University of Hawaii
Kewalo Marine Laboratory
41 Ahui Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

Telephone: (808) 539-7331
Fax: (808) 599-4817
E-mail Address: richmond@hawaii.edu

Research Interests:

My research interests are in the areas of reproductive biology, larval ecology, conservation biology, ecotoxicology and evolutionary biology of tropical marine invertebrates, especially corals and related coral reef organisms. My research programs include studies of coral spawning, focusing on fertilization mechanisms and barriers, hybridization and speciation events, recruitment of corals, and the effects of environmental quality on reproduction and recruitment success. My research uses both field and laboratory experimentation, involving electrophoresis, DNA analyses, studies of molecular biomarkers, ecotoxicology and biochemistry. I try to strike a balance between basic and applied research, looking for ways to use research results towards management and preservation of tropical marine resources and marine biodiversity. I work closely with marine resource managers and community-based organizations in an attempt to translate science into policy through public education.

Recent Publications:

• Wolanski, E., and Richmond, R.H. 2008. Estuary Restoration. In: Sven Erik Jorgensen and Brian D. Fath (Eds), Ecological Engineering. Vol. 2 of encyclopedia of Ecology, 5 vols. pp. 1422-1427. Oxford: Elsevier.
• Richmond, R.H. 2008. Environmental protection: Applying the precautionary principle and proactive regulation to biotechnolgy. Trends in Biotechnology 26: 460-467.
• Richmond, R.H., Houk, P., Trianni, M., Wolanski, E., Davis, G., Bonito, V., and Paul, V.J. 2008. Aspects of Biology and Ecological Functioning or Coral Reefs in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islnads. Pp. 719-740 In B.M. Riegl and R.E. Dodge, Eds. Coral Reefs of the USA. Springer Science.
• Golbuu, Y., Fabricius, K., Victor, S., and Richmond, R.H. 2008. Gradients in coral reef communities exposed to muddy river discharge in Pohnpei, Micronesia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76:14-20.
• Richmond, R.H.  In press.  Reproduction and Recruitment in Corals: Critical Links in the Persistence of Reefs.  In C.E. Birkeland, (ed.), Life and Death of Coral Reefs.   Kluwer Academic Publishing.  Wolanski, E. and Richmond, R.H.  2007.  Ecological Engineering: Estuary restoration.  Encyclopedia of Ecology.  Elsevier Press.
• Richmond, R.H., Rongo, T., Golbuu, Y., Victor, S., Idechong, N., Davis, G., Kostka, W., Neth, L., Hamnett, M., and Wolanski, E. 2007. Watersheds and Coral Reefs: Conservation Science, Policy and Implementation. BioScience, 57: 598-607.
• Golbuu, Y., and Richmond, R.H.. 2007. Substratum Preferences in Planula Larvae of two Species of Scleractinian Corals, Goniastrea retiformis and Stylarea punctata. Marine Biology.
• Sinclair, C.S., Richmond, R.H., Ostrander, G.K.  2007.  Characterization of the telomere regions of the scleractinian coral Acropora surculosa.  Genetica, 129: 227-233.
• Downs, C.A., Richmond, R.H., Mendiola, W.J., Rougee, L., and Ostrander, G.K.  2006.  Cellular physiological effects of the M.V. Kyowa Violet grounding on the hard coral Porites lobata.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 25: 3171-3180.
• Rougee, L., Downs, C., Richmond, R.H., and Ostrander, G.K.  2006.  Alteration of normal cellular profiles in the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis, following laboratory exposure to fuel oil.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 25: 3181-3187.
• Victor, S., Neth, L., Golbuu, Y., Wolanski, E., and Richmond, R.H.  2006  Sedimentation in mangroves and coral reefs in a wet tropical island, Pohnpei, Micronesia.  Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 66:409-416.
• Downs, C.A., Woodley, C.M.,  Richmond, R.H., Lanning, L.L., and Owen, R.  2005.  Shifting the Paradigm for Coral-Reef ‘Health’ Assessment.  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 51: 486-494.
• Victor, S. and Richmond, R.H..  2005.  Effect of copper on fertilization success in the coral Acropora surculosa.  Marine Pollution Bulletin, 50: 1448-1451.
• Sinclair, C.S., Richmond, R.H., Knobbe, E.T., Basslear, C., and Ostrander, G.K. 2005.  Passive dosimeters for measurement of ultraviolet radiation in aquatic environments.  Pp. 525 – 533, In G. Ostrander, ed.  Techniques in Aquatic Toxicology, Vol. II.  CRC Press.
• Richmond, R.H. 2005. Recovering Populations and Restoring Ecosystems: Restoration of Coral Reefs and Related Marine Communities.  Pp. 393-409 In E. Norse and L. Crowder eds.  Marine Conservation Biology: The Science of Maintaining the Sea’s Biodiversity.  Island Press.
• Richmond, R.H. 2005. Coral reproduction and recruitment as tools for studying the ecotoxicology of coral reef ecosystems.  Pp. 331-338, In G. Ostrander, ed.  Techniques in Aquatic Toxicology, Vol. II.  CRC Press.
• Victor, S., Golbuu, Y., Wolanski, E. and Richmond, R.H. 2004.  Fine sediment trapping in two mangrove-fringed estuaries exposed to contrasting land use intensity in Palau, Micronesia. Wetlands Ecology and Management., 12: 277-283.
• Wolanski, E., Richmond, R.H. and McCook, L. 2004. A model of the effects of land-based human activities on the health of coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef and in Fouha Bay, Guam, Micronesia. Journal of Marine Systems, 46:133-144.
• Wolanski, E., Richmond, R.H. and Davis, G. 2003. Water and fine sediment dynamics in transient river plumes in a small, reef-fringed bay, Guam. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 56:1029-1040.
• Golbuu, Y., Victor, S., Wolanski, E., and Richmond R.H. 2003. Trapping of fine sediment in a semi-enclosed bay, Palau, Micronesia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 57:1-9.
• Wolanski, E., Richmond, R.H., Davis, G., Deleersnijder and Leben, R. 2003. Eddies around Guam, an Island in the Mariana Islands Group. Continental Shelf Research, 23(10):991-1003.
• Wolanski, E., Richmond, R.H., McCook, L., and Sweatman, H. 2003. Mud, marine snow and coral reefs. American Scientist, 91:44-51.
• Richmond, R.H. and Davis, G. 2002. Status of the coral reefs of Guam. Pg. 189 - 194 in The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States: 2002. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD. 265 p.
• McKenna, S.A., Richmond, R.H., and Roos, G. 2001. Assessing the Effects of Sewage on Coral Reefs: Developing Techniques to Detect Stress Before Coral Mortality. Bulletin of Marine Science, 69(2):517-523.
• Richmond, R.H. 2000. Coral conservation biology applied to policy development and management initiatives. Pages 139-143 in T. Done and D. Lloyd, Editors. Information, management and decision support for marine biodiversity protection and human welfare; Coral reefs. Proceedings of a Workshop 6-10 December 1999, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Cape Ferguson, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
• Romano, S.L., Aquon, J.M., and Richmond, R.H. 2000. Analysis of genetic variation in Guam populations of the mass spawning coral Acropora surculosa using RAPDs. American Zoologist, 39:122.
• Richmond, R.H. 1999. Sea cucumbers. Pages 145-155 in L.G. Eldredge, J.E. Maragos, P.L. Holthus, and H.F. Takeuchi, editors. Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Tropical Island Pacific Region. Vol. 11. Population, Development, and Conservation Priorities. East-West Center Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Hopper, D.R., Hunter, C., and Richmond, R.H. 1998. Sexual reproduction of the tropical sea cucumber Actinopyga mauritiana (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea), in Guam. Bulletin of Marine Science, 63:1-10.
• Peters, E.C., Gassman, N.J., Firman, J.C., Richmond, R.H., and Power, E.A. 1997. Ecotoxicology of tropical marine ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 16:12-40.
• Richmond, R.H. 1997. Reproduction and recruitment in corals: Critical links in the persistence of reefs. Pages 175-197 in C. Birkeland, editor. Life and death of coral reefs. Chapman & Hall, New York.
• Richmond, R.H. 1944. Effects of coastal runoff on coral reproduction. Pages 360-364 in R.N. Ginsburg, editor. Proceedings of the colloquium on global aspects of coral reefs: Health, hazards and history. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. University of Miami.
• Richmond, R.H. 1994. Coral reefs: Pollution impacts. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy, 9(1):54-57.
• Richmond, R.H. 1993. Coral reefs: Present problems and future concerns resulting from anthropogenic disturbance. American Zoologist, 33:524-536.
• Richmond, R.H. and Hunter, C.L. 1990. Reproduction and recruitment of corals: Comparisons among the Caribbean, the tropical Pacific, and the Red Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 60:185-203.

richmond@hawaii.edu