Steven D. Shema

Research Associate

Grótti ehf
Grundarstíg 4
101 Reykjavík
Iceland
Email: steven.shema@gmail.com

Education

M.A. University of Iceland
B.A. New York University

Recent Professional Experience

2016–Present, Managing Director, Grótti ehf
2009–2016, Independent Research Associate
2008–2013, Research Technician, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

Biographical Statement

Coming from a background in the performing arts and Old Norse literature, I have been engaged in marine science since 2008, primarily focusing on sensory ecology and the effects of climate change.

Research Interests

  • Zooplankton behavior and ecology
  • Effects of climate change on plankton
  • Monitoring and population dynamics of wild stocks of wrasse, lumpfish and European eel

Active projects

  • Effect of ocean acidification on Calanus spp. and other copepods (P.I. Howard Browman)
  • Fine-scale interactions in the plankton (P.I. Howard Browman)
  • In situ swimming and orientation ability of larval fishes and invertebrates (P.I. Howard Browman)
  • Population dynamics of wrasses along the Norwegian coast (P.I. Anne Berit Skiftesvik)

Publications

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae are attracted by low-frequency noise simulating that of operating offshore wind farms

Cresci, A., G. Zhang, C.M.F. Durif, T. Larsen, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2023. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae are attracted by low-frequency noise simulating that of operating offshore wind farms. Communications Biology. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04728-y.
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A positive temperature-dependent effect of elevated CO2 on growth and lipid accumulation in the planktonic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus

Fields, D.M., J.A. Runge, C. Thompson, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, R.M. Bjelland, M.T. Arts, A.B. Skiftesvik and H.I. Browman. 2022. A positive temperature-dependent effect of elevated CO2 on growth and lipid accumulation in the planktonic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Limnology & Oceanography. doi:  10.1002/lno.12261.
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Co-exposure to UV radiation and crude oil increases acute embryotoxicity and sublethal malformations in the early life stages of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Sørhus, E., C.E. Donald, C.L. Nakken, P. Perrichon, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, H.I. Browman, A.B. Skiftesvik, K.K. Lie, J.D. Rasinger, M. Muller & S. Meier. 2022. Co-exposure to UV radiation and crude oil increases acute embryotoxicity and sublethal malformations in the early life stages of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). Science of the Total Environment. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160080.
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Increasing temperature and prey availability affect the growth and swimming kinematics of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae

Allan, B.J.M., H.I. Browman, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik, A. Folkvord, C.M.F. Durif & O.S. Kjesbu. 2022. Increasing temperature and prey availability affect the growth and swimming kinematics of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae. Journal of Plankton Research. doi: 10.1093/plankt/fbac014.
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Photo-enhanced toxicity of crude oil on early developmental stages of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Aranguren-Abadía, L., F. Yadetie, C.E. Donald, E. Sørhus, L.E. Myklatun, X. Zhang, K.K. Lie, C.L. Nakken, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, H.I. Browman, A.B. Skiftesvik, A. Goksøyr, S. Meier & O.A. Karlsen. 2022. Photo-enhanced toxicity of crude oil on early developmental stages of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Science of the Total Environment 807: 150697, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150697.
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Gene expression and epigenetic responses of the marine Cladoceran, Evadne nordmanni, and the copepod Acartia tonsa, to elevated carbon dioxide

Aluru, N, D.M. Fields, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2021. Gene expression and epigenetic responses of the marine Cladoceran, Evadne nordmanni, and the copepod Acartia tonsa, to elevated carbon dioxide. Ecology and Evolution 11: 16776-16785. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8309.
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Effects of exposure to low concentrations of oil on expression of cytochrome P4501a and routine swimming speed of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae in situ

Cresci, A., C.B. Paris, H.I. Browman, A.B. Skiftesvik, S. Shema, R. Bjelland, C.M.F. Durif, M. Foretich, C. Di Persia, V. Lucchese, F.B. Vikebø & E. Sørhus. 2020. Effects of exposure to low concentrations of oil on expression of cytochrome P4501a and routine swimming speed of Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae in situ. Environmental Science & Technology 54: 13879-13887, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04889.
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Age of European silver eels during a period of declining abundance in Norway

Durif, Caroline; Diserud, Ola; Sandlund, Odd Terje; Thorstad, Eva; Poole, Russel; Bergesen, Knut; Escobar-Lux, Rosa; Shema, Steven; Vøllestad, Leif Asbjørn. 2020. Age of European silver eels during a period of declining abundance in Norway. Ecology and Evolution 2020;00:1-15.
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Orientation behavior and swimming speed of Atlantic herring larvae (Clupea harengus) in situ and in laboratory exposures to rotated artificial magnetic fields

Cresci, A., B.J.M. Allan, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2020. Orientation behavior and swimming speed of Atlantic herring larvae (Clupea harengus) in situ and in laboratory exposures to rotated artificial magnetic fields. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 526 (2020) 151358.
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The effects of hydrogen peroxide on mortality, escape response and oxygen consumption of Calanus spp.

Escobar, R.H., D.M. Fields, H.I. Browman, S.D. Shema, R.M. Bjelland, A.-L. Agnalt, A.B. Skiftesvik, O.B. Samuelsen & C.M.F. Durif. 2019. The effects of hydrogen peroxide on mortality, escape response and oxygen consumption of Calanus spp. Facets 4: 1–12. doi: 10.1139/facets-2019-0011.
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The planktonic stages of the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis, are tolerant of end-of-century pCO2 concentrations

Thompson, C., J.A. Runge, D.M. Fields, S. Shema, R.M. Bjelland, C.M.F. Durif, A.B. Skiftesvik, M. Arts, A. Mount, V. Chan & H.I. Browman. 2019. The planktonic stages of the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) are tolerant of end-of-century pCO2 concentrations. PeerJ 7:e7810 http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7810.
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Glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) imprint the magnetic direction of tidal currents from their juvenile estuaries

Cresci, A, C.B. Paris, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, C. Thompson, R. Bjelland, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2019. Glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) imprint the magnetic direction of tidal currents from their juvenile estuaries.  Communications Biology (2019) 2:366. doi: 10.1038/s42003-019-0619-8.
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Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae have a magnetic compass that guides their orientation

Cresci, A., C.B. Paris, M.A. Foretich, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, C.J. E. O’Brien, F.B. Vikebø, A.B. Skiftesvik, & H.I. Browman. 2019. Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae have a magnetic compass that guides their orientation. iScience. 19: 1173-1178, doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.09.001.
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The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) antimicrobial peptide Cathelicidin-2 is a molecular host recognition signal for the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis)

Núñez-Acuña, G., C. Gallardo-Escárate, D.M. Fields, S. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik, I. Ormazábal & H.I. Browman. 2018. The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) antimicrobial peptide Cathelicidin-2 is a molecular host recognition signal for the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). Scientific Reports. (2018) 8:13738 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-31885-6.
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Regulation of gene expression underpins tolerance of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis to increased pCO2.

Bailey, A., P. de Wit, P. Thor, H.I. Browman, R.M. Bjelland, S. Shema, D.M. Fields, J.A. Runge, C. Thompson & H. Hop. 2017. Regulation of gene expression underpins tolerance of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis to increased pCO2. Ecology and Evolution 2017: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3063
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Glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) have a magnetic compass linked to the tidal cycle.

Cresci, A., C.B. Paris, C.M.F. Durif, S. Shema, R. Bjelland, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2017. Glass eels (Anguilla anguilla) have a magnetic compass linked to the tidal cycle. Science Advances 3: e1602007, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602007.
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Early life stages of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis are unaffected by increased seawater pCO2.

Bailey, A., P. Thor, H.I. Browman, D.M. Fields, J.A. Runge, A. Vermont, R. Bjelland, C. Thompson, S. Shema, C.M.F. Durif & H. Hop. 2017. Early life stages of the Arctic copepod Calanus glacialis are unaffected by increased seawater pCO2. ICES Journal of Marine Science 74: 996-1004.
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End of the century CO2 concentrations do not have a negative effect on vital rates of Calanus finmarchicus, an ecologically critical planktonic species in North Atlantic ecosystems.

Runge J.A., D.M. Fields, C.R.S. Thompson, S.D. Shema, R.M. Bjelland, C.M.F Durif, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2016. End of the century CO2 concentrations do not have a negative effect on vital rates of Calanus finmarchicus, an ecologically critical planktonic species in North Atlantic ecosystems. ICES Journal of Marine Science 73(3): 937-950.
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UV radiation changes algal stoichiometry but does not have cascading effects on a marine food chain.

Durif C.M.F., D.M. Fields, H.I. Browman, S.D. Shema, J.R. Enoae, A.B. Skiftesvik, R.M. Bjelland, R. Sommaruga & M.T. Arts. 2015. UV radiation changes algal stoichiometry but does not have cascading effects on a marine food chain. Journal of Plankton Research 37(6): 1120–36.
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Infection of the planktonic copepod Calanus finmarchicus by the parasitic dinoflagellate, Blastodinium spp.: effects on grazing, respiration, fecundity, and fecal pellet production.

Fields, D.M., J.A. Runge, C. Thompson, S.D. Shema, R.M. Bjelland, C.M.F. Durif, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2015. Infection of the planktonic copepod Calanus finmarchicus by the parasitic dinoflagellate, Blastodinium spp.: effects on grazing, respiration, fecundity, and fecal pellet production. Journal of Plankton Research 37: 211-220.
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The regeneration of highly bioavailable iron by meso- and microzooplankton.

Nuester J., S. Shema, A. Vermont, D.M. Fields, B.S. Twining. 2014. The regeneration of highly bioavailable iron by meso- and microzooplankton. Limnology and Oceanography 59(4): 1399–1409.
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Sub-lethal exposure to ultraviolet radiation reduces prey consumption by Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua).

Fukunishi Y., H.I. Browman, C.M.F. Durif, R.M. Bjelland, S.D. Shema, D.M. Fields, A.B. Skiftesvik. 2013. Sub-lethal exposure to ultraviolet radiation reduces prey consumption by Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua). Marine Biology 160: 2591-2596.
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Effects of ocean acidification on growth and development of the planktonic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus.

Runge, J.A., C. Thompson, R.M. Bjelland, H.I. Browman, C.M.F. Durif, D.M. Fields, S. Shema & A.B. Skiftesvik. 2013. Effects of ocean acidification on growth and development of the planktonic copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Poster presented at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s 2nd U.S. Ocean Acidification Principal Investigator’s Meeting. Washington, D.C., USA, 18-20 September 2013.
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Light Primes the Escape Response of the Calanoid Copepod, Calanus finmarchicus.

Fields D.M., S.D. Shema SD, H.I. Browman, T.Q. Browne & A.B. Skiftesvik. 2012. Light Primes the Escape Response of the Calanoid Copepod, Calanus finmarchicus. Plos ONE 7(6): e39594.
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Grazing Rates of Calanus finmarchicus on Thalassiosira weissflogii Cultured under Different Levels of Ultraviolet Radiation.

Fields, D.M., C.M.F. Durif, R.M. Bjelland, S.D. Shema, A.B. Skiftesvik & H.I. Browman. 2011. Grazing rates of Calanus finmarchicus on Thalassiosira weissflogii cultured under different levels of ultraviolet radiation. PLoS ONE 6(19) e26333.
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Last updated: October 18, 2022