Malinda Sutor

Position: Assistant Professor-Research, Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences

Phone: 225-578-8055

Fax: 225-578-6513

Bachelor's Degree(s): B.A. Biology and English, Whitman College, 1995

Master's Degrees(s): M.S. Zoology and Physiology, Louisiana State University, 1998

Ph.D.(s): Ph.D. Oceanography, Oregon State University, 2004

Research Interests

I study the ecology and physiology of plankton and the physical and biological interactions that control their distribution and abundance. I utilize active acoustics and image-forming optical systems as well as traditional net systems to survey the finescale distributions of plankton. I conduct work in estuaries, coastal ocean, and the open ocean enviroment.

Classes Taught

OCS 1005 Introduction to Oceanography

OCS 7001 Plankton Ecology and Physiology

Recent Publications

Marshall, D. A., Moore, S. C., Sutor, M. M., La Peyre, J. F., La Peyre, M. K. (2020). Using reproductive potential to assess oyster population sustainability. Restoration Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13225

Maiti, K., Bosu, S., D'Sa, E. J., Sutor, M. M., Longnecker, K. (2016). Export fluxes in norther Gulf of Mexico-Comparative evaluation of direct, indirect, and satellite-based estimates. Marine Chemistry, 184, 60-77.

Selected Publications

Sutor, M., C.W. Ramcharan, R.D. Downer. 2001. Predation effects of two densities of fourth-instar Chaoborus trivittatus on a freshwater zooplankton community. Hydrobiologia 464: 121-131.

Warren, J. D., T. K. Stanton, M. C. Benfield, P. H. Wiebe, D. Chu and M. Sutor (2001). In situ measurements of acoustic target strengths of gas-bearing siphonophores. ICES Journal of Marine Science 58: 740-749.

Sutor, M.M, T.J. Cowles, W.T. Peterson, S.D. Pierce. 2005. Acoustic observations of finescale zooplankton distributions in the Oregon upwelling region. Deep-Sea Research II 52:109-121.

Sutor, M.M., T.J. Cowles, W.T. Peterson, J. Lamb. 2005. Comparison of acoustic and net sampling systems to determine patterns in zooplankton distribution. Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, C10S16, doi: 1029/2004JC2681.

Sutor, M.M., M.J. Dagg. 2008. The effects of vertical sampling resolution on estimates of plankton biomass and rate calculations in stratified water columns. Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Science 78: 107-121

Garcia, A.C., Bargu, S., Dash, P., Rabalais, N., Sutor, M., Morrison, W., Walker, N. 2010. Evaluating the potential risk of microcystins to blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fisheries and human health in a eutrophic estuary. Harmful Algae 9(2).

Current and Recent Research Projects

Sutor, M.M. Analysis of zooplankton samples from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill damage assessment. Submitted to Industrial Economics, Inc. Total Budget $988,323. Project duration 10/1/2012-9/30/2013.

Sutor, M.M, M.C. Benfield, K. Maiti. Investigating the potential ecological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and the biologically-mediated mechanisms of removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s). BP Exploration and Production (LSU-GRI). Total Budget $900,000. Project duration 1/1/2012-12/31/2013

Sutor, M.M. Impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Louisiana Coastal Environments. Submitted to Norther Gulf Institute, Gulf Research Initiative. LSU Budget $52,944. Project duration 7/2/2010-3/31/2011.

Benfied, M.C., Sutor, M.M. Enhancing LSU’s capability to quantify and interpret the distribution and abundance of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton in relation to the MC252 spill. Submitted to BP Exploration and Production Inc. LSU Budget $249,967. Project duration 4/1/2011-4/2/2011.

Lyczkowski-Shultz, J. Sutor, M.M., Benfield, M.C., Hernandez, F., Graham, W., LeCroy, S., Perry, H. Identifying linkages between zooplankton dynamics, fishery resources and climate change in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. NOAA’s Northern Gulf of Mexico Institute. LSU Budget $178,943. Project Duration 2/1/2010-1/31/2011.

Sutor, M.M. and M.C. Benfield. Data-mining digitized SEAMAP zooplankton samples: Utilizing a long-term zooplankton record to answer ecological questions and establish new sample analysis methods. NMFS MARFIN Program. LSU Budget: $216,098. Project Duration: 7/1/09-6/30/12