Elephant seals, San Simeon

David L. Cowles, PhD

Professor of Biology 

Walla Walla University 


email 
 

contactme
(sorry, I had to make this link an image to slow down the tidal wave of spam)

Coastal razor clam

 

Personal Information

Courses I teach at the College Place campus

Field Course:  BIOL 419 Sea of Cortez

My research Interests

My Publications


 
 

Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory:

  Walla Walla University maintains the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory at Rosario Beach, Anacortes, WA.  The laboratory specializes in undergraduate teaching and research.  Every summer the station is alive with undergraduate students taking marine-related courses along with other courses in Biology.  Most of the students carry out one or more research projects during the course of their summer.  The laboratory also regularly serves as a site for marine research for Walla Walla University faculty, visiting professors, and graduate students.  For more information on the Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory go to rosario.wallawalla.edu

Salish Sea Marine Invertebrates:

  This web-based guide will help you identify many of the marine species near Rosario Beach Marine Laboratory (located centrally in the Salish Sea, at the confluence of Puget Sound, Straits of Juan de Fuca, and Rosario Strait, WA), plus it is packed with information about them.  Check it out!  It is already being visited by about 10,000 to 15,000 people per month.

Click here to view Marine Invertebrates of the Salish Sea

 

Courses I teach at Rosario:

    BIOL 458 Marine Biology
    BIOL 460 Marine Ecology
    BIOL 475 Marine Invertebrates
        In summer 2002 the Marine Invertebrates class made a detailed comparison of the 
            intertidal community at Urchin Rocks, a heavily visited area,
            in comparison with Northwest Island, a more isolated area.
        To view the abstract from the report, click here
        To download a copy of our report in Word Perfect format, click here for:
        The abstract (7KB)
        The main text and tables (126KB)
        The figures (4 MB)
        Appendices (the original data sets) (6 MB)

Pictures of Some Interesting Marine Species


 
 
 


 

bbClasses I Teach Here on the WWU Main Campus:

    BIOL 143 General Biology (spring quarter)
    BIOL 296 Current Topics
    BIOL 316/416 Research in Biology
    BIOL 360 Plant Biology
    BIOL 410 Limnology
    BIOL 465 Ecological Physiology
    BIOL 506 Graduate Seminar
    BIOL 540 Graduate Readings in Biology

bbWhat I'm Interested In:

All sorts of questions that have to do with animals' survival in the sea.
Some projects I am currently involved in include: x

bbPersonal information:

Background:

Education:

Teaching Experience:

2003-        Professor of Biology, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla University
2001-03    Associate Professor of Biology, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Walla Walla College
1996-01    Associate Professor of Biology, Dept. of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University
1990-96    Assistant Professor of Biology, Dept. of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University
1987-90    Assistant Professor of Biology, Dept. of Biology, Loma Linda University
1980-82    Academy science teacher, Dakota Adventist Academy
1975-76    High School teacher, Palau Mission Academy
 

Research Interests:

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Cowles, David L. and Kirt L. Onthank, 2021. Providing interactive and field laboratories while teaching university marine biology classes in an era of COVID-19. Invertebrate Biology 2021: 00e12323. https://doi.org/10.1111/ivb.12323

Cowles, David L., Joseph G. Galusha, and James L. Hayward, 2012.  Negative interspecies interactions in a glaucous-winged gull colony on Protection Island, WA.  Northwestern Naturalist 93:2 pp 89-100

Onthank, Kirt L. and D.L. Cowles, 2011.  Prey selection in Octopus rubescens:  Possible roles of energy budgeting and prey nutritional composition.  Marine Biology 158: pp 2795-2804

Helmstetler, Hans and D. L. Cowles, 2008.  Population characteristics of native freshwater mussels in the mid-Columbia and Clearwater rivers, Washington State.  Northwest Science 82:3 211-221

Cowles, D. L. and J. L. Hayward, 2008.  Historical changes in the physical and vegetational characteristics of Protection Island, WA.  Northwest Science 82:3 174-184

Cowles, David L., Jaclyn R. Van Dolson, Lisa R. Hainey, and Dallas M. Dick, 2006.  The use of different eye regions in the mantis shrimp Hemisquilla californiensis (Crustacea: Stomatopoda) for detecting objects.  J. Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 330:2 pp 528-534.

Scarbrough, J. R., D. L. Cowles, and R. L. Carter, 2002.  Microsatellites in shrimp species.  pp. 291-299 in Elva Escobar-Briones and Fernando Alvarez, eds., Modern Approaches to the Study of Crustacea.  Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York.

Cowles, D. L., 2001.  Swimming speed and metabolic rate during routine swimming and simulated diel vertical migration of Sergestes similis in the laboratory.  Pacific Science 55:3 215-226

Ma, Xiao Li, D. L. Cowles, and R. L. Carter, 2000.  Effect of pollution on genetic diversity in the bay mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the acorn barnacle Balanus glandula.  Marine Environmental Research 50 (2000): 559-563

Cowles, D. L., 1998.  Biomass decline in forest fragments.  Technical comment. Science 282: 1611a

Hayward, James L., Scott D. Folsom, David L. Elmendorf, Alex A. Tambrini, and David L. Cowles, 1997. Experiments on the Taphonomy of Vertebrate Eggs in Marine Environments. Palaios 12: 482-488.

Morgan, M. B. and D. L. Cowles, 1996. The effects of temperature on the behavior and Physiology of Phataria unifascialis Gray (Echinodermata, Asteroidea): Implications for the species' distribution in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 208: 13-27

Cowles, D. L. and J. J. Childress, 1995. Aerobic metabolism of the anglerfish Melanocetus johnsoni, a deep-pelagic marine sit-and-wait predator. Deep-Sea Research 44:3 247-253

Cowles, D. L., 1994. Swimming dynamics of the mesopelagic vertically migrating penaeid shrimp Sergestes similis: Modes and speeds of swimming. J. Crustacean Biology 14:2 247-257

Cowles, D. L., J. J. Childress, and M. E. Wells, 1991. Respiratory rates and depths of occurrence of Hawaiian midwater crustaceans. Marine Biology 110: 75-83

Childress, J. J., D. L. Cowles, J. A. Favuzzi, and T. J. Mickel, 1990. Metabolic rates of deep-sea decapod crustaceans decline with increasing depth primarily due to the decline in temperature. Deep-Sea Research 37: 929-949

Childress, J. J., M. H. Price, J. Favuzzi, and D. L. Cowles, 1990. The chemical composition of midwater fishes as a function of depth of occurrence off the Hawaiian Islands: Food availability as a selective factor? Marine Biology 105:2 235-246

Cowles, D. L. and J. J. Childress, 1988. Swimming speed and oxygen consumption in the bathypelagic mysid Gnathophausia ingens. Biological Bulletin 175: 111-121

Cowles, D. L., J. J. Childress, and D. L. Gluck, 1986. New method reveals unexpected relationship between velocity and drag in the bathypelagic crustacean Gnathophausia ingens. Deep-Sea Research 33:7 865-880
 

Posters and talks presented at scientific meetings:

Kiers, Barbara J., Luke E. Thomas, and David L. Cowles, 2019. Two Nudibranch's Oxygen Consumption Patterns Reflect Their Very Different Lifestyles. Poster presented at Murdock Research Conference, Vancouver, WA November 2019

Anderson, Sarah J. and David L. Cowles, 2019. Is the eelgrass isopod a vector for Labyrinthula zosterae wasting disease on Zostera marina? Oral presentation at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Tampa FL January 2019

Haffner, Carston, Paul M. Foster, Sarah J. Anderson, and David L. Cowles, 2019. Are Pentidotea resecata isopods biting the hand that feeds them? A study on the spatial correlation of isopod bitemarks and wasting disease. Poster presented at Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting, Tampa FL January 2019

Humbert, Jefferson W., Dustin J.E. Gienger, David L. Cowles, and Kirt L. Onthank, 2018. Octopus predation may be responsible for sponge-scallop mutualistic behavior. Poster presented at the Murdock Undergraduate Research Conference, Vancouver, WA October 2018

Anderson, Sarah J., Faith E. Hunnicutt, and David L. Cowles, 2017. Activity levels of Pentidotea resecata support conclusion that the animal is photosynthetic.  Poster presented at ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI

Johnson, C. Judelle, Leah E. Dann, and David L. Cowles, 2017.  How does the green eelgrass isopod protect its tissue against highly fluctuating oxygen conditions?  Poster presented at ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI.

Dann, Leah E., C. Judelle Johnson, and David L. Cowles, 2017.  Does Pentidotea resecata hemolymph protect the isopod from oxidative stress?  Poster presented at ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, HI

Hunnicutt, Faith E., Sarah J. Anderson, and David L. Cowles, 2016.  Where do all the isopods go?  A population study of Pentidotea resecata.  Poster at Murdock Conference, Spokane, WA, November 2016

Hylarides, Mark J., and David L.  Cowles, 2015.  Light level as a potential limiting factor in the growth of eelgrass in the Pacific Northwest.  Oral presentation at SICB annual meeting, West Palm Beach, FL January 2015

McLarty, Shelley J.,  and David L.  Cowles, 2015.  Gut content and pigment analysis in the marine isopod Pentidotea resecata.  Poster at SICB annual meeting, West Palm Beach, FL January 2015

Cowles, Joanna M., and David L.  Cowles, 2015.  Photosynthesis and the green isopod Pentidotea resecata.  Poster at SICB annual meeting, West Palm Beach, FL January 2015

Noel, Heather R. and David L. Cowles, 2014.  Are the Hawaiian opae-ula shrimp Halocaridina rubra and H. palahemo simply different morphotypes of the same species?  Poster presented at ASLO Ocean Sciences meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii

Cowles, D.L., L. Cole, P. Crain, M. Hallock, and L. Ward, 2012.  Between a rock and a silty place:  Margaritifera falcata mussels and dams in the Elwha River.  Invited talk at the freshwater mussel symposium, Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology, Hood River, OR

Helmstetler, H. and David L. Cowles, 2012.  Population Characteristics of Native Freshwater Mussels in the mid-Columbia and Clearwater Rivers, Washington State - Hans Helmstetler.  Invited talk at the freshwater mussel symposium, Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology, Hood River, OR

Cowles, J.M., N. Sullivan, D.L. Cowles, and G. Stone, 2011.  Is the isopod Pentidotea resecata photosynthetic?  Poster for Murdock Scientific Conference, Seattle, WA, November 2011

Cowles, D.L., Patrick Crain, Molly Hallock, Larry Ward, and Layla Cole, 2011.  Update on the Elwha River Mussel Margaritifera falcata populations.  Poster for Elwha River Science Symposium, Port Angeles, WA, September 2011.

Cowles, David L., Layla Cole, and Pat Crain, 2009.  Status and population structure of freshwater mussels in the Elwha river 100 years after the dams.  Poster presented at Northwest Science Association Convention March 2009

Onthank, K.L. and D.L. Cowles, 2008.  Energy budgeting in Octopus rubescens and its implications for prey choice and trophic ecology.  Presentation for American Malacological Society Annual Meeting, Carbondale, Illinois

 Ewing, T; Onthank, K L, and D. L. Cowles, 2008. The effect of octopus predation on a sponge-scallop association.  Poster for ASLO Ocean Sciences meeting, Orlando, Florida

 Onthank, K L and D. L. Cowles, 2008.  Metabolic measurements of energy flow through Octopus rubescens.  Poster for ASLO Ocean Sciences meeting, Orlando, Florida

Galusha, Joseph G., James L. Hayward, Shandelle M. Henson, and David L. Cowles, 2008.  Recent changes in the reproductive success and numbers of glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) breeding on Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge, Jefferson County, WA, USA.  Presented at the Pacific Seabird Group meeting,  Bellingham, WA

Tonn, D.L. and D. L. Cowles, 2006.  Significance of individual metrics in habitat utilization by bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Touchet River system of eastern Washington.  Abstract for presentation, ASLO summer meetings, Victoria, BC

Cowles, David L., 2006.  A web-based system for identifying marine invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest:  A tool for advanced students and the public.  Abstract for poster, ASLO summer meetings, Victoria, BC

Tonn, Denise and David L. Cowles, 2006.  Significance of individual metrics in habitat utilization by bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Touchet River system�.  Oral presentation, Walla Walla Watershed Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Conference, Walla Walla, WA

Hill, Bryan, Krysten Botimer, and David L.  Cowles, 2004.  Color effects on phototaxis in Triopha catalinae (Mollusca: Opisthobranchia).  Poster presented at the Murdock research conference, Portland, OR

McFadden, Melissa M and David L. Cowles, 2004.   Blood and Tissue Characteristics of Hemisquilla californiensis, a Burrow-Dwelling Mantis Shrimp which Routinely Encounters Hypoxia.    Poster presented at ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Cowles, David L., 2004.  Metabolic adaptations (and the lack thereof) to oxygen limitation in a burrow-dwelling crustacean.  Poster presented at ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Van Dolson, Jaclyn, Dallas Dick, Lisa Hainey, and David L. Cowles, 2003.  Behavioral Assays of the sensitivity of Hemisquilla californiensis eyes to different colors of light.  Poster presented at Murdock Conference, Tacoma, WA

Scarbrough, J.R., J.F. Sands, D.L.Cowles, and R.L.Carter, (2000).  Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the mesopelagic shrimp Acanthephyra curtirostris (Caridea:Oplophoridae).  Abstract for poster at The Crustacean Society Summer Meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Scarbrough, J.R., J.F. Sands, D.L.Cowles, and R.L.Carter, (2000).  Microsatellite diversity in the mesopelagic shrimp Acanthephyra curtirostris (Caridea:Oplophoridae).  Southern California Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting spring 2000

Cowles, D.L., Jason J. Cassista, Tamara L. Richter, and Leandra P. Peters, 1999.  Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis (Stomatopoda: Gonodactylidae): How does this burrow-dwelling stomatopod manage to break all the rules?  The Crustacean Society Summer Meeting, Lafayette, LA

Ma, Xiao Li, D. L. Cowles, and R.L. Carter, 1999.  Effect of pollution on genetic diversity in the acorn barnacle Balanus glandula.  Southern California Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting Apr 30, 1999

Ma, Xiao Li, D.L. Cowles, and R.L. Carter, 1999.  Effect of pollution on genetic diversity in the bay mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the acorn barnacle Balanus glandula.  PRIMO 10: Tenth International Symposium on Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms.  Williamsburg, VA Apr 25-29, 1999

Ma, Xiao Li, David L. Cowles, Ronald L. Carter, and S. A. Steinert, 1998.  Effect of pollution on genetic diversity in the bay mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.  ASLO Ocean Sciences Meeting, San Diego Feb 9-13, 1998.

Cowles, D.L., 1997. Laboratory measurements of metabolism and swimming speed during routine swimming and vertical migration in Sergestes similis. Deep Sea Biology Symposium, Monterey, CA

Cowles, D.L., 1997. The effect of increasing salinity in the salton sea on the barnacle Balanus amphitrite, a dominant benthic resident of the sea. Southern California Environment and History Conference II; Northridge, CA

Cowles, D.L., 1997. Underwater upright logs in Lake Crescent, WA: Implications for interpreting fossil trees in putative growth position. Rosario Conference, Anacortes, WA

Cowles, D.L., 1997. Underwater upright logs in Lake Crescent, WA: Lessons for interpreting logs in the fossil record. BRISCO, Yakima, WA

Peterson, T., L. P. Peters, and D. L. Cowles, 1997. Behavioral and metabolic adaptations of Hemisquilla ensigera to hypoxia within the burrow. Abstract, ASLO Aquatic Sciences meeting, Santa Fe, NM.

Escamilla-Perez, Ana Lilia and David L. Cowles, 1995. Balanus amphitrite (Crustacea,Thoracica) in the Salton Sea: Effects of Increasing Salinity. Abstract, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography 1995 meeting, Reno, Nevada.

Cassista, J. J. and D. L. Cowles, 1994. Activity and metabolism of Hemisquilla ensigera (Crustacea:Stomatopoda) under hypoxic conditions. American Zoologist 34:5 p 105A.

Cowles, D. L., 1992. Swimming characteristics of the mesopelagic vertical migrator Sergestes similis (Decapoda: Sergestidae). Abstract, AAAS Pacific Division Meetings. Proceedings of the Pacific Division, AAAS 11:1 p 34

Morgan, M. B. and D. L. Cowles, 1990. Observations on the distribution and physiology of Phataria unifascialis (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): Temperature as a limiting factor? American Zoologist 30:4 p 131A.

Cowles, D. L., 1988. Respiration and body component analysis of the deep-sea benthopelagic holothuroid Scotoanassa sp in two different years. Eos 69:44 p 1126. Abstract, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Winter Meeting.

Cowles, D. L., 1986. Metabolism of deep-living pelagic crustaceans in relation to depth of occurrence and environmental oxygen levels. Eos 67:44 p 971. Abstract, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Winter Meeting

Cowles, D. L., 1985. An unusual relationship found between swimming velocity and drag in negatively buoyant pelagic crustaceans. Poster, AAAS Spring 1984 Western Meetings
 

Student Theses supervised:

Franklin, Erica, 2017. Physical factors associated with the limits to Zostera marina distribution in Rosario Bay, WA. M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Johnson, Chanudi Judelle, 2017. How does the green eelgrass isopod Pentidotea resecata protect its tissue against highly fluctuating oxygen conditions? M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Dann, Leah H., 2017. Antioxidant capacity in the hemolymph of the marine isopod Pentidotea resecata. M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

McLarty, Shelley J., 2015.  Gut content and pigment analysis in the marine isopod Pentidotea resecata.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Cowles, Joanna Marie, 2015.  Does photosynthesis take place in the gut of Pentidotea resecata?  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Hylarides, Mark Justin, 2015.  Light level as a potential limiting factor in the growth of Zostera marina eelgrass in the Pacific Northwest.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Noel, Heather Renee, 2013.  Are the shrimps Halocaridina rubra and H. palahemo simply morphotypes of the same species?  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Kutzner, Melinda Amber, 2012.  The burying behavior and anaerobic response of two cancrid crab species: Metacarcinus magister and Cancer productus.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Redberg, Simeon, 2012.  Comparison of natural and anthropogenic effects on nearshore periphyton in Lake Crescent, Washington State.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Hersey, Lyndsi Renee, 2012.  A search for introgression and gene flow among populations of three Pacific coast Anthopleura species.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Cole, Layla Renee, 2010.  Population status of freshwater mussels in the Elwha river.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Hainey, Lisa Rachelle, 2008.  Effects of photooxidative stress and algal growth rates on algal expulsion by the symbiotic sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Shelton, Tyler Scott James, 2008.  Effects of low oxygen on behavior of the mantis shrimp Hemisquilla californiensis.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University.

Onthank, Kirt L., 2008.  Aerobic metabolism and dietary ecology of Octopus rubescens.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla University

Tonn, Denise L., 2007.  Correlations of individual metrics of habitat quality with habitat utilization by bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in the upper Touchet River system in southeastern Washington.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla College

Helmstetler, Hans A., 2006.  Population structure and pollutant levels of freshwater mussels in the mid-Columbia River.  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla College

McFadden, Melissa A., 2004.  Living without oxygen: The anaerobic metabolism of Hemisquilla californiensis  M.S. thesis, Walla Walla College

Scarbrough, J. Russell, 2004.  Potential diversity and genetic structure within the cosmopolitan mesopelagic zooplanktonic shrimp Acanthephyra curtirostris.  Ph.D. dissertation, Loma Linda University

Ma, Xiao Li, (Ph.D. 1999).  The effect of pollution on the genetic structure of populations of marine species.  Ph.D. dissertation, Loma Linda University

Peterson, Tamara, (M.S. 1998).  Ventilation behavior and mechanisms under hypoxic conditions of the mantis shrimp Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis (Stomatopoda: Hemisquillidae).  M.S. Thesis, Loma Linda University

Peters, Leandra, (M.S.1997).  Adaptations of Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis (Stomatopoda: Gonodactylidae) to burrow dwelling with particular emphasis on hypoxic conditions .  M.S. Thesis, Loma Linda University

Cassista, Jason J. (M.S. 1995).  The aerobic metabolism and behavior of the burrow-dwelling mantis shrimp Hemisquilla ensigera californiensis.    M.S. Thesis, Loma Linda University

Escamilla-Perez, Ana (M.S. 1994).  The effects of increasing salinity on the reproduction, feeding behavior, growth rate, osmoregulation and survival of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite (Crustacea, Thoracica) from the Salton Sea, California.  M.S. Thesis, Loma Linda University

Morgan, Michael B. (M.A. 1992).  The Effects of Temperature on the physiology of Phataria unifascialis; and its implications for the species' distribution in the Gulf of California.  M.S. Thesis, Loma Linda University
 
 

Return to: