My primary goal throughout my career has been to provide quality teaching and research
experiences for undergraduate students. In addition to teaching a broad general ecological
perspective, I feel it is extremely important to draw connections between all areas
of science. I also offer classes and research experiences for undergraduates on San
Salvador in the Bahamas.
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Education
Toggle Education
- Ph.D. in Biology, UNC Chapel Hill
- M.S. Biology, UNC Charlotte
- B.S. Biology, UNC Charlotte
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Specialties
Toggle SpecialtiesEcology of coastal plant communities and wetlands.
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Research and Teaching Interests
Toggle Research and Teaching InterestsWhile I am currently interested in coastal plant communities and palm ecology, I have
studied interactions in coastal wetland animal species. I try to identify areas of
interest that my students have and then try to find a common ground for the research.
Most of my recent interests have been focused on the teaching and development of lab
activities associated with our General Biology I course. This course is one of the
first in the country to use the SCALEUP classroom teaching environment for general
biology. I have served as the coordinator for this course and have led the development
of a custom lab activity manual that effectively utilizes the course-specific learning
environment. The lab manual is now in its 7th edition.
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Courses Offered
Toggle Courses Offered
- PCB 3043C General Ecology
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Publications
Toggle PublicationsSelected publications representing ecological interests:
- Cross, R.E. and A.M. Goebel. Effects of Hurricane Joaquin on the Silver Thatch Palm
(Coccorthrinax argentata) on San Salvador Island. in prep.
- Cross, R.E. and B. Jackson, eds. 2022. Laboratory Activities for General Biology I,
7th ed.Bluedoor Publishing, Eden Prairie, MN. 167 pp.
- Curran, M.C. and R.E. Cross. 2008. A comparison of the effects of ray feeding activity
on meiofauna in subtidal and intertidal habitats. Georgia Journal of Science. 66(2):
50-60.
- Cross, R.E. and M.C. Curran. 2004. Recovery of meiofauna in intertidal feeding pits
created by rays. Southeastern Naturalist. 3: 219-230.
- Cross, R.E. and M.C. Curran. 2000. Effects of feeding pit formation by rays on an
intertidal meiobenthic community. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 51: 293-298.
- Cross, R.E. and A.E. Stiven. 1999. Size-dependent interactions in salt marsh fish
(Fundulus heteroclitus Linnaeus) and shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio Holthuis). Journal
of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 242: 179-199.
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Conference Presentations
Toggle Conference PresentationsSelected recent presentations:
- Cross, R.E. and A.M. Goebel. 2017. Density, size, growth and reproduction in two populations
of Caribbean Thatch Palm (Coccothrinax argentata) [family Arecaceae] on San Salvador,
the Bahamas: a preliminary report. Proceedings of the First Joint Natural History
and Geology of the Bahamas Conference, San Salvador, Bahamas.
- Cross, R.E., P. Fuentes, T. Jacobson, L. Kaas, and A. Goebel. 2016. Identification
of Palms on San Salvador Island in the genera Coccothrinax and Leucothrinax [Family
Arceaceae] using molecular methods; a preliminary report. Proceedings of the 15th
Symposium of the Natural History of the Bahamas.
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Grants & Awards
Toggle Grants & AwardsRecent selected research related grants:
- Capital Venture Funds Grant. 2019, ($6,435). Effects of hurricane storm surge and
wind on the silver thatch palm and coastal plant communities: a model and expansion
of field studies for threatened populations and communities in South Florida.
- Professional Development Enhancement Award, 2019, ($1000) to support extension of
palm biological research in South Florida region (Everglades National Park).
- Undergraduate Student Scholarship Support Award, 2018, ($700) to support undergraduate
research experience in the Bahamas: “Field research experience studying the population
ecology of the silver thatch palm (Coccothrinax argentata) on San Salvador Island.”
- Undergraduate Student Scholarship Support Award, 2018, ($500) undergraduate research
experience in the Bahamas: “Field research experience studying the population ecology
of the silver thatch palm (Coccothrinax argentata) on San Salvador Island.”
- Innovative Assignment Design Grant, 2017, ($840) to support the design and implementation
of a class project in my General Ecology courses to examine the effects of hurricane
Irma on palms on the FGCU campus.
- Teaching Awards:
- Senior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, Florida Gulf Coast University, 2012
- Governor’s Distinguished Teaching Award (South Carolina), 2002
- Professor of the Year Award, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 2001-2002
- Professor of the Year Award, University of South Carolina Beaufort, 1996-1997
- Governor’s Distinguished Teaching Award (South Carolina), 1997