Phaedra Doukakis Senior Research Scientist Ph.D., 2000, Yale University Email: Phaedra.Doukakis@StonyBrook.edu Endangered species, fisheries, genetics, conservation policy

Research Interests

My research interests focuses upon using multiple means to achieve conservation of endangered marine and aquatic taxa. In approaching this task, I use genetic, field and policy approaches.

Much of my research has focused on endangered sturgeons and paddlefishes. These species produce black caviar, which is a highly valued and globally traded commodity. Sturgeons are thus threatened by overfishing as well as habitat degradation in the form of pollution and river dams that destroy spawning habitats. My work on sturgeon seeks to understand the status of remaining populations (in terms of biology and population structure), the nature and extent of illegal trade, and the best means for lasting protection. This latter component is accomplished through engagement with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Food and Agricultural Organization, World Bank Group and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A new focus of my research is centering upon whether hatchery supplementation of wild populations should be used as a conservation tool for Caspian Sea sturgeons.

Other aspects of my work have focused on developing world fisheries management, contractual fishing agreements and marine protected area effectiveness, with much of this work undertaken in Africa. I am increasingly undertaking projects that examine seafood certification schemes as a mechanism for encouraging sustainable fisheries and consumer awareness.

Publications

Doukakis P, Parsons ECM, Burns WCG, Salomon AK, Hines E, Cigliano JA (in press) Gaining traction: Re-treading the wheels of marine conservation. Conservation Biology.

Doukakis P, Erickson D, Baimukhanov M, Bokova Y, Erbulekov S, Nimatov A, Pikitch EK (2008). Field and genetic approaches to enhance knowledge of Ural River sturgeon biology. In: Lagutov V (ed.) Rescue of Sturgeon Species in the Ural River Basin. Springer, The Netherlands, pp. 277-292.

Waldman JR, Doukakis P, Wirgin IA (2008) Molecular analysis as a conservation tool in trade and conservation of North American sturgeons and paddlefish. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 24 (Suppl.1): 46–49.

Doukakis P, Jonahson M, Ramahery V, Randriamanantsoa, BJD (2007). Traditional fisheries of Antongil Bay, Madagascar. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 6(2): 175-181.

Birstein vj, Ruban G, Ludwig a, Doukakis P, DeSalle R (2005) The enigmatic Caspian Sea Russian sturgeon: how many cryptic forms does it contain? Systematics & Biodiversity 3(2): 203-218.

Doukakis P, Birstein VJ, DeSalle R (2005) Intraspecific structure within three caviar-producing sturgeons (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. stellatus, and Huso huso) based on mitochondrial DNA analysis. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21(6): 457-460.

Goldstein P, Wyner W, Doukakis P, Egan MG, Amato G, Rosenbaum H, DeSalle R (2005) Theory and methods for diagnosing species and populations in conservation. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden: Vol. 92, No. 1, pp. 12–27.

Pikitch E, Doukakis P*, Lauck L, Chakrabarty P, Erickson DL (2005) Sturgeon and paddlefish fisheries of the world: conservation strategies for the future. Fish and Fisheries 6: 233-265. *first two authors contributed equally to this work.

Doukakis P, Pikitch EK, Baimukhanov M, Sissengaliyeva G, Melnikov V, Yerbulekov S, Crownover S (2004) Caviar and Conservation. Caucasus Environment 6(1): 21-23.

Pikitch EK, Doukakis P, Santora C (2004) Caspian sturgeons and captive caviar production: understanding conservation benefits. Fish Farmer 27(3): 31-33.

Pikitch EK, Santora C, Babcock EA, Bakun A, Bonfil R, Conover DO, Dayton P, Doukakis P, Fluharty D, Heneman B, Houde ED, Link J, Livingston PA, Mangel M, McAllister MK, Pope J, Sainsbury KJ (2004) Ecosystem-based fishery management. Science 305(5682): 346-347.

Birstein VJ, Doukakis P (2002) Molecular identification of sturgeon species: science, bureaucracy, and the impacts of environmental agreements. Monitoring Migratory Animals, Bonn Convention: 47-63.

Birstein VJ, Doukakis P, DeSalle R (2002) Molecular phylogeny of Acipenseridae: non-monophyly of Scaphirhynchinae. Copeia 2002(2): 287-301.

Doukakis P, Birnbaum KD, Rosenbaum HC (2001) Analyzing data at the population level. Chapter 10, pp 163-172 in DeSalle R, Giribet G, Wheeler W (eds) Methods and Tools in Biosciences and Medicine: Techniques in Molecular Systematics and Evolution. Birkhauser, Basel, Switzerland.

Doukakis P, Birstein VJ*, DeSalle R (2000) Polyphyly of mtDNA lineages in the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii: forensic and evolutionary implications. Conservation Genetics 1(1): 81-88. *First two authors contributed equally to this work.

Doukakis P, Birstein VJ, Ruban GI, DeSalle R (1999) Molecular genetic analysis among subspecies of two Eurasian sturgeon species, A. baerii and A. stellatus. Molecular Ecology 8: S117-S127.

Birstein VJ, Doukakis P, Sorkin B, DeSalle R (1998) Population aggregation analysis of caviar producing species of sturgeon and implications for diagnosis of black caviar. Conservation Biology 12(4): 766-775.