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ABOUT US
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PERSONNEL
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ADMINISTRATION
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TUNNELL
DR. JOHN W. (WES) TUNNELL, JR.
HRI ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
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ADMINISTRATION
DR. LARRY MCKINNEY
DR. WES TUNNELL
 TAMUCC BIO
GULFBASE BIO
CURRICULUM VITAE
DR. SYLVIA EARLE
DR. ROBERT FURGASON
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Seeking Coastal Treasures
Source:'Outstanding Islander'
Dr. Wes Tunnell
April 2009 - To many, Dr. Wes Tunnell's thirst for discovery and easygoing style is reminiscent of the character Indiana Jones.
The marine biologist/ ecologist is associate director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) and director of the
Center for Coastal Studies. The University's first Fulbright fellow joined the faculty in 1974 and has helped launch the master's and Ph.D.
programs in biology. For 30 years he taught Coral Reef Ecology, taking students on two-week learning trips to Veracruz
and the Caribbean. He's also known for finding prehistoric mammoth
teeth on the Seven and One-Half Fathom Reef. The Taft, Texas, native
has received numerous honors. He was named 2006-2007 Outstanding
Research Scholar by The Academy Speaks at Texas A&M -Corpus Christi
and, in 2007, was awarded membership as a National Fellow in the
Explorers Club, which promotes scientific exploration and field
research. He is editor of both GulfBase, an award-winning database developed by HRI researchers, and the
HRI's book series through the Texas A&M University Press.
Most recently, Tunnell, a Google Ocean advisory committee member, played a vital role in creating "Ocean in Google Earth." His most recent
book is titled "Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico." He'll publish "Texas Seashells" featuring 900 photos of shells later this year.
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Tunnell's new book released in Nov
2007
Source: TAMUCC Coastlines
November 2007 - Dr. Wes Tunnell, associate director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI)
and director of the Center for Coastal Studies, and Dr. Kim Withers, associate research scientist for the Center of Coastal
Studies, are co-editors of the new book “Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico”
released in November 2007.
The worldwide decline of coral reefs during the 1980s and 1990s spurred Tunnell and the others to write a comprehensive
book that would raise awareness of coral reefs and their plight. Tunnell and Withers worked with co-editor Ernest A. Chavez,
scientist and professor at the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine Science, National Polytechnic Institute in La Paz, Baja
California. The book includes a foreword by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Harte Research Institute program coordinator and advisory council
chair. Published by the Texas A&M University Press, the 256-page book is filled with color photos is available by calling
(800) 826-8911 or on-line for $50 at
www.tamu.edu/upress.
 HRI BOOK SERIES |
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Tunnell to write
article for revised
Atlas of the Ocean
Source:
TAMUCC Coastlines
July 2007 - Dr. Wes Tunnell,
associate director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of
Mexico Studies (HRI), has been invited to write an essay on the Gulf
of Mexico for the revised “Atlas of the Ocean” compiled by the
National Geographic Society. The article will focus on the
uniqueness in science, conservation and social impact of the Gulf of
Mexico, including the HRI’s recent findings.
The revised National Geographic Society “Atlas of the Ocean” will
contain an additional 100 pages of maps, illustrations and essays.
Tunnell’s article will appear in Chapter 4 which discusses the
history, geography and biology of the Atlantic Ocean.
Tunnell, who obtained his doctorate in biology from Texas A&M
University in 1974, is a broadly trained marine biologist/ecologist
with a particular interest in coral reefs and coastal areas of the
Gulf of Mexico.
Tunnell began his academic career at the Island University in 1974
and was instrumental in starting the master’s degree in biology the
following year. He has had numerous presentations, papers, technical
reports and articles published in books and journals. He published a
book on the Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas in 2002 and has one
coming out on the Coral Reefs of the Southern Gulf of Mexico in
November 2007. A third on Texas Seashells will be out next year, and
all are from Texas A&M University Press.
Although his current focus is on biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico,
Tunnell has studied and published papers on sea shells, coral reef
ecology, coastal ecology, distribution and ecology, oil spill
impacts, brachiopods, colonial water birds, and vertebrate fossils
from the seabed. |
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Dr. Wes Tunnell on location
Jeff Janko photo - download higher-rez (82KB)
Contact Information:
Harte Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5869
Corpus Christi , Texas 78412-5869
Telephone: (361) 825-2055
Fax: (361) 825-2050
E-mail: wes.tunnell@tamucc.edu
Dr. Wes Tunnell is founder of the
Center for Coastal Studies (1984),
developer and promoter of the co-location concept of environmental and natural resources agencies to the TAMU-CC campus (1980s-90s),
and a strong proponent of cooperation and collaboration in the US, Mexico, and Cuba to promote
the HRI’s mission of
sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. He became Associate
Director of the HRI in 2001 and has played a key role in its development, in designing the new
HRI building and in developing a new PhD program in Coastal and Marine
System Science. He is also Director of the Center for Coastal Studies and Professor of Biology. He is a broadly trained marine
biologist/ecologist with a particular interest in field studies on
coral reefs and coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Tunnell has
studied coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the
Persian Gulf. He has visited reefs in French Polynesia, Guam, Palau,
Australia, Honduras, Panama, the Netherland Antilles, Indonesia and
Japan.
Although his current focus is on biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico, he has studied
and published on the following:
- coral reef ecology
- coastal ecology
- molluscan distribution and ecology
- oil spill impacts
- brachiopods
- colonial waterbirds
- vertebrate fossils from the seabed
- Texas Seashells (in press)
Dr. Tunnell
published a book called The Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas
in 2002 and another entitled Coral Reefs of the
Southern Gulf of Mexico in 2007. He submitted a third book
called Texas Seashells in spring 2008, and he has been invited to write an essay on the Gulf
of Mexico for the revised Atlas of the Ocean compiled by the National Geographic Society.
Area of Expertise/Interest:
Coral reef and coastal ecology; molluscan ecology; oil spill impacts. Research Projects:
- Biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico,
2003 – present. This is an all-taxa inventory of the Gulf of
Mexico, including 140 authors/taxonomists, from over 80 institutions in 15 countries. The 15,625 species will be
published in a book (Phase I) and then converted to digital be placed on the
World Wide Web in GulfBase (Phase II).
Dr. Tunnell has received two new grants, one from NOAA and one from
the Sloan Foundation, for the digital conversion.
- Gulf of Mexico – Its Origins, Waters, and Biota – Bulletin 89 – 50-year Update, 2002-present. The original Bulletin
89 was published in 1954 as Gulf of Mexico – Its Origins, Waters,
and Marine Life. The updated version will go from one volume to seven
(geology, biota, physical oceanography, chemical oceanography,
ecosystem-based management, human issues, and economics) and will be
published starting in 2009 by Texas A&M University Press via the
Harte
Research Institute Book Series.
- NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science
Center, 2007-2011. This multi-year, multi-institutional
project focuses on coastal and marine environmental research across the
southeast, primarily in National Estuarine Research Reserves. At TAMU-CC Dr. Tunnell
is developing a “Harte Model” for the long-term sustainable use and
conservation of the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem.
Education:
- BS, MS in Biology, Texas A&I University, Kingsville (1967,
1969)
- Ph.D. in Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station
(1974)
Associates:
Courses: Dr. Tunnell has
taught 13 different courses during his career at TAMU-CC, but he is not
currently teaching due to his HRI research administration duties.
Students:
Honors, Awards, Services:
- Gulf Guardian Award, Bi-National Category for book, Coral Reefs
of the Southern Gulf of Mexico
- Fellow National, Explorers Club, March 2007
- TAMU-CC Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity Award for 2006-07
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Gulf Guardian Award, Bi-National Category for GulfBase, 2006-present
- Scientific Advisory Committee, Waitt Institute for Discovery, 2006-present
- U.S. National Committee, Census of Marine Life, 2005
- Distinguished Professor Award, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Alumni, 2003
- Regents Professor Service Award, Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, 1998
- EPA Award for Environmental Excellence in Wetlands, Region 6, EPA, 1994
- Fulbright Scholar Award, Yucatan, México, 1985-1986
- Fellow, Texas Academy of Sciences, designated 1981
Selected Publications:
- Tunnell, J.W. Jr., E.A. Chavez, and K. Withers. 2007. Coral Reefs of
the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Texas A&M University Press. College
Station, Texas.
- Tunnell, J.W. Jr. 2005. Biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico project.
Pp. 285-286 in P. Miloslavich and E. Klein (eds.), Caribbean Marine
Biodiversity : The Known and the Unknown. DEStech Publications, USA.
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Tunnell, J.W. Jr. and S.A. Earle. 2004. Harte Research Institute for
Gulf of Mexico Studies: Initiatives in Marine Science Research.
Proceedings of 55th Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Xel-Ha,
Quintana Roo, Mexico, pp. 132-141.
- Tunnell, J.W. Jr. and F.W. Judd (eds.) 2002. The Laguna Madre of
Texas and Tamaulipas – A Compendium. Texas A&M University Press,
College Station. 346 pp.
- Tunnell, J.W. Jr. and B.R. Chapman. 2002. Ecology of nesting seabirds
on the Campeche Bank Islands, southeastern Gulf of México. Atoll
Research Bull. 482:1-50.
- Hicks, D., J.W. Tunnell, Jr. and R.F. McMahon. 2001. Population
dynamics of the nondigenous brown mussel Perna perna in the Gulf of
México compared to other world-wide populations. Marine Ecology
Progress Series. 211:181-192.
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