A., P.H. Degan, S.R. Santos, H.E. Dunbar, H. Ochman. 2005. The players in a mutualistic symbiosis: Insects, bacteria, viruses and virulence genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 102:16919-16926. PDF  Supporting data set

19

Coffroth, M.A., S.R. Santos. 2005. Invited Review: Genetic diversity of symbiotic dinoflagellates in the genus Symbiodinium. Protist. 156:19-34. PDF

18

Ochman, H., S.R. Santos. 2005. Exploring microbial microevolution with microarrays. Infection, Genetics, and Evolution. 5:103-108. PDF

17

Santos, S.R., H. Ochman. 2004. Identification and phylogenetic sorting of bacterial lineages using universally conserved genes and proteins. Environmental Microbiology. 6:754-759. PDF  Download datasets

16

Santos, S.R. 2004. Comment on an article by Gou et al. (2003, J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 296, 135-144): Phylogenetic analysis of a free-living strain of Symbiodinium isolated from Jiaozhou Bay, P.R. China. Journal of Phycology. 40:395-397. PDF

15

Takabayashi, M., S.R. Santos, C.B. Cook. 2004. Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny of the symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta). Journal of Phycology. 40:160-164. PDF

14

Santos, S.R., T.L. Shearer, A.R. Hannes, M.A. Coffroth. 2004. Fine-scale diversity and specificity in the most prevalent lineage of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyceae) of the Caribbean. Molecular Ecology. 13:459-469. PDF

13

Francino, M.P., S.R. Santos, H. Ochman. 2003. Phylogenetic Relationships of Bacteria with Special Reference to Endosymbionts and Enteric Species. For: M. Dworkin (Editor-in-Chief), The Prokaryotes: An Evolving Electronic Resource for the Microbiological Community, 3rd edition, release 3.13, May 12, 2003. Springer-Verlag, New York.

12

Santos, S.R., R.A. Kinzie III, K. Sakai, M.A. Coffroth.  2003. Molecular characterization of nuclear small subunit (18S)-rDNA pseudogenes in a symbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta). Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 50:417-421. PDF

11

Santos, S.R., C. Gutierrez-Rodriguez, M.A. Coffroth. 2003. Phylogenetic identification of symbiotic dinoflagellates via length heteroplasmy in domain V of chloroplast large subunit (cp23S)-rDNA sequences. Marine Biotechnology.. 5:130-140. (featured cover article) PDF

10

Santos, S.R., C. Gutierrez-Rodriguez, H.R. Lasker, M.A. Coffroth. 2003. Symbiodinium sp. associations in the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae in the Bahamas: high levels of genetic variability and population structure in symbiotic dinoflagellates. Marine Biology. 143:111-120. PDF  Supplementary Materials

9

Ochman, H., S.R. Santos. 2003. Eyeing bacterial genomes. Current Opinion in Microbiology. 6:109-113. PDF

8

Santos, S.R., M.A. Coffroth. 2003. Molecular genetic evidence that dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium Freudenthal are haploid. The Biological Bulletin. 204:10-20. (featured cover article)  PDF

7

Santos, S.R., D.J. Taylor, R.A. Kinzie III, K. Sakai, M.A. Coffroth. 2002. Evolution of length variation and heteroplasmy in the chloroplast rDNA of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta) and a novel insertion in the universal core region of the large subunit rDNA. Phycologia. 41:311-318. (featured cover article) PDF

6

Santos, S.R., D.J. Taylor, R.A. Kinzie III, M. Hidaka, K. Sakai, M.A. Coffroth. 2002. Molecular phylogeny of symbiotic dinoflagellates inferred from partial chloroplast large subunit (23S)-rDNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23:97-111. PDF

5

Kinzie, R.A. III, M. Takayama, S.R. Santos, M.A. Coffroth. 2001. The adaptive bleaching hypothesis: Experimental tests of critical assumptions. The Biological Bulletin. 200:51-58. PDF

4

Coffroth, M.A., S.R. Santos, T.L. Goulet. 2001. Early ontogenetic expression of specificity in a cnidarian-algal symbiosis. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 222:85-96. PDF

3

Santos S.R., D.J. Taylor, M.A. Coffroth. 2001. Genetic comparisons of freshly isolated vs. cultured symbiotic dinoflagellates: Implications for extrapolating to the intact symbiosis. Journal of Phycology. 37:900-912. PDF

2

Larned, S.T., S.R. Santos. 2000. Light- and nutrient-limited periphyton in low order streams of Oahu, Hawaii. Hydrobiologia. 432:101-111. PDF

1

Santos, S.R. 1995. Ultraviolet radiation: helpful or harmful to growth of  cultured zooxanthellae? In Gulko, D. and Jokiel, P.L. [Eds.] Ultraviolet Radiation and Coral Reefs. HIMB Technical Report No. 41, Hawaii, pp. 165-169. PDF

Hawaii anchialine research feature in "Where in The World? North America" series by MO BIO Laboratories, INC.

"After Dark in the Park" feature in 7/5/11 edition of the Hawaii Tribune Herald regarding the new living anchialine pool exhibit at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Visitor Center, Volcano, Hawaii, HI.

"Disappearing Red Shrimp" feature in 12/20/10 edition of Science Nation, a science video series from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

"Ulua aukea and `omilu: these species sometimes cross" - Santos et al. (2011) Journal of Heredity publication profiled by Jan TenBruggencate of Raising Islands (an internet blog regarding science and the environment in Hawaii).

"Poaching a source of many 'opae 'ula sold as aquarium pets" - Weese & Santos (2009) Animal Conservation publication profiled by Jan TenBruggencate of Raising Islands (an internet blog regarding science and the environment in Hawaii).

"Life evolving in the wet darkness below" - Ivey & Santos (2007) Gene and Craft et al. (2008) Limnology & Oceanography publications profiled by Jan TenBruggencate of Raising Islands (an internet blog regarding science and the environment in Hawaii).

"Shrimp are genetic marvels" - Interview with Jan TenBruggencate of The Honolulu Advertiser from June 12, 2006 regarding Santos (2006) Molecular Ecology publication. PDF

Santos, S.R., Y. Xiang 2006. Symbiodinium on-line network established. ISS Symbiosis International Newsletter. 11: Winter 2006. PDF

2011

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: "Islands under Islands: the molecular ecology and evolution of anchialine organisms in the Pacific basin". University of Bergen. Bergen, Norway.

2011

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: "Anchialine Pools: Uncovering the Hidden Secrets". Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Visitor Center, Volcano, Hawaii, HI. PDF (Slides) Video of Talk at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park website

2010

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: "Islands under Islands: the ecology and evolution of anchialine organisms in the Pacific basin". Bowdoin College. Brunswick, ME.

2010

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk; Fort Johnson Seminar Series: "Islands in the Sea: Population endemism, host specificity and temporal stability in symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium: Dinophyta) of tropical coral reefs". College of Charleston. Charleston, SC.

2009

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk in Symposium "Microbial Symbiont Impacts on Communities and Ecosystems": "Symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta) as drivers of community structure and complexity in the coral reef ecosystem". 6th International Symbiosis Society Congress. Madison, WI.

2009

Santos, S.R. Invited Keynote Address; University at Buffalo 4th Annual Research Symposium of the Biological Sciences: "Hindsight is 20/20: perspectives on surviving and thriving in graduate school and beyond."

2009

Thornhill, D.J., S.R. Santos. Population genetic structure of symbiotic dinoflagellates associated with Caribbean reef-building corals, Montastraea annularis and M. faveolata. Talk: 2009 SICB Meetings (Boston, MA). PDF (Abstract)

2009

Merz, R.A., F.N. Hussain, K.A. Stockbower, F.O. Taschuk, I.R. Yarett, S.R. Santos, Y. Xiang, E.A. Vallen. The patchy distribution of zooxanthellae in the gastrodermal landscape of symbiotic anemones. Poster: 2009 SICB Meetings (Boston, MA). PDF (Abstract)

2008

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk in Symposium "Anchialine Pool Ecosystems": WILDLIFE FORENSICS: What DNA reveals about the biology and conservation of organisms from Hawaiian anchialine environments. 89th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) - Pacific Division. Waimea, Hawaii. Society Information

2007

Santos, S.R., R.L. Hunter, D.J. Thornhill. Invited Talk: The ecology and evolution of symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium, Dinophyta) on tropical coral reefs. 60th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch - American Society for Microbiology. Auburn, Alabama. PDF (Slides)

2007

Xiang Y. & S.R. Santos. A nuclear genome perspective on species boundaries and population structure in the sea anemone Aiptasia spp. 3rd Place Student Poster Award: 2007 SEEC Meeting (Orlando, FL)

2006

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: WILDLIFE FORENSICS: What DNA reveals about the biology of the endemic shrimp öpae ula (Halocaridina rubra) in Hawaiian anchialine environments. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary - Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. PDF (Flyer) PDF (Slides)

2006

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk in Symposium "Patterns of codiversification in specialized communities": Symbioses in the sea: patterns of coevolution in host-Symbiodinium (symbiotic dinoflagellate) associations. Evolution 2006 - Stony Brook, New York. PDF (Slides)

2006

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: Patterns of genetic connectivity among anchialine habitats: a case study of the endemic Hawaiian shrimp Halocaridina rubra on the Island of Hawaii. University of Alabama - Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.

2006

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: Patterns of genetic connectivity among anchialine habitats: a case study of the endemic Hawaiian shrimp Halocaridina rubra on the Island of Hawaii. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

2006

Santos Phylogeography of Halocaridina rubra: Discerning relatedness between populations of an endemic Hawaiian shrimp. Poster: 2006 SICB Meetings (Orlando, FL) PDF (Abstract)

2005

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: Population genetics of opae ula (Halocaridina rubra) in Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Manoa Zoology Department, Honolulu, Hawaii.

2005

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: "Checks and Balances" in the identification of Symbiodinium genetic diversity. GEF Targeted Research group on Coral Bleaching and Related Ecological Factors (BTRG), Puerto Morelos, Mexico. PDF (Abstract) PDF (Slides) PDF (Meeting Proceedings, 129 pages, 3.7 MB)

2005

Santos, S.R. Invited Talk: Genetic diversity and differentiation of the endemic anchialine shrimp Halocaridina rubra: evidence for two colonization events on the Island of Hawaii. Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.

2004

Santos, S.R. Symbiodinium, retrotransposons and the biological species concept. 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan.

2003

Santos, S.R. Symbiodinium, retrotransposons and the biological species concept. 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, Okinawa, Japan.

2003

Santos, S.R., C. Gutierrez-Rodriguez, H. R. Lasker, M.A. Coffroth. Patterns of Symbiodinium associations in the Caribbean gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae: high levels of genetic variability and population structure in symbiotic dinoflagellates of the Bahamas. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology, Toronto, Canada.

2000

Santos, S.R., M.A. Coffroth. Genetic comparisons of freshly isolated vs. cultured zooxanthellae: Implications for extrapolating to the intact symbiosis. Benthic Ecology Meetings, Wilmington, North Carolina.