Skills and Expertise
- Marine Ecology
- Marine Biology
- Mechanics
- Fracture
- Force
- Oceanography
Expertise:
- Benthic ecology; biomechanics of burrowing; biological-physical interactions; functional morphology and physiology of invertebrates.
I study how worms and other benthic organisms interact with their environments. Burrowing animals are ecologically important, both in trophic dynamics and as ecosystem engineers, dramatically altering their physical and chemical environments.
My research focuses on the diverse morphologies and behaviors of burrowing animals, the biomechanics of burrowing in muds and sands, and the mechanical properties of sediments.
Dr. Dorgan is particularly interested in how benthic microalgae and bacteria alter sediment habitats for larger organisms and in developing new methods to measure sediment properties on the small scales of burrowing animals.
I am interested in how worms and other benthic organisms interact with their environments.
Research Projects:
