WILLIAM HEYMAN

Associate Professor
Geography

Department of Geography
Texas A&M University
TAMU 3147
College Station, TX 77843-3147
Office: 205D CSA Bldg (map)
Phone: 979.458.3030
E-mail: wheyman@geog.tamu.edu
Department Web page
Marine and Coastal Geography Group

Research Interest:
I maintain a broad interest in science and sustainable management of tropical coastal and marine systems. I have worked in the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Marshall Islands, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and most extensively in Belize. I am generally interested in the relationship between humans and the environment and utilize multi-disciplinary approaches to study these interactions and to generate practical and useful guidance for resource managers. In order to generate relevant information for managers, I collaborate with colleagues from a wide set of disciplines including hydrology, oceanography, fisheries and marine ecology, physical geography, anthropology, economics. I use remote sensing and GIS. My recent research interest centers on the reproductive ecology of reef fish spawning aggregations, e.g. snappers and groupers. These interests are nested within the context of a multi-disciplinary research program focusing on marine protected areas function and management.

Selected Publications:

Carr, L. and W.D. Heyman. 2009. Jamaica bound? Marine resources and management at a crossroads in Antigua and Barbuda. The Geographical Journal. 175(1): 17 - 38.

Heyman, W.D. and B. Kjerfve. 2008. Multi-species reef fish spawning aggregations at Gladden Spit, Belize. Bulletin of Marine Science. 83(3): 531-551.

Heyman, W.D., B. Kjerfve, and T. Ezer. 2008. Mesoamerican Reef spawning aggregations help maintain fish populations: a review of connectivity research and priorities for science and management. NOAA Marine Sanctuaries Conservation Series. NMSP-08-07:150-169.

Kobara, S. and W.D. Heyman. 2008. Geomorphometric patterns of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) spawning aggregation sites in the Cayman Islands. Marine Geodesy 31(4):231-245.

Su, H., H. Liu, and W.D. Heyman. 2008.  Automated derivation of bathymetric information from multi-spectral satellite imagery using a non-linear inversion model.  Marine Geodesy. 31(4): 281-291.

Wright, D.J. and W.D. Heyman. 2008. Marine and coastal GIS for geomorphology, habitat mapping and marine reserves. Marine Geodesy. 31(4):1-8.

Sheng, J., Wang, L., Andréfouét, S., Hu, C., Hatcher, B.G., Muller-Karger, F.E., Kjerfve, B., Heyman, W.D. and Yang, B. 2007. Reproducing the upper ocean response of the Meso-American Barrier Reef System to Hurricane Mitch and coastal freshwater inputs: an approach using SeaWiFS remote sensing data and a nested-grid ocean circulation model. Journal of Geophysical Research. 112 (C07016):1-22.

Heyman, W.D., J-L.B. Ecochard, and F.B. Biasi. 2007. Low-cost bathymetric mapping for tropical marine conservation: a focus on reef fish spawning aggregation sites. Marine Geodesy. 30(1): 37-50.

Heyman, W.D., B. Kjerfve, K.L. Rhodes, R.T. Graham, and L. Garbutt. (2005) "Cubera snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus, spawning aggregations on the Belize Barrier Reef over a six year period". Journal of Fish Biology 67(1):83-101.

Gibson, J., M. McField, W. Heyman, S. Wells, J. Carter, G. Sedberry. (2004) "Belize’s evolving system of marine reserves." In J. Sobel and C. Dahlgren, eds. Marine Reserves: A Guide to Science, Design and Use. The Ocean Conservancy, Washington. D.C. pp 287-315.

Ezer, T., D. V. Thattai, B. Kjerfve and W. Heyman. (2005) "On the variability of the flow along the Meso-American Barrier Reef System: A numerical model study of the influence of the Caribbean Current and eddies". Ocean Dynamics. 55: 458-475.

Heyman, W. and R. Graham, eds. (2000) The Voice of the Fishermen of Southern Belize. Toledo Institute for Development and Environment. Punta Gorda, Belize.

Heyman, W.D. and B. Kjerfve. (1999) "Hydrological and oceanographic considerations for integrated coastal zone management in southern Belize." Environmental Management. 24(2): 229-245.