University of Tampa Shark Lab - The Website of Dr. Dan Huber

Dr. Daniel Huber
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
University of Tampa
401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Box: U
Tampa, FL. 33606-1490
Office: Cass Annex #108
Phone: 813-257-3995
Fax: 813-258-7496
dhuber@ut.edu

Education
2000 Duke University, BS
2006 University of South Florida, Ph.D.

Courses Taught
Biological Diversity (Lecture & Lab), Biological Unity (Lecture & Lab), Ecosystems & Ecophysiology (Lecture & Lab), Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (Lecture & Lab), Environmental Science, Biological Science, Senior Seminar

Awards & Honors
2009 University of Tampa Delo Grant Award
2008 University of Tampa Dana Grant Award
2007 University of Tampa Teaching Innovation Grant
2006 University of South Florida Tharpe Scholarship
2006 University of South Florida Provost’s Commendation for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student
2004 American Elasmobranch Society conference travel award
2003 Mote Marine Laboratory-University of South Florida Graduate Research Fellowship in Elasmobranch Biology
2003 University of South Florida Graduate Student Research Symposium – First Place Poster Award
2002 University of South Florida Research and Creative Grant Scholarship
2002 PADI Project A.W.A.R.E. Foundation Grant Award
2002 American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists conference travel award
2002 Mote Marine Laboratory-University of South Florida Graduate Research Fellowship in Elasmobranch Biology
2001 University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories summer research grant
2000-2005 University of South Florida Foundation Presidential Fellowship
2000 Graduation with Distinction, cum laude, Duke University Biology Department
1999 Maryland Sea Grant Summer Research Fellowship

Research Experience
University of Tampa, Biomechanics Laboratory (2006-present): Investigating evolution of feeding mechanisms in cartilaginous fishes through theoretical 3-D modeling of cranial loading patterns and force distributions, finite element analysis, transducer-based bite performance measurements, structural and mechanical testing of jaw cartilages, and high-speed digital videography of feeding behavior.

University of South Florida, Functional Morphology Laboratory (2000-2006): Conducted doctoral research on the evolution and performance of feeding mechanisms in cartilaginous fishes.

Shriners Hospital for Children, Skeletal Biology Laboratory (2004-2006): Investigated the structural and material properties of elasmobranch cartilage through biochemical assays and materials testing.

Duke University, Molecular Systematics Laboratory (1999-2000): Investigated the evolution of visual systems in ostracod crustaceans through molecular and gene expression analyses of opsin genes.

University of Maryland, Horn Point Environmental Laboratory (1999): Investigated the environmental conditions facilitating Harmful Algal Blooms of “brown tide” in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Grants
2009 National Science Foundation: "Symposium - Functional morphology of cartilaginous fishes (July 22 - 27, Portland, OR)" ($10,000); Co-PI: Dean, M.N.

2008 Association of Zoos and Aquariums Conservation Endowment Fund Award: "The 2008 shark spine survey: Biomechanics of spinal deformities in captive sandtiger sharks" ($20,000); Co-PI's: Anderson, P.A., Berzins, I.K., Norkus, E., Murie, D.

Publications
Huber, D.R., Soares, M.C., and Carvalho, M.R. (Submitted). Cranial musculature of cartilaginous fishes. In (Eds: Farrell, A.P. and Stevens, D.) Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology: From Genome to Environment. Elsevier, Inc.

Habegger, M.L., Motta, P.J., Huber, D.R., and Deban, S. (In review). Feeding biomechanics in the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Ferrara, T.L., Clausen, P., Huber, D.R., McHenry, C.R., Peddemors, V., and Wroe, S. (In review). Force versus speed: Mehcanics of biting in great white and sandtiger sharks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America..

Mara, K.R., Motta, P.J., and Huber, D.R. (2009). Bite force and performance in the durophagous bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo. Journal of Experimental Zoology. 311A: 1-11. (doi: 10.1002/jez.576). click for pdf

*Kolmann, M.A. and Huber, D.R. (2009). Scaling of feeding biomechanics in the horn shark Heterodontus francisci: Ontogenetic constraints on durophagy. Zoology. 112: 351-361. (doi: 10.1016/j.zool.2008.11.002) click for pdf

Huber, D.R., Claes, J.M., Mallefet, J., and Herrel, A. (2009). Is extreme biting performance associated with extreme morphologies in sharks? Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 82 (1): 20 - 28. (doi: 10.1086/588177). click for pdf

Wroe, S., Huber, D., Lowry, M., McHenry, C., Moreno, K., Clausen, T.L. Ferrara, P., Cunningham, E., Dean, M., and Summers, A. (2008). How hard can a great white bite? Jaw mechanics in Carcharodon carcharias and the gigantic megatooth. Journal of Zoology. 276: 336-342. (doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00494.x). click for pdf

Motta, P.J., Hueter, R.E., Tricas, T.C., Summers, A.P., Huber, D.R., Lowry, D., Mara, K.R., Matott, M.P., Whitenack, L.B., and Wintzer, A.P. (2008). Functional morphology of the feeding apparatus, feeding constraints, and suction performance of the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum. Journal of Morphology. 269: 1041-1055. (doi: 10.1002/jmor10626). With cover. click for pdf

Huber, D.R., Dean, M.N., and Summers, A.P. (2008). Hard prey, soft jaws, and the ontogeny of feeding mechanics in the spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei. Proceedings of the Royal Society Interface. 5: 941-952. (doi: 10.1098/rsif.2007.1325). click for pdf

Huber, D.R., *Weggelaar, C.L., and Motta, P.J. (2006). Scaling of bite force in the blacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatus. Zoology. 109: 109-119. click for pdf

Dean, M., Huber, D., and Nance, H. (2005). Functional morphology of jaw trabeculation in the lesser electric ray Narcine brasiliensis. Journal of Morphology. 267 (10): 1137-1146. (doi: 10.1002/jmor.10302). With cover. click for pdf

Huber, D.R., Eason, T.G., Hueter, R.E., and Motta, P.J. (2005). Analysis of the bite force and mechanical design of the feeding mechanism of the durophagous horn shark Heterodontus francisci. Journal of Experimental Biology. 208: 3553-3571. click for pdf

Lowry, D., Patel, A.N., Matott, M.P., Whitenack, L.B., Huber, D.R., Dean, M.N., and Motta, P.J. (2005). Aerial and aquatic feeding in the silver arawana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 73:453-462. click for pdf

Huber, D.R. and Motta, P.J. (2004). Comparative analysis of methods for determining bite force in the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. Journal of Experimental Zoology. 301A(1): 26-37. click for pdf

Oakley, T.H. and Huber, D.R. (2004). Differential expression of duplicated opsin genes in two eye-types of ostracod crustaceans. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 59: 239-249. click for pdf

* Undergraduate researcher

Contributed Presentations
*Goo, B.Y., Dean, M.N., Huber, D.R., and Summers, A.P. (2010). Jaw morphology and structure in lamniform sharks. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3 - 7, Seattle, WA.

Ferry-Graham, L.A., Huber, D.R., Dean, M.N., Claes, J.M., and Mallefet, J. (2010). Hard prey processing in chimaeroid fishes. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3 - 7, Seattle, WA.

Ferry-Graham, L.A., Huber, D.R., Dean, M.N., Claes, J.M., and Mallefet, J. (2009). Hard prey processing in chimaeroid fishes. Western Society of Naturalists. November 12 - 15, Monterey, CA.

Huber, D., Whitenack, L., and Wroe, S. (2009). Structural mechanics of primitive and derived shark jaws and teeth. American Elasmobranch Society. July 22 - 27, Portland, OR.

Huber, D. and Dean, M. (2009). Functional morphology of cartilaginous fishes: Past, present, and future. American Elasmobranch Society. July 22 - 27, Portland, OR.

Ferrara, T., Wroe, S., Huber, D., McHenry, C., Clausen, P., Peddemors, V., Dean, M., and Lowry, M., (2009). Three-dimensional computer analysis of jaw mechanics in great white and sandtiger sharks. American Elasmobranch Society. July 22 - 27, Portland, OR.

Ferrara, T., Huber, D., McHenry, C., Clausen, P., Peddemors, V., Lowry, M., and Wroe, S. (2009). Three-dimensional computer analysis of jaw mechanics in white, tiger, bull, and grey nurse sharks. Australian Society for Fish Biology. July 1 - 5, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Habegger, M.L., Motta, P.J., and Huber, D.R. (2009). Theoretical calculations of feeding biomechanics in bull sharks over ontogeny. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3 - 7, Boston, MA.

Huber, D.R., *Kolmann, M.A., Herrel, A., and Claes, J. (2008). Chondrichthyan feeding biomechanics: Intra- and inter-specific scaling patterns. American Elasmobranch Society. July 23 - 28, Montreal, QC, CA.

Habegger, M.L., Huber, D.R. and Motta, P.J. (2008). Theoretical calculations of feeding biomechanics in bull sharks over ontogeny. American Elasmobranch Society. July 23-28, Montreal, Canada.

Habegger, M.L., Motta, P., and Huber, D.R. (2008). Theoretical calculations of bite force in the great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 2-6, San Antonio, TX.

Mara, K.R., Huber, D.R., and Motta, P.J. (2008). Bite force and performance in the durophagous bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 2-6, San Antonio, TX.

*Kolmann, M.A. and Huber, D.R. (2007). Ontogenetic constraints on the feeding ecology of the horn shark Heterodontus francisci. Florida Ichthyology Student Congress. November 16-18, Tampa, FL.

*Flint, S.G., *Kolmann, M.A., Huber, D.R., and Dean, M.N. (2007). Functional morphology and feeding biomechanics of the cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus. Florida Ichthyology Student Congress. November 16-18, Tampa, FL.

Habegger, M.L., Motta, P., Huber, D.R. (2007). Bite force of the great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. July 11-16, St. Louis, MO.

Mara, K.R., Huber, D.R., and Motta, P.J. (2007). Durophagy in the bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo: an ecomorphological conundrum. American Elasmobranch Society. July 11-16, St. Louis, MO.

Huber, D.R. and Motta, P.J. (2006). Mechanical factors in the evolution of chondrichthyan jaw suspension mechanisms. American Elasmobranch Society. July 12-17, New Orleans, LA.

Motta, P.J., Hueter, R.E., Tricas, T.C., Summers, A.P., Lowry, D., Matott, M.P., Whitenack, L.B., Wintzer, A.P., and Huber, D.R. (2005). Functional morphology, suction performance, and the enigma of protrusion in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum. American Elasmobranch Society. July 7-11, Tampa, FL.

Huber, D.R., Dean, M.N., and Summers, A.P. (2005). The crushing bite of the water bunnyHydrolagus colliei. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 4-8, San Diego, CA.

Huber, D.R. and Motta, P.J. (2004). Cranial biomechanics of sharks utilizing durophagous and piscivorous feeding mechanisms. International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. July 27–August 1, Boca Raton, FL.

Huber, D.R., Motta, P.J., and Hueter, R.E. (2004). Crushing and gouging: a bite performance analysis of durophagous and piscivorous sharks. American Elasmobranch Society. May 26–June 1, Norman, OK.

Huber, D.R. (2004). Bite force and cranial design of a hard-prey specialist the horn shark Heterodontus francisci. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 5-9, New Orleans, LA.

Dean, M.N., Huber, D.R., and Nance, H. (2004). Functional morphology of jaw trabeculation inNarcine brasiliensis. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. January 5-9, New Orleans, LA.

Patel, A., Lowry, D., Whitenack, L., Matott, M., Huber, D., Dean, M., Barker, A. and Motta, P. (2003). Getting high with arawana: Aquatic and aerial prey capture in the silver arawana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, June 26-July 2, Manaus, Brazil.

Matott, M., Lowry, D., and Huber, D. (2003). Feeding kinematics of the sandtiger shark Carcharhiastaurus: Contributions of cranial elevation and jaw protrusion to gape. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, June 26-July 2, Manaus, Brazil.

Huber, D.R. (2002). A comparative analysis of methods for determining bite force in the spiny dogfishSqualus acanthias. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, January 3-8, 2002, Anaheim, CA.

Huber, D.R. (2002). Continuity of locomotor force generation in the longnose killifish Fundulus similis. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, July 3-8, 2002, Kansas City, MO.

* Undergraduate researcher

Invited Lectures
University of Tampa Honors Program (2009): "Feeding biomechanics of cartilaginous fishes: Ontogeny, ecology, & evolution."

American Elasmobranch Society (2008): "Is graduate school enough? How to get a job in academia."

Teak Fellowship (2007): "Shark tales: diversity, mythology, and biomechanics."

University of Tampa (2006): "Cranial biomechanics and feeding performance of sharks."

Eckerd University (2004): "Shark feeding mechanics and why you shouldn't believe everything you see on TV."

Mote Marine Laboratory Center for Tropical Research (2003): "Functional diversity of the cartilaginous fishes."

Media Consulting
Discovery Channel: Shark feeding biomechanics and behavior consultant: "River Monsters" (2009), “Mythbusters” (2008),“Everything You Want to Know: Sharks” (2006), “Shark Rebellion” (2006), “Shark Attack: Predator in the Panhandle” (2005), “Animal Face Off” (2004).

History Channel: Shark feeding biomechanics and behavior consultant: “Evolve: Jaws” (2008)

United Kingdom Television: Shark feeding biomechanics consultant: “Shark Watch: Live” (2005).

Hillman, B. (2008). How Strong Is It? A Mighty Book About Strength. Scholastic Publishing. New York.

Daily Planet: Shark feeding biomechanics consultant: “Shark Bite” (2007)

Smithsonian Magazine: Shark feeding biomechanics consultant. In: Kemper, S. (2005). Shark.Smithsonian Magazine. 36 (5): 42-51.

Weighing and Measurement Magazine: Featured article on the use of engineering equipment in biological research. In: Levine, J. (2005). The force of JAWS. Weighing and Measurement. November/December.

Science World Magazine: Physical forces for primary education. In: O’Hanlon, L. (2004). SHARK- BITE Science. Science World. 60 (14): 13-15.

University Service
University of Tampa Sustainability Committee - chairman (2008 - present)

University of Tampa Academic Standards Committee (2007-2008)

University of Tampa Department of Biology Biodiversity Lab Coordinator (2008 - present); Budget Committee (2007 - present); Curriculum, Outcomes, and Planning Committee (2007-present); Summer Research Fellowship Committee (2008); Website Committee (2006 - present)

University of Tampa Environmental Protection Coalition – faculty advisor (2007 - present)

University of Tampa Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society – faculty advisor (2009 - present)

University of Tampa Theta Chi Fraternity – faculty advisor (2007 - present)

Professional Organizations & Activities
Florida Aquarium Research and Conservation Committee (2008-present)

American Elasmobranch Society, (1999-present); Student Affairs Council Chairman (2004-2005), Newsletter Coordinator (2003-2005), Webmaster (2005-2006)

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, (2001-present); Division of Vertebrate Morphology nominating committee (2008)

Reviewer for Belgian Journal of Zoology, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Applied Ichthyology, Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Fish Biology, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Journal of Zoology, Zoology