Dr. Michael P. Crosby

Executive Office

President & CEO

Ex-Officio on all Committees

MMF Board

Dr. Crosby has more than 30 years of diverse research, teaching, science management and leadership endeavors. He has gained experience and expertise in developing, managing and conducting multi-disciplinary research and overseeing programs through his interactions, involvement and partnerships with numerous universities, national and international science and resource management agencies, programs and committees. Many of these endeavors focused on improving the synthesis, translation and transfer of science and technical information between research, public policy and stakeholder communities. He has played an active and significant role in directly leading national and international multi-disciplinary research programs, as well as developing national policy and administrative aspects for our country’s science programs.

In May 2013, Dr. Crosby was appointed as President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, an independent research institution that has been a leader in marine research for 60 years. Dr. Crosby had previously served for three years as Mote’s Senior Vice President for Research. He came to that position following appointments as Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development at George Mason University, and Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Hawai’i - Hilo. Prior to those appointments, he served in a federal Senior Executive Service position as Executive Director of the National Science Board - National Science Foundation. He came to the Board from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where he served as Senior Advisor for International Science Policy in the Under Secretary’s Office of International Affairs at NOAA. His previous positions in NOAA have been: Executive Director for the NOAA Science Advisory Board; National Research Coordinator for Ocean and Coastal Resource Management; and Chief Scientist for Sanctuaries and Reserves. Dr. Crosby also completed a special detail from NOAA to the U.S. Agency for International Development, where he served for two years as the Senior Science Advisor for Marine and Coastal Ecosystems. Prior to joining NOAA, he held numerous faculty positions with the Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research at the University of South Carolina, the Department of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University, the Graduate Program at the University of Charleston, Salisbury State University and is currently Adjunct Professor of Marine Science at UH Hilo. He has also had previous science positions with the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and National Cancer Institute-NIH.

He obtained an M.S. in Biology, with honors, from Old Dominion University and a Ph.D. in Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences at the University of Maryland. He has developed successful research grants of more than $50 million from NSF, NOAA, EPA, DOD, USAID, and others. Dr. Crosby has led major national and international, multi-discipline, multi-year research projects, such as a U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program project entitled "Ecological and socio-economic impacts of alternative access management strategies in marine and coastal protected areas"; the U.S., Israeli and Jordanian joint partnership project entitled “The Red Sea Marine Peace Park Cooperative Research, Monitoring and Management Program”; and the Hawai‘i State EPSCoR project entitled “Pacific High Island Evolutionary Biogeography: Impacts of Invasive Species, Anthropogenic Activity and Climate Change on Hawaiian Focal Species.” He is a member of the Natural Areas Association, Coastal Society, National Shellfisheries Association, Estuarine Research Federation, American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London. He also served 12 years on the Board of Governors and was past Chairman for the U.S.-Israeli Binational Science Foundation, is a Past-President for Sigma Xi-The Scientific Research Society, and is currently on the Board of Directors (Past-President) for the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean, Board of Directors (Past-President) for the Pacific Congress on Marine Science and Technology, and the Institute for Venture Science Board of Advisors.

Dr. Crosby serves as a reviewer and panelist for numerous scientific journals and national and international science panels and advisory committees. He has published more than 50 articles in the Marine Ecology Progress Series, Journal of Shellfish Research, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Marine Biology, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Limnology and Oceanography, Ocean and Coastal Management, Natural Areas Journal, Coral Reefs, Oceanography, Aquatic Conservation, various technical memoranda series, and has edited several books and manuals dealing with marine protected areas and coral reefs. In 2009, he also co-Chaired the development of a Hawai’i Statewide Science and Technology Strategic Plan as requested by the Hawai’i State Legislature.

Education

Ph.D., University of Maryland
B.S., M.S., Old Dominion University

Publications

Crosby, M.P. (in press 2019). Global impact of the Sato-Umi concept: Mankind in harmony with the Ocean Biome. pp. 29-47. IN: Kakuma, S., T. Yanagi, and T. Sato (eds.). Knowledge for Supporting Sato-Umi Creation. 352 pp. Springer Japan Life Sciences.

Crosby, M.P. and B. Lausche. (in press 2019). Models for implementation of the Sato-Umi concept via Residential Research Institute partnerships with Volunteer Citizen Scientists in the United States. pp. 305-332. IN: Kakuma, S., T. Yanagi, and T. Sato (eds.) Knowledge for Supporting Sato-Umi Creation. 352 pp. Springer Japan Life Sciences.

Al-Aidaroos, A.M., A.A.J. Kumar, A.E. Al-Haj, A.M. Al-Sofyani, M.P. Crosby, and M.M. El-Sherbiny. 2019. Morphology of the complete larval stages of Portunus segnis (Forskål, 1775) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Portunidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 4638 (2): 199-218. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4638.2.2

Al-Haj, A.E, A.A.J. Kumar, M.M. El-Sherbiny, A.M. Al-Sofyani, M.P. Crosby, and A.M. Al-Aidaroos. 2019. Descriptions of the first zoeas of ten xanthoidean crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Xanthidae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Zootaxa 4686(3), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4686.3.1

Devassy, R.P., M.M. El-Sherbiny, A.M. Al-Sofyani, M.P. Crosby, and A.M. Al-Aidaroos. 2019. Seasonality and latitudinal variability of diatom-cyanobacterial symbiotic relationships in the coastal waters of Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Symbiosis. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-019-00610-w

Crosby, M.P., Lausche, B., Culter, J. (2018). Community-Based Scallop Restoration: A Model for Knowledge Circulation Theory. In Sato, T., Chabay, I., Helgeson, J. (Eds.), Transformations of Social-Ecological Systems: Studies in Co-creating Integrated Knowledge Toward Sustainable (pp. 77-94). Springer, Singapore. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-2327-0_5

Crosby, M.P., E.S. Reese, and M.L. Berumen. 2013. Corallivorous Butterflyfish as Ambassadors of Coral Reefs. IN: The Biology of Butterflyfishes, M.S. Pratchett, M.L. Berumen and B.G. Kapoor, eds. Science Publishers Inc., Enfield, NH, USA. p. 244-266.

Crosby, M.P. 2007. Improving International Relations Through Marine Science Partnerships. IN: Law, Science & Ocean Management, M.H. Nordquist, R. Long, T.H. Heidar and J. Norton Moore, eds. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Leiden/Boston. p. 271-293.

Crosby, M.P., E.S. Reese and M. Khalaf (eds). 2005. Special Issue: Butterflyfish Research and Monitoring in the Middle East and Beyond; Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. John Wiley & Sons Interscience, West Sussex, UK. 141 pp.

Crosby, M.P. and E.S. Reese. 2005. Relationship of habitat stability and intra-specific population dynamics of an obligate corallivore butterflyfish. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 15:13-25.

Khalaf, M. and M.P. Crosby. 2005. Overview of the Middle East Regional Science Symposium and Workshop: Butterflyfish (Family Chaetodontidae) Research and Monitoring. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 15:3-11

Khalaf, M. and M.P. Crosby. 2005. Assemblage structure of Butterflyfishes and their use as indicators of Gulf of Aqaba benthic habitat in Jordan. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 15:27-43.

Shokri, M.R., S.M.R. Fatemi and M.P. Crosby. 2005. The Status of Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) in the Northern Persian Gulf, I.R. Iran. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 15:91-99.

Crosby, M.P. and J.M. Pomeroy. 2004. What Will It Take for the United States to Maintain Global Leadership in Discovery and Innovation? pp. 21-27. IN: Kelly, T.K, W.P. Butz, S. Carroll, D.M. Adamson, and G. Bloom (eds). The U.S. Scientific and Technical Workforce: Improving Data for Decision-making. Science and Technology Policy Institute, RAND Corporation, Arlington, VA.

Agardy, T., Bridgewater P., Crosby, M.P., Day, J, Dayton, P.K., Kenchington, R., Laffoley, D., McConney, P., Murray, P.A., Parks, J.E. and Peau, L. (2003). Dangerous targets? Unresolved 6 issues and ideological clashes around marine protected areas. Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. 13:353-367.

Mazel, C.H., M.P. Strand, M.P. Lesser, M.P. Crosby, B. Coles, and A.J. Nevis. 2003. High-resolution determination of coral reef bottom cover from multispectral fluorescence laser line scan imagery. Limnol. and Oceanogr. 48:522-534.

Murray, P.A., N. Daves, and M.P. Crosby. 2003. Promoting long-term sustainable use and conservation of marine resources in the Eastern Caribbean – A regional collaborative project. 54th Proc. Gulf Carib. Fish Inst. 72-83.

Bohnsack, J.A., B. Causey, M.P. Crosby, R.B. Griffis, M.A. Hixon, T.F. Hourigan, K.H. Koltes, J.E. Maragos, A. Simons, and J.T. Tilmant. 2002. A rationale for minimum 20-30% no-take protection. Proceedings of the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. 615-620.

Crosby, M.P., G. Brighous, M. Pichon. 2002. Priorities and strategies for addressing natural and anthropogenic threats to coral reefs in Pacific Island Nations. Ocean Coastl. Manag. 45:121-137.

Crosby, M.P., B. Al-Bashir, M. Badran, S. Dweiri,, R. Ortal, M. Ottolenghi, A. Perevolotsky. 2002. The Red Sea Marine Peace Park: Early lessons learned from a unique trans-boundary cooperative research, monitoring and management program. Proceedings of the fourth conference on the Protected Areas of East Asia – Benefits Beyond Boundaries in East Asia, March 18-23, 2002, Yangmingshan National Park, Taipei, Taiwan. p. 233-248.

Crosby, M.P., A. Abu-Hilal, A. Al-Homoud, J. Erez, and R. Ortal. 2000. Interactions among scientists, managers and the public in defining research priorities and management strategies for marine and coastal resources: Is the Red Sea Marine Peace Park a new paradigm? Water, Air and Soil Pollution 123: 581-594.

Crosby, M.P., R. Bohne and K. Geenen. 2000. Alternative access management strategies for marine and coastal protected areas: A reference manual for their development and assessment. U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program. Washington, DC. 164 pp.

Loya, Y., S.M. Al-Moghrabi, M. Ilan and M.P. Crosby. 1999. The Red Sea Marine Peace Park Coral Reef Benthic Communities: Ecology and Biology monitoring program. pp. 239-250. IN: Maragos, J.E. and R. Grober-Dunsmore (eds). Proceedings of the Hawai'i Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop, June 9-11, 1998, Honolulu, Hawai'i. Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Government.

Reese, E.S. and M.P. Crosby.1999. The use of indicator species for coral reef monitoring. pp. 121-128. IN: Maragos, J.E. and R. Grober-Dunsmore (eds). Proceedings of the Hawai'i Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop, June 9-11, 1998, Honolulu, Hawai'i. Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Government.

Miller, S.L. and M.P. Crosby. 1998. The extent and condition of U.S. coral reefs. 2nd ed. pp. 1-34. IN: NOAA’s State of the Coast Report. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Silver Spring, MD. [on-line (http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/retiredsites/sotc_pdf/CRF.PDF)].

Crosby, M.P. 1997. Moving towards a new paradigm for interactions among scientists, managers and the public in marine and coastal protected areas. pp. 10-24. IN: Crosby, M.P., D. Laffoley, C. Mondor, G. O’Sullivan and K. Geenen (eds). Proceeding of the Second International Symposium and Workshop on Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, July, 1995. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA. 247 pp.

Crosby, M.P., D. Laffoley, C. Mondor, G. O’Sullivan and K. Geenen. 1997. Proceeding of the Second International Symposium and Workshop on Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, July, 1995. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA. 247 pp.

Crosby, M.P. and E.S. Reese. 1996. A Manual for Monitoring Coral Reefs With Indicator Species: Butterflyfishes as Indicators of Change on Indo-Pacific Reefs. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD. 45 pp. (accompanied by a twenty-minute video).

Crosby, M.P., G.R. Gibson, and K.W. Potts (eds). 1996. A Coral Reef Symposium on Practical, Reliable, Low Cost Monitoring Methods for Assessing the Biota and Habitat Conditions of Coral Reefs, January 26-27, 1995. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA. 80 pp.

Eichbaum, W.M., M. P. Crosby, M.T. Agardy, and S.A. Laskin. 1996. The Role of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas in the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity. Oceanography 9: 60-70.

Maragos, J.E., M.P. Crosby, and J. McManus. 1996. Coral Reefs and Biodiversity: A Critical and Threatened Relationship. Oceanography 9: 83-99.

Science Subgroup. 1996. South Florida Ecosystem Restoration: Scientific Information Needs. Report to the Working Group of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. 487 pp.

Crosby, M.P. and J.E. Maragos. 1995. The United States Coral Reef Initiative. pp. 303-316. IN: Maragos, J.E., M.N.A. Peterson, L.G. Eldredge, J.E. Bardach, and H.F. Takeuchi (eds), Marine and coastal biodiversity in the tropical island Pacific region. Vol I: Species systematics and information management priorities. East West Center, Honolulu, HI.

Bjergo, C., C. Boydston, M.P. Crosby, S. Kokkanakis, and R. Sayer, Jr. 1995. Non-native Aquatic Species in the United States and Coastal Waters. pp. 428-431. IN: E.T. LaRoe, G.S. Farris, C.E. Puckett, P.D. Doran, and M.J. Mac (eds.), Our Living Resources - A report to the Nation on the distribution, abundance, and health of U.S. plants, animals, and Ecosystems. U.S. Dept. of Interior- Nat. Biol. Ser., Wash., D.C.

Crosby M.P. and A.D. Beck. 1995 Management-oriented research in National Estuarine Research Reserves, with examples of fisheries-focused studies. Natural Areas Journal 15:12-20.

Crosby, M. P., S.F. Drake, C.M. Eakin, N.B. Fanning, A. Paterson, P.R. Taylor and J. Wilson. 1995. The United States Coral Reef Initiative: an overview of the first steps. Coral Reefs 13: 249-251.

Crosby, M.P. 1994. A proposed approach for studying ecological and socio-economic impacts of alternative access management strategies in marine protected areas. pp. 45-65 IN: Marine Protected Areas and Biosphere Reserves: 'Towards a New Paradigm'. D.J. Brunkhorst [Ed], Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra, Australia.

Crosby, M.P. 1994. Opportunities for nonindigenous species research and monitoring in NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserves. In: Nonindigenous Estuarine and Marine Organism Conference, Seattle, WA. Proceedings of the Conference and Workshop, April, 1993. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C. pp. 69-78.

Golde, H.M., M.P. Crosby, C.R. Lovell and S.E. Stancyk. 1994. Reduction of marine sediment oxygen uptake: pre-treatment for the determination of infaunal respiration rates. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 111: 203-207.

Kismohandaka, G., C.S. Friedman, W. Roberts, R.P. Hendrick, and M.P. Crosby. 1993. Investigation of physiological parameters of black abalone with withering syndrome. J. Shellfish Res. 12:131-133.

Crosby, M.P. and H.M. Golde. 1993. A review and synthesis of the first decade of research in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Technical Memorandum #26. Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Washington, D.C.

G.I. Scott, M.H. Fulton, M.P. Crosby, G.T. Chandler, T.F. Bidleman, P. B. Key, J.W. Daugomah, C.J. Lounden, T.W. Hampton, J. Waldren and D.W. Moore. 1992. Agricultural insecticide runoff effects on estuarine organisms: Correlating laboratory and field toxicity testing and ecophysiological measurements with ecotoxicological bio-monitoring. Final Report, U.S.E.P.A. Gulf Breeze Environmental Laboratory. 165 pp.

Gale, L.D., J. Manzi and M.P. Crosby. 1991. Energetic costs to the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica (GMELIN), due to recent parasitism by the ectoparasitic gastropod, Boonea impressa (SAY). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 79:89-98.

Crosby, M.P., C. Roberts and P.D. Kenny. 1991. Effects of immersion time and tidal position on the in situ growth rates of a naturally settled bivalve. J. Shellfish Res. 10:95-103.

Crosby, M.P. 1990. Assessment of impacts from development of Radio Island, NC on harvesting, population structure, density and condition of endemic intertidal oyster populations. Environ. Test. Ser. rep./ N.C. Port Authority. 11 pp.

Crosby, M.P. and C. Roberts. 1990. Seasonal infection intensity cycle of the parasite Perkinsus marinus (and an absence of Haplosporidium spp.) in oysters from a South Carolina salt marsh. Diseases Aquat. Org. 9:149-155.

Crosby, M.P. and L. Gale. 1990. A review and evaluation of bivalve condition index methodologies with a suggested standard method. J. Shellfish Res. 9:233-238.

Crosby, M.P., R.I.E. Newell and C.J. Langdon. 1990. Bacterial mediation in the utilization of carbon and nitrogen from detrital complexes by the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Limnol. and Oceanogr. 35:625-639.

Crosby, M.P. 1989 (abstract). A discussion of various approaches for assessing the effects of anthropogenic inputs on bivalves: Current trends and suggestions for the future. J. Shellfish Res. 8:436-437.

Crosby, M.P., C.J. Langdon and R.I.E. Newell. 1989. Importance of refractory plant material to the carbon budget of the oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin). Mar. Biol. 100:343-352.

Crosby, M.P. 1988 (abstract). Using bioenergetics of intertidal oyster populations as a measurement of anthropogenic perturbations to shellfish growing waters. J. Shellfish Res. 7:199-200.

Crosby, M.P. and E.R. Peele. 1987. Detection of bacterial populations in oyster tissue homogenates using direct counts and 3H-Thymidine incorporation. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 108:93-97.

Crosby, M.P. 1986. Utilization of detrital complexes by the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Maryland. 164 pp.

Crosby, M.P. 1985. The use of a rapid radiolabeling method for measuring ingestion rates of detritivores. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 93:273-283.

Wolfinbarger, L. and M.P. Crosby. 1983. A convenient procedure for radiolabeling detritus with (14C) dimethylsulfate. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol 67:185-198.

Crosby, M.P. 1982. Determining the uptake and possible assimilation of the plant component of Spartina detritus by Palaemonetes pugio using a rapid radiolabeling method. M.S. thesis, Old Dominion University. 47 pp.

Crosby, M.P., R.W. Alden and L. Wolfinbarger. 1981 (abstract). A preliminary study of the ingestion of detrital material by Palaemonetes pugio, using 14C radiolabeling methods. Proc. of the 59th Meet. of the VA Acad. of Science.

Awards & Honors

He is a member of the Natural Areas Association, Coastal Society, National Shellfisheries Association, Estuarine Research Federation, American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a Fellow of the Royal Linnean Society of London. He is also currently on the Board of Directors and Immediate Past President for the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean, on the Board of Directors and Immediate Past President for the Pacific Congress on Marine Science and Technology, Past-President for Sigma Xi-The Scientific Research Society, and past Chairman and 12-year Governor for the U.S.-Israeli Binational Science Foundation.

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