Education:

B.S. (Zoology) - University of Miami (1963) 
M.S. (Marine Biology) - Texas A&M University (1966) 
Ph.D. (Marine Biology) - Texas A&M University (1970)

Specialty:

My organismal specialty is the taxonomy and ecology of polychaetous annelids; but I have tried to remain reasonably proficient in the systematics of several major groups of invertebrates.

Research Interests:

My main research interest pertains to long-term interannual variability in abundance and species composition of benthic communities. I am especially interested in how the community structure is affected, or controlled, by biotic and abiotic factors, including episodic events such as hypoxia and hurricanes. At some time in the future, I hope to be able to synthesize data I have collected, and other benthic data, and describe the structure of benthic assemblages of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.

I am also interested in human-induced impacts, both acute and chronic, on marine communities. The benthos are mostly slow moving or non-motile organisms which cannot easily escape an impact of any sort. Consequently they must adapt or die. In the latter case, since larvae are usually more sensitive than adults, the affected area is not repopulated by sensitive species until the stress is removed. To date I have conducted studies of impacts caused by channel dredging and dredge spoil disposal, shell dredging, oil, oil field brine, and housing developments.

Outside Interests:

Outside the University I have 3 main interests. One is genealogy and I am the keeper of records for most of the branches of my ancestry. I coordinate Harper and Burns-Crooks family reunions every three years, and assist with episodic Hoffman reunions. I am an avid model railroader and railfan and member of the Board of Directors of the Galveston Railroad Museum. I head the Volunteer Committee and am in the process of cosmetically restoring engines and railcars in the Galveston Railroad Museum's collection. I also have been on the Board of Directors of the Galveston YMCA since 1989 and served a year and a half as President.

Courses Taught: Scientific Methods, Invertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Paleontology