Kimberly A. Clouse

• Hometown: Oak Ridge, North Carolina

• Previous Education: University of North Carolina at Willmington

• Degree obtained: B.S. in Marine Biology

• Graduate Advisor: Richard Appledorn, Ph.D. 

• Area of Specialization: Biological Oceanography

• Research Interest: reef-associated fishes, with emphasis on the Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus), and the management of Caribbean fisheries. 

The Nassau grouper is a commercially important species in Puerto Rico.  However, they have experienced exploitation through extensive overfishing due to the predictable time and location of their spawning aggregations. They are soniferous (sound producing) fishes and recent studies have shown that they produce species-specific sounds during times of spawning.

In my research, I am focusing on the use of passive acoustics to study the spawning aggregations of the Nassau grouper.  The use of this technology can allow the detection and documentation of Nassau grouper density over time.  Using this technology can improve Caribbean management strategies for this species which can eventually be used to help slow the decline of the population.   The Nassau grouper was put on the Endangered ICUN Red List in 2003.