PUBLICATIONS:

Cervino, J., K. Winiarski, S.W. Polson, T. Goreau, G.W. Smith. Identification of bacteria associated with a disease affecting the marine sponge, Ianthella basta, in New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Marine Ecology Progress Series. In Press.

Polson, S.W., M.L. Lundqvist, and C.M. Woodley. Systematic Approach to a Disease Investigation: Case Example. Proceedings of the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium In Press.

Cervino, J.M., R.L. Hayes, S.W. Polson, S.C. Polson, T.J. Goreau, R.J. Martinez, and G.W. Smith. 2004. “Relationship of Vibrio species infection and elevated temperatures to Yellow Blotch/Band Disease in Caribbean corals.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70:6855-6864.

 E. B. M. Denner, G. Smith, H.-J. Busse, P. Schumann, T. Narzt, S. W. Polson, W. Lubitz & L. L. Richardson. 2003. “Aurantimonas coralicida gen. nov., sp. nov., the causative agent of white plague type II on Caribbean scleractinian corals.” International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 53:1115-1122.

 Polson, S.W. Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria Associated with Three Coral Diseases. M.S. Thesis. Clemson University; College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine. August 2002. 100pp.

Patterson, K.L., J.W. Porter, K.B. Ritchie, S.W. Polson, E. Mueller, E.C. Peters, D.S. Santavy, and G.W. Smith. 2002. “The etiology of white pox, a lethal disease of the Caribbean elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 99(13):8725-8730.

 Bagwell, C.E., J. La Rocque, G.W. Smith, S.W. Polson, M. Friez, J. Longshore, and C.R. Lovell. 2002. “Molecular diversity of diazotrophs in oligotrophic seagrass bed communities.” FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 39:113-119.

 Malmstrøm, J., S.C. Polson, S.W. Polson, G.W. Smith, and J. Frisvad. 2001. “Study of Secondary Metabolites associated with virulent and non-virulent strains of Aspergillus sydowii: Sea Fan Pathogen.” The Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas, 48-52..

Polson, S.W. and G.W. Smith. 2001. “A Long-Term Study of Biomass Fluctuations within the Seagrass Communities Surrounding San Salvador Island, Bahamas.” The Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas, 62-67.

 Ritchie, K.B., S.W. Polson, and G.W. Smith. 2001. Chapter 11: “Microbial Disease Causation in Marine Invertebrates: Problems, Practices, and Future Prospects.” In: James Porter (ed.). The Ecology and Etiology of Newly Emerging Marine Diseases. Kluwer Academic Press, New York. Pp. 131-139.

 Ritchie, K.B., S.W. Polson, and G.W. Smith. 2001. “Microbial Disease Causation in Marine Invertebrates: Problems, Practices, and Future Prospects”. Hydrobiologia. 460:131-139.
 

PRESENTATIONS:

 Polson, S.W.* and C.M. Woodley. Collection methodology bias on coral microbial community analysis and its implications on host health assessment. 41st Annual Medical University of South Carolina, Student Research Day. November 3, 2006. Charleston, SC.

 Polson, S.W.* and C.M. Woodley. Analysis of acroporid coral associated microbial community structure in the Florida Keys (USA). Genomes, Medicine, and the Environment Conference. October 16-18, 2006. Hilton Head, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.* and C.M. Woodley. Assessment of acroporid coral bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene libraries: Impacts of collection methodology and health status. Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center Student Research Open House. July 21, 2006. Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.*, J.L. Higgins, and C.M. Woodley. Assessment of microbial communities associated with an acroporid coral disease outbreak. 31st Annual Eastern Fish Health Workshop, March 21-27, 2006. Mt. Pleasant, SC. (Invited Speaker)

Horwitz, G.C., S.W. Polson, M.L. Lundqvist*, S.C. Polson, J.L. Higgins, E.J. Lewis, D. Howard, and C.M. Woodley. Investigating the etiology of the juvenile oyster disease. 26th Milford Laboratory Aquaculture Seminar, February 27 - March 1, 2006. Milford, CT.

Polson, S.W.*. Assessment of microbial communities associated with acroporid corals. Hollings Marine Laboratory Brown Bag Seminar Series, January 17, 2006. Charleston, SC. (Invited Speaker/No published abstract)

Polson, S.W.*, S.M. McLaughlin, and C.M. Woodley. Characterization of microbial communities associated with acroporid corals during 2003 mortality events in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. 18th Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation, October 16-21, 2005. Norfolk, VA. (Invited Speaker)

Polson, S.W.*, S.M. McLaughlin, and C.M. Woodley. Characterization of microbial communities associated with healthy and diseased acroporid corals. 40th Annual Medical University of South Carolina, Student Research Day. November 4, 2005. Charleston, SC.

Sileo, L.*, C. Rogers, T. Work, S. Lorbach, S. Mclaughlin, K. Price, C. Densmore, P. McAllister, C. Woodley, and S.W. Polson. The histopathology of white pox and white band disease. 18th Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation, October 16-21, 2005. Norfolk, VA.

 
Cervino J.M.*, M. Littler, D. Littler, S.W. Polson, T.J. Goreau, B. Brooks,
and G.W. Smith. Identification of microbes associated with coralline lethal orange disease and its relationship to glacial ice melt (global warming). 2005 American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. July 30-August 3, 2005. Austin, TX.

Polson, S.W.*, S.M. McLaughlin, and C.M. Woodley. Composition of Bacterial Communities Associated with Acroporid Coral Mortality Event in the Florida Keys during 2003. Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center Student Research Open House. July 22, 2005. Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.*, S.M. McLaughlin, and C.M. Woodley. Microbial composition of aggregates observed within tissues of diseased fused staghorn coral, Acropora prolifera. 39th Annual Medical University of South Carolina, Student Research Day. November 5, 2004. Charleston, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.*, M.L. Lundqvist, S.C. Polson, S.L. Ryan, D.E. Williams, M.W. Miller, S.M. McLaughlin, C.M. Woodley. The 2003 Acroporid mortality in the Florida Keys (USA): A systematic approach to disease investigation. Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center Student Research Open House. July 16, 2004. Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.*, M.L. Lundqvist, S.C. Polson, S.L. Ryan, D.E. Williams, M.W. Miller, S.M. McLaughlin, C.M. Woodley. The 2003 Acroporid mortality in the Florida Keys (USA): A systematic approach to disease investigation. 10th International Coral Reef Symposium. June 28-July 2, 2004. Okinawa, Japan. (Poster)

Cervino, J.M.*, R.L. Hayes, T.J. Goreau, S.W. Polson, S.C. Polson, R.J. Martinez, and G.W. Smith. Bacteria, Viruses and Rising Sea-Water Temperature as Links to Yellow Band Disease. 10th International Coral Reef Symposium. June 28-July 2, 2004. Okinawa, Japan.

Cervino, J.M.*, K. Winiarski, T.J. Goreau, S.W. Polson, S.C. Polson, & G.W. Smith. Bacterial infection and abiotic stress as links to a Sponge disease affecting Ianthella basta in, Papua New Guinea. Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The Ark: The Emerging Science And Practice Of Invertebrate Conservation. March 25-26, 2004. American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY. (Poster)

Cervino, J.M.*, K. Winiarski, T.J. Goreau, S.W. Polson, S.C. Polson, & G.W. Smith. Bacterial infection and abiotic stress as links to a Sponge disease affecting Ianthella basta in, Papua New Guinea. Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). February 12-16, 2004. Seattle, WA. (Poster)

Pettay, T.*, S.W. Polson, M.E. DeLorenzo, P.L. Pennington, S.B. Galloway, J.E. Fauth, and C.M. Woodley. The effects of triazine pesticides on various clades/species of the symbiotic genus Symbiodinium (zooxanthellae). 1st International Coral Reef Ecotoxicology and Health Workshop. September 21-27, 2003. Bermuda Biological Station for Research, St. George’s, Bermuda. (Poster)

Polson, S.W.*, M.L. Lundqvist, S.L. Ryan, S.C. Polson, D.E. Williams, M.W. Miller, and C.M. Woodley. Recent Mortality of Acroporid Corals in the Florida Keys: A Disease Investigation. Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center Student Research Open House. July 18, 2003. Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC. (Poster)

Polson, S.W. and G.W. Smith*. Systematic characterization and comparison of various bacterial isolates pathogenic, or putatively pathogenic, to scleractinian coral species. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. Bali, Indonesia.

Cervino, J.M.*, G.W. Smith, T. Goreau, R. Hayes, S.W. Polson, and S.C. James. Decreased Zooxanthellae Density and Mitotic Indices in Caribbean Corals Affected by Yellow Band, Dark Spots, White Band and White Pox Syndromes. 9th International Coral Reef Symposium. Bali, Indonesia.

Patterson, K.L., S.W. Polson*, J. Porter, and G.W. Smith. Metabolic characterization of bacterial communities associated with white pox disease of the scleractinian coral Acropora palmata. 2000 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science. March 31, 2000. Clinton, SC.

Cervino, J.M.*, S.W. Polson, S.C. James, G.W. Smith, T.J. Goreau. Changes in zooxanthellae densities, chlorophyll concentration, and morphology in various coraline diseases; and the distribution in the Caribbean. 2000 National Benthic Ecology Meeting. March, 2000. Wilmington, NC

.
Polson, S.W.*, K.B. Ritchie, and G.W. Smith. Methods for Identification of Pathogens Associated with Diseases of Corals and Other Reef Invertebrates. 1999 Joint Meeting of the South Carolina and Southeastern Branches of the American Society for Microbiology. October, 1999. Jekyll, Island, GA. President’s Award Winner (Graduate)

James, S.C.*, J. Malmstrøm, J. Frisvad, S.W. Polson, and G.W. Smith. Study of Secondary Metabolites Associated with virulent and non-virulent strain of Aspergillus sydowii: Sea Fan Pathogen. The Eighth Symposium of the Natural History of the Bahamas. June 18-23 1999. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Poster Presentation.

Polson, S.W.* and G.W. Smith. A Long Term Study of Seagrass Beds on San Salvador Island: Correlation of Temporal Cycling among Biomass Levels and Tissue Phosphorus Content. The Eighth Symposium of the Natural History of the Bahamas. June 18-23 1999. Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Poster Presentation.

Polson, S.W.* and G.W. Smith. Biomass and Phosphorus Cycling within Seagrass Communities of San Salvador Island, Bahamas: A Ten Year Study. 1999 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science. April 30, 1999. Greenwood, SC.

James, S.C.*, J. Malmstroem, J. Frisvad, S.W. Polson, and G.W. Smith. Comparison of the Secondary Metabolites Produced by Various Strains of Aspergillus sydowii. 1999 Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science. April 30, 1999. Greenwood, SC.

Polson, S.W.*, T. Reynolds, L. Raymundo, S.C. James, and G.W. Smith. Newly Emergent Disease of the Hard Coral, Porites attenuata, in the Philippines. 1998 Annual Meeting South Carolina Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (SCB-ASM). October 31, 1998. Columbia, SC. President’s Award Honorable Mention (Undergraduate)

James, S.C.*, S.W. Polson, I. Negelkerken, and G.W. Smith. Sea Urchin (Meoma ventricosa) Mortality in Curaçao (Dutch Antilles). 1998 Annual Meeting South Carolina Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (SCB-ASM). October 31, 1998. Columbia, SC. President’s Award Winner (Undergraduate)
 

MEETINGS ATTENDED:

Genomes, Medicine, and the Environment Conference, Hilton Head, SC (2006)

General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Orlando, FL (2006)

Eastern Fish Health Workshop, Mount Pleasant, SC (2006)

Biennial Conference of the Estuarine Research Federation, Norfolk, VA (2005)

Coral Disease and Health Consortium Developing Diagnostic Criteria Workshop, Madison, WI (2004)

Coral Disease and Health Consortium National Plan Workshop, Charleston, SC (2002)

National Benthic Ecology Meeting, Wilmington, NC (2000)

South Carolina Academy of Science, Annual Meeting, Clinton, SC (2000)

Ninth Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas, San Salvadore, Bahamas (1999)

American Society for Microbiology, Joint Meeting of the Southeast and SC Branches, Jekyll

AWARDS:
 

Sigma Xi Award Best Oral Presentation MUSC Student Research Day 2006
 

Estuarine Research Federation Student Travel Award (October 2005)

 NOAA National Ocean Service Certificate of Achievement (July 2004)

SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS:

American Society for Microbiology (National & South Carolina Branch)

Sigma Xi

International Society for Reef Studies

Coral Disease and Health Consortium

Mensa

Island, GA (1999)

South Carolina Academy of Science, Annual Meeting, Greenwood, SC (1999)

American Society for Microbiology, Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Branch, Columbia, SC (1998)