Title: Professor
Institution: Boston University
Address: 5 Cummington Mall, Boston University, Biology Dept, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Email: plobel@bu.edu
Phone: (617) 358-4586
Visit Phillip’s Research Website
Research Interests: fish ecology, aquatic toxicology, coral reefs, taxonomy, ecological impact,
Biographical Sketch:
Expert Spotlight: Dr. Phil Lobel https://theexpertshow.com/blog/2014/3/25/expert-spotlight
Service to the US National Interest: During 1983 to 2005, I led the scientific research team that evaluated the impact on the marine environment from the US Army’s prototype facility for the destruction of chemical weapons (i.e. nerve and mustard gases) on a remote Pacific coral atoll, Johnston Atoll. The work also included impact study of “agent orange” and nuclear weapons fallout. This project operated under a Joint Task Force with funding from the Defense Nuclear Agency, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, US Special Weapons Agency and US Coast Guard. The lessons learned from this project were transferred to the training of US Navy divers and in developing the policy for the Department of Defense stewardship of marine protected areas (e.g.
http://www.denix.osd.mil/nr/upload/dodbk5.pdf and
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a571836.pdf
Contribution to the refinement of research tools: My lab advanced the use of passive acoustic monitoring as a means of quantifying fish spawning patterns and locations. We developed hydrophones and real-time devices for the detection and recording of specific fish sounds in the wild (Lobel 1992, Mann & Lobel 1995). Our publications have documented the unique spawning sounds and other sounds of many reef fish species. We have also developed new tools for use in acoustics tracking of sharks (eg Lobel 2012 AAUS symp.) and for detecting nuclear radiation underwater (Johnson et al 1997).
An entertaining radio interview that reviews Lobel'c scientific career is available online at
You’re the Expert – radio interview show https://soundcloud.com/youre-the-expert/s2ep2-fish-noises
Dr. Phil Lobel, an ichthyologist at Boston University, studies the noises that fish make. He's also the most interesting man in the world. Hear about his battles with sharks, his discovery of a new "dinosaur," and his discoveries about the noises fish create while making love. Featuring comedians Myq Kaplan, Ken Reid, and Robert Woo. Hosted by Chris Duffy. Technical production by Kevin Brunswick.
Education:
EDUCATION:
- BA., with High Honors (Zoology), University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1975
- PhD., Biology, Harvard University, 1979
- Post-Doctoral Fellow in Oceanography, Center for Earth & Planetary Physics, Harvard University, 1980 - 1983
Professor of Biology (Ichthyology), Boston University
Lifetime Fellow of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (NOGI 2012)
https://www.auas-nogi.org/biographies-g-o
Lifetime Member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
National Geographic Society Explorer since 1986
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/find-explorers/ED00336000010CCgQAAW