Photo of Sarah Mincks Hardy

Contact Information

Institute of Marine Science
233 Irving II
P.O. Box 757220
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7616
smhardy@alaska.edu

Sarah Mincks Hardy Assistant Professor

Biological Oceanography • Marine Biology • Marine Invertebrates

Specialties

Reproduction, recruitment and life-history strategies of marine invertebrates
Benthic-pelagic coupling
Molecular tools in ecology and evolution
Ecology of high-latitude environments

Education

B.A. 1996 University of California Santa Cruz (Marine Biology)
M.S. 1998 San Francisco State University (Marine Biology)
Ph.D. 2005 University of Hawaii (Oceanography)

Office Hours

MWF 1:00-2:00 pm

Research Overview

My research touches on a broad range of topics in benthic ecology. I am particularly interested in the reproduction and life-history strategies of benthic marine invertebrates, patterns of biodiversity in the benthos, and coupling between pelagic and benthic processes. Various projects include reproduction and larval development under varying environmental conditions, effects of food quality and quantity on reproduction, and relationships between life-history and dispersal, biodiversity, and biogeographic patterns.

Publications

Hardy, S.M., M. Lindgren, H. Konakanchi, F. Huettmann (2011) Predicting the distribution and ecological niche of unexploited snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) populations in Alaskan waters: A first open-access ensemble model. Integrative and Comparative Biology 51: 608-622.

Carr, C.M., S.M. Hardy, T. Brown, T. MacDonald, P.D.N. Hebert (2011) A tri-oceanic perspective: DNA barcoding reveals geographic structure and cryptic diversity in Canadian polychaetes. PLoS One 6: e22232.

Neal, L., S.M. Hardy, C.R. Smith, A.G. Glover (2011) Polychaete species diversity on the deep Antarctic shelf. Marine Ecology Progress Series 428: 119-134.

Hardy, S.M., C. Carr, M. Hardman, D. Steinke, E. Corstorphine, C. Mah (2011) Biodiversity and phylogeography of Arctic marine fauna: Insights from molecular tools. Marine Biodiversity 41(1): 195-210.

McClain, C., S.M. Hardy (2010) Species ranges, scales of dispersal, and population connectivity in the abyss. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 277: 3533-3546.

Bluhm, B., K. Iken, S.M. Hardy, B. Sirenko, B. Holladay (2009) Community structure of epibenthic megafauna in the Chukchi Sea. Aquatic Biology 7: 269-293.

Mincks, S.L., P. Dyal, G.L.J. Paterson, C.R. Smith, A.G. Glover (2009) A new species of Aurospio (Polychaeta, Spionidae) from the Antarctic shelf, with analysis of its ecology, reproductive biology and evolutionary history. Marine Ecology 30: 181-197.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith, R.M. Jeffreys, P.Y.G. Sumida (2008) Trophic structure on the West Antarctic Peninsula shelf: Detritivory and benthic inertia revealed by delta-13C and delta-15N analysis. Deep-Sea Research II 55: 2502-2514.

Smith, C.R., S.L. Mincks, D.J. DeMaster (2008) The FOODBANCS Project: Introduction and sinking fluxes of organic carbon, chlorophyll-a and phytodetritus on the western Antarctic Peninsula shelf. Deep-Sea Research II 55: 2404-2414.

Glover, A.G., C.R. Smith, S.L. Mincks, P.Y.G. Sumida, A. Thurber (2008) Macrofaunal abundance and composition on the West Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf: evidence for a sediment ‘food bank’ and similarities to deep-sea habitats. Deep-Sea Research II 55: 2491-2501.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith (2007) Recruitment patterns in Antarctic shelf sediments: Evidence of decoupling from seasonal phytodetritus pulses. Polar Biology 30: 587-600.

Smith, C.R., S.L. Mincks, D.J. DeMaster (2006) A synthesis of bentho-pelagic coupling on the Antarctic Shelf: Food banks, ecosystem inertia and global climate change. Deep-Sea Research II 53: 875-894.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith, D.J. DeMaster (2005) Persistence of labile organic matter and microbial biomass in Antarctic shelf sediments: Evidence of a sediment “food bank”. Marine Ecology Progress Series 300: 3-19.

Mincks, S.L., S.M. Bollens, L.P. Madin, E.Horgan, M. Butler, P.M. Kremer, J.E. Craddock (2000) Distribution, abundance, and feeding ecology of decapods in the Arabian Sea, with implications for vertical flux. Deep-Sea Research II 47: 1475-1516.

In the News

Selected Publications

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith, R.M. Jeffreys, P.Y.G. Sumida (In Press) Trophic relationships among benthic megafauna on the West Antarctic Peninsula shelf: A stable isotopes approach. Deep-Sea Research II.
Smith, C.R., S.L. Mincks, D.J. DeMaster (In Press) The FOODBANCS Project: Introduction and sinking fluxes of organic carbon, chlorophyll-a and phytodetritus on the western Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf. Deep-Sea Research II.
Glover, A.G., C.R. Smith, S.L. Mincks, P.Y.G. Sumida, A. Thurber (In Press) Macrofaunal abundance and composition on the West Antarctic Peninsula continental shelf: Evidence for a sediment "food bank" and similarities to deep-sea habitats. Deep-Sea Research II.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith (2007) Recruitment patterns in Antarctic shelf sediments: Evidence of decoupling from seasonal phytodetritus pulses. Polar Biology 30: 587-600. Download 811 KB PDF.

Smith, C.R., S.L. Mincks, D.J. DeMaster (2006) A synthesis of bentho-pelagic coupling on the Antarctic Shelf: Food banks, ecosystem inertia and global climate change. Deep-Sea Research II 53: 875-894. Download 696 KB PDF.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith, D.J. DeMaster (2005) Persistence of labile organic matter and microbial biomass in Antarctic shelf sediments: Evidence of a sediment “food bank.” Marine Ecology Progress Series 300: 3-19. Download 461 KB PDF.

Mincks, S.L., S.M. Bollens, L.P. Madin, E. Horgan, M. Butler, P.M. Kremer, J.E. Craddock (2000) Distribution, abundance, and feeding ecology of decapods in the Arabian Sea, with implications for vertical flux. Deep-Sea Research II 47: 1475-1516. Download 783 KB PDF.

Reports (copies available on request)

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith (2005) Summary of Benthic Biological Data Availability from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and Adjoining Areas (including collection techniques, geographic locations, major geographic gaps, and potentially untapped data sources). Report to the International Seabed Authority, Geological Model Phase I. 18 pp.

Mincks, S.L., C.R. Smith (2006) Critical review of benthic biological data from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) and adjoining areas. Report to the International Seabed Authority, Geological Model Phase II. 23 pp.
Smith, C.R., J. Drazen, S.L. Mincks (2006) Deep-sea Biodiversity and Biogeography: Perspectives from the Abyss. Report to the International Seabed Authority, Seamount Biodiversity Symposium. 13 pp.