Deep-ocean Ecosystems

My work with the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab involves developing a research program and leading scientific analyses of biodiversity in the deep-sea to better understand the biogeographic patterns and processes that form deep-ocean ecosystems.  By mapping biodiversity in the deep-sea and quantifying the relationship between biological communities and the environment in which they live, this research helps us to better understand the ecological processes and human impacts that drive patterns in deep-sea biodiversity, so that we can better steward and protect our oceans.

National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab – Deep Ocean Dropcam
Hawaiian Coral Reefs

As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow from 2011- 2016 at the University of Hawaii, I conducted interdisciplinary research integrating social and ecological systems to support community-based marine resource management in response to an introduced predatory grouper (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii. With The Nature Conservancy, we conducted a predator removal experiment on patch reefs in west Hawaii and monitored the reef fish response, via underwater visual surveys, to the predator removal over a five-year period. Included local fishers in the execution of the experiment, as well as through regular outreach events.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
Reef Fish Survey Diver

Participated in NOAA research cruises to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), Pacific Remote Islands (Johnston, Howland, and Baker atolls); American Samoa; and the Main Hawaiian Islands. This included extensive scuba diving with interdisciplinary research teams. Conducted rapid visual surveys of reef fish and benthic assessments.

NOAA teacher at sea blog feature – June 2015

Giddens, J, Turchik, A, W., Goodell, W, Rodriguez, M, Delaney, D (2021) The National Geographic Society Deep-Sea Camera System: a low-cost remote video survey instrument to advance biodiversity observation in the deep-ocean. Frontiers in Marine Science 7:601411. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.601411/full

 

Giddens, J, Salinas-de-Leon, P, Friedlander, A, Ebert, D, Henning, B, Turchik, A (2020) First observation of a Hydrolagus melanophasma (Chondrichthyes, Chimaeriformes, Holocephali) aggregation with egg cases extruding from a female. Marine Biodiversity 50 (6) 1-2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12526-020-01122-3

 

Buglass, S, Nagy, S, Ebert, D, Sepa, P, Turchik, A, Croff Bell, K, Rivera, F, Giddens, J (2020) First records of the seven-gilled Notorynchus cepedianus and six-gilled Hexanchus griseus sharks (Chondrichthyes: Hexanchiformes: Hexanchidae) found in the Galápagos Marine Reserve. Journal of Fish Biology 97(3), 926-929. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jfb.14447

 

Giddens, J, Goodell W, Friedlander A, Salinas-de-León P, Shepard C, Henning B, Berkenpas E, Sala E and Turchik A (2019) Patterns in Bathyal Demersal Biodiversity and Community Composition Around Archipelagos in the Tropical Eastern Pacific. Front. Mar. Sci. 6:388. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00388

 

Friedlander AM, Giddens J, Ballesteros E, Blum S, Brown EK, Caselle JE, Henning B, Jost C, Salinas-de-León P, Sala E. 2019. Marine biodiversity from zero to a thousand meters at Clipperton Atoll (Île de La Passion), Tropical Eastern Pacific. PeerJ 7:e7279 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7279

 

Delevaux, J., Stamoulis, K., Whittier, R., Jupiter, S., Bremer, L., Friedlander, A., Kurashima, N., Giddens, J., Winter, K., Blaich-Vaughan, M., Burnett, K., Geslani, C., Ticktin, T. Local place-based management can reduce human-impacts on coral reefs. (2019). Ecological Applications. 00(00):e01891. 10.1002/eap.1891

 

Giddens, J., Friedlander, AM., Wiggins, C., Conklin, E., Minton, D. (2018). Reef fish assemblage-level effects of the introduced Peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii revealed through a long-term field manipulative experiment. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 101: 275-286

 

Friedlander, AM., Ballesteros, E., Bell, TW., Giddens J., Henning B., Hüne, M., Muñoz, A., Salinas-de-León, P., Sala, E. (2018). Marine biodiversity at the end of the world: Cape Horn and Diego Ramírez islands. PloSone. Jan 24;13(1):e0189930.

 

Giddens, JL. (2017). Tracing an Invasion Paradox across Scales: Patterns and Tests for the Effects of the Introduced Predatory Grouper, Roi (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii. University of Hawaii at Manoa. PhD. Dissertation.
Link: https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/62828

 

Delaney, DG., Teneva, LT., Stamoulis, KA., Giddens J., Koike, H., Ogawa, T., Friedlander, AM., Kittinger, JN. (2017) Patterns in artisanal coral reef fisheries reveal best practices for monitoring and management. PeerJ 5:e4089

 

Donovan, MK., Friedlander, AM, Usseglio, P., Goodell J., Iglesias, I., Schemmel, EM., Stamoulis, KA., Filous, A., Giddens, J., Kamikawa, K., Koike, H., McCoy, K., Wall, CB. (2016) Effects of gear restriction on the abundance of juvenile fishes along sandy beaches in Hawai‘i. PloSone, 11(5), p.e0155221

 

Giddens, J., Friedlander, AM., Conklin, E., Wiggins, C., Stamoulis, K. & Donovan, MK. (2014) Experimental removal of the invasive peacock hind (roi) Cephalopholis argus, in Puako, Hawaii: methods for assessing and managing marine invasive species. Marine Ecology Progress Series 511:209-221

 

Couch C., Garriques  J., Barnett C.,  Cotton S., Giddens J., Walsh W. (2014) Spatial and temporal patterns of coral health and disease along leeward Hawaii Island. Coral Reefs 33: 693-704

 

Donovan, MK., Friedlander, AM, Usseglio, P., Goodell J., Iglesias, I., Schemmel, EM., Stamoulis, KA., Filous, A., Giddens, J., Kamikawa, K., Koike, H., McCoy, K., Wall, CB. (2016) Effects of gear restriction on the abundance of juvenile fishes along sandy beaches in Hawai‘i. PloSone, 11(5), p.e0155221

 

Giddens, J., Kobayashi, D., Nelson, M., et al. Assessing the vulnerability of marine life to climate change in the Pacific. In prep.

 

Giddens, J., Friedlander, AM., Kittinger, JN., Goodell, J.,  Stamoulis, KA., Conklin, EJ., Ticktin, T. Assessing coral-reef ecosystem trajectories to support social-ecological resilience and adaptive capacity. In prep.

2019 – National Geographic Fellows Leadership Training with Lisa Witter

2018 – Narrative storytelling workshop, COMPASS

2001 – Goethean Studies training in art+science methodology

US Coast Guard Master of 100-ton vessels, near coastal waters

PADI scuba instructor

AAUS scientific diver, nitrox-certified (>5000 dives)

First aid/CPR/Oxygen administration

U.S. Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce Motorboat Operator

Yoga Alliance 200 hour RYT