Marine & Freshwater Aquaculture

Dr. Nicole Rhody

Dr. Nicole Rhody

Program Manager & Senior Scientist

Dr. Rhody received her Ph.D. from the University of Stirling in Scotland and has over 20 years of experience in the field of aquaculture. Based at Mote’s 200-acre Aquaculture Research Park, she leads a team of scientists focused on conservation and cultivation of marine finfish, bivalves, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Her research interests include animal reproductive physiology, biological rhythms, nutritional requirements, and larval ontogeny. Projects center on improving animal husbandry protocols and systems technologies in both land-based and offshore aquaculture production. Since 2017, Dr. Rhody has served as Chair of the World Aquaculture Society Student Activities Committee.

Education

Ph.D. Fish Reproductive Physiology, Reproduction & Genetics Group, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, UK

M.S. Aquaculture, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, UK

B.S. Biology, Florida Southern College, FL, USA

Publications

Rhody NR, Stacy NI, Hernandez JA, Patrick G, Resley MJ, Yanong RP. Blood Analyte Changes of Wild-Caught Adult Almaco Jack in Response to Acclimation to Recirculating Aquaculture Systems and Hyposalinity Treatment. J Aquat Anim Health. 2021 Jun;33(2) 77-83. doi:10.1002/aah.10121. PMID: 33783879.

Tarnecki, A.M., Wafapoor, M., Phillips, R.N., Rhody, N.R., 2019. Benefits of a Bacillus probiotic to larval fish survival and transport stress resistance. Sci. Rep. 9, 4892. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-39316-w.

Tarnecki, A.M., Brennan, N.P., Schloesser, R.W., Rhody, N.R., 2019. Shifts in the Skin-Associated Microbiota of Hatchery-Reared Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis During Acclimation to the Wild. Microb. Ecol. 77, 770-781. doi:10.1007/s00248-018-1252-7.

Tarnecki, A.M., Rhody, N.R. Walsh, C. (2018). Health Parameters and Blood Bacterial Assemblages of Healthy Captive Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus: Implications for Aquaculture and Fish Health Management. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. http:https://doi.org/10.1002/aah.10047

Yanes-Roca, C., Toledo-Cuevas, M.E., Sanchez, L.J., Born-Torrijos, A., Rhody, N., Main, K.L. (2018). Digestive Enzyme Activity during Larval Development of Black Snook, Centropomus nigrescens. J. World Aquacult. Soc., 49(3), 612-624. doi:10.1111/jwas.12466

Tarnecki A.M., Rhody N.R. Microbiota of common snook Centropomus undecimalis larvae exhibiting high mortality. Aquaculture Research. 2017;00:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13377.

Yanes-Roca, C., Toledo-Cuevas, M. E., Sánchez, L. J., Born-Torrijos, A., Rhody, N. and Main, K. L. (2017), Digestive Enzyme Activity during Larval Development of Black Snook, Centropomus nigrescens. J World Aquacult Soc. doi:10.1111/jwas.12466.

Ma Q., Seyoum S., Tringali M.D., Resley M.J., Rhody N.R., Main K.L., Leber, K. Evaluating spawning performance among captive Florida pompano Trachinotus carolinus broodstock using microsatellite-based parentage assignment. Aquaculture Research. 2017;00:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13369

Rhody, N.R., Davie, A., Zmora, N., Zohar, Y., Main, K.L., Migaud, H., 2015. Influence of tidal cycles on the endocrine control of reproductive activity in common snook (Centropomus undecimalis). General and Comparative Endocrinology. General and Comparative Endocrinology 224, 247-259.

Hauville, M.R., Rhody N., Resley, M.J., Bell, J.G., Main, K.L., Migaud, H., 2015. Comparative study of lipids and fatty acids in the liver, muscle, and eggs of wild and captive common snook broodstock. Aquaculture, 446, pp. 227-235.

Rhody, N.R., Puchulutegui, C., Taggart, J.B., Main, K.L., Migaud, H., 2014. Parental contribution and spawning performance in captive common snook Centropomus undecimalis broodstock. Aquaculture 432, 144-153.

Rhody, N.R., Neidig, C.L., Grier, H.J., Main, K.L., Migaud, H., 2013. Assessing Reproductive Condition in Captive and Wild Common Snook Stocks: A Comparison between the Wet Mount Technique and Histological Preparations. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142, 979-988.

Barón-Aguilar, C.C., Rhody, N.R., Brennan, N.P., Main, K.L., Peebles, E.B., Muller-Karger, F.E., 2013. Influence of temperature on yolk resorption in common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792) larvae. Aquaculture Research, 1-9.

Yanes-Roca, C., Rhody, N.R., Nystrom, M., Wittenrich, M.L., Main, K.L., 2012. Embryonic and Early Larval Development in Hatchery-Reared Common Snook. North American Journal of Aquaculture 74, 499-511.

Rhody, N.R., Nassif, N.A., Main, K.L., 2010. Effects of salinity on growth and survival of common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch, 1792) larvae. Aquaculture Research 41, e357-e360.

Wittenrich, M.L., Rhody, N.R., Turingan, R.G., Main, K.L., 2009. Coupling osteological development of the feeding apparatus with feeding performance in common snook, Centropomus undecimalis, larvae: Identifying morphological constraints to feeding. Aquaculture 294, 221-227.

Yanes-Roca, C., Rhody, N., Nystrom, M., Main, K.L., 2009. Effects of fatty acid composition and spawning season patterns on egg quality and larval survival in common snook (Centropomus undecimalis). Aquaculture 287, 335-340.

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