Dr. Vincent Encomio loves oysters and shellfish. He has a passion for the environment, its creatures, and their preservation.

As Research Scientist at Florida Oceanographic Society, Encomio initiates, directs and coordinates the FOS Research Department activities and programs. The principal research project that has captured his imagination as well as his skills is the oyster reef restoration project, including oyster gardening. Restoration of the oyster beds is essential to the health of the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon and to the sustainability of the oyster population.

With his teaching and mentoring experience, Dr. Encomio is able to involve community members in his research project while maintaining the science at its highest level.

About Encomio:

Education

• Ph.D., Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences at The College of William and Mary, in Marine Science. Dissertation: A study of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica : 1. Dermo tolerance, survival, growth condition, and Hsp 70 expression in different geographic stocks; 2. Heat tolerance and effects of sublethal heat shock on survival and Hsp70 expression of infected and uninfected oysters.                                                           

• M.A., San Francisco State University in Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology. Thesis: Effects of sulfide and hypoxia on the respiratory physiology of Urechis caupo.

• B.A., University of California, San Diego in Biology.

Professional Experience

• Research Scientist, Florida Oceanographic Society, initiating, directing and coordinating FOS Research Department activities and programs.

• Post-doctoral Research Associate, Florida Gulf Coast University. Designed and conducted experiments examining the effects of variable salinity on physiology and condition of shellfish.

• Research Assistant, Virginia  Institute of Marine Science. Examined intraspecific variation in the physiological condition of disease resistant eastern oyster populations.

• Research Assistant, San Francisco State University. Characterized relationship between respiratory physiological and biochemical responses to hydrogen sulfide and hypoxia in marine intertidal worm.

Professional Affiliations 

• National Shellfisheries Association
• World Aquaculture Association
• Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 

Fellowships, Grants and Awards 

• 2009-2011 Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation “Oyster Reef Restoration in the St. Lucie Estuary, Florida: Implementation of a Long-Term Habitat Restoration Program” P.I.  

• 2009 Fish Florida “Restoration of Essential Fish Habitat - Construction of Oyster Reefs in the Lower St. Lucie Estuary”  

• 2006 South Florida Water Management District. “Present and Past Distribution of Oysters in South Florida Coastal Complex (Whitewater Bay/Oyster Bay/Shark to Robert’s Rivers).”  

• 2005 Florida Gulf Coast University Internal Grant “Immunological Function of the Hard Clam” 

• 2005 Gordon Gunter Student Poster Award       “Variation in Hsp70 isoform expression in the eastern oyster due to season and infection with Perkinsus marinus” Best student poster – National Shellfisheries Association   Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA  

• 2001 Craig L. Smith Memorial Scholarship, VIMS “The Role of Heat Shock Proteins in Tolerance to Parasitic Stress in the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica”                                         

• 2000 College of William and Mary Minor Research Grant “Comparison of growth and energy reserves between Dermo-tolerant and susceptible oyster stocks” 

• 1997-1999 NSF Minorities Fellowship, College of William and Mary                

• 1996 MBRS Fellowship, San Francisco State University                   

• 1993-1995 NIH Bridges to the Future Fellowship, FSFU                                  

• 1991 NSF Research Careers for Minority Scholars UCSD                                

• 1989 Ronald E. McNair Fellowship         

Publications

Panko, C.; Encomio, V.; Barreto, J.; Volety, A.K. 2008. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of quinine as a potential anti-protozoal for the eastern oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus. Journal of Shellfish Research 27 (4): 1-5.

Encomio, V.G.; Chu, F.L.E. 2007. Heat shock protein (Hsp70) expression and thermal tolerance in sublethal heat shocked eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) infected with the parasite Perkinsus marinus.  Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 76:251-260.

Encomio, V.G.; Stickler, S.; Allen, S.K.; Chu, F.L.E. 2005. Performance of “natural Dermo-resistant” oyster stocks: Survival, disease, growth, condition and energy reserves. Journal of Shellfish Research 24 (1): 143-155.

Encomio, V.G.; Chu, F.L.E. 2005. Seasonal variation of heat shock protein (hsp70) in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) infected with Perkinsus marinus (Dermo). Journal of Shellfish Research 24 (1): 167-175.

Encomio, V.G.; Chu, F.L.E. 2000. The effect of PCBs on glycogen reserves in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. Marine Environmental Research Marine nvironmental Research 50:45-49.

Technical Reports:

Volety, A.K.; Encomio, V.G. 2006. Biological effects of suspended sediments on shellfish in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed – implications for water releases and dredging activities. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Project Final Report. 47 pp.

In revision: Encomio, V.G.; Boyle, G.; Volety, A.K. Biological effects of suspended sediments on shellfish in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed – implications for water releases and dredging activities. Submitted to Journal of Shellfish Research.

Abstracts and Presentations

Encomio, V.; Goncalves, M; Volety, A.K. The effects of multiple environmental stressors on hard clam survival and physiology. Clam Industry Workshop September 24-25, 2008

Gonçalves, M., Soudant, P., Encomio, V. G., Volety, A.K. Effects of Karenia brevis on the defense responses of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, the oyster Crassostrea virginica, and the green mussel Perna viridis. National Shellfisheries Association. Providence, RI (USA) April 6-10, 2008

Encomio, V.; Goncalves, M.; Abeels, H.; Griffith, A.; Volety, A.K. The effects of multiple environmental stressors on hard clam survival and physiology. National Shellfisheries Association. Providence, RI (USA) April 6-10, 2008

Encomio, V.; Leary, R.; Sergent, K., Volety, A.K. Using the clam Rangia cuneata as an indicator of watershed alterations in the Caloosahatchee River. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Watershed Summit. Punta Gorda, FL (USA) March 25-28, 2008.

Barreto, J.C.; Coates, C.M.; Isern, S.; Volety, A.; Encomio, V.; Weissbach, A.; Barreto, P.D.; Huitema, K.; Ali, J. A photocatalytic coating deposited on a titanium metal surface may be useful for sanitizing the water used in aquaculture: A demonstration of biocidal power, and a model for toxin destruction. Florida Marine Biotechnology Summit V. Gainesville, FL (USA) November 14-15, 2006.

Chu, F.-L.E.; Encomio, V.G.. Heat shock protein (HSP70) expression and thermal-tolerance in sublethal heat-shocked eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) infected with the parasitic protozoan Perkinsus marinus. IX International Congress on Medical and Applied Malacology, Qingdao, China October 17-20, 2006.

Encomio, V.G.; Panko, C.L.; Estevez, E.; Volety, A.K. Use of the oligohaline clam Rangia cuneata as a bivalve indicator of watershed alterations in southwest Florida. National Shellfisheries Association. Monterey, CA (USA) March 26-30, 2006.

Encomio, V.G.; Panko, C.L.; Martin, S.; Volety, A.K. Effects of sediment load and type on the physiological condition of the oligohaline clam Rangia cuneata – implications for freshwater releases and dredging activities. International Conference on Shellfish Restoration. Brest, France October 2-5, 2005.

Encomio, V.G.; Chu, F.L.E. Variation in hsp70 isoform expression in the eastern oyster due to season and infection with Perkinsus marinus.  National Shellfisheries Association. Philadelphia, PA (USA) April 10-14, 2005.

Encomio, V.G.; Chu, F.L.E.  Characterization of heat shock protein expression and

induced thermotolerance in P. marinus parasitized oysters: Lab and field studies. Aquaculture 2004. Honolulu, HI (USA) March 1-5, 2004.

Encomio, V.G.; Stickler, S; Chu, F.L . The role of heat shock proteins in tolerance to

parasitic stress in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. National

Shellfisheries Association, New Orleans, LA (USA) April 13-17 2003.

Encomio, V.G.; Stickler, S; Chu, F-L. Physiological condition and energy reserves in

"natural Dermo resistant" oyster stocks. Aquaculture 2001, Lake Buena Vista, FL (USA) Jan 21-25  2001.

Encomio, V.G.; Stickler, S; Chu, FL 2000. Energy reserves in Perkinsus marinus infected and uninfected oysters Journal of Shellfish Research 19(1): 662.

Encomio, V.G.; Arp, A.J. 1996. Sulfide induced anaerobiosis in Urechis caupo.

Amer. Zool. 36(5): 38A.

Encomio, V.G.; Arp, A.J. 1995. Effect of sulfide and hypoxia on respiratory poise in

Urechis caupo. Amer. Zool. 35(5): 36A.

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