Silvia Maciá

Silvia Maciá PhD
Born	1972 Miami, FL
Occupation	Marine biologist, Professor of Biology
Spouse(s)	Michael Robinson
Awards	Barry University Outstanding Faculty Member Award 2007–2008
Website	www.barry.edu/biology/faculty/macia.html
Academic background
Education	Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and Biology, PhD in Marine Biology, University of Miami
Alma mater	University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Thesis title	Dissertation research: The effects of sea urchin grazing and drift algal blooms on a subtropical seagrass bed community
Thesis url	[1]
Thesis year	1999
Academic work
Discipline	Marine Science and Biology, Oceanography, Ecology, Environmental Science, Botany
Sub discipline	Research on pipefish mating behavior, seagrass community ecology, coral reef grazing ecology, seagrass restoration

Silvia Maciá (born 1972) is an American marine biologist and professor of biology at Barry University in Miami Shores, FL. Courses she has taught include marine biology, oceanography, tropical marine ecosystems, ecology, environmental science and botany.

Her research interests include pipefish mating behavior, seagrass community ecology, coral reef grazing ecology and seagrass restoration. Her research involves both laboratory and field work.

Maciá is perhaps best noted for her discovery that Caribbean reef squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea) can fly. She and her biologist husband Michael Robinson were boating on the north coast of Jamaica when she spotted something fly out of the water. She initially thought they were flying fish but after watching for a few seconds, she realized they were squid.

Journal articles

• Maciá, S, MP Robinson (2012) [2] Reproductive pattern in the caridean shrimp Gnathophylloides mineri Schmitt (Gnathophyllidae), a symbiont of sea urchins. J. Crustacean Biol. 32: 727-732.
• Maciá, S, MP Robinson (2009) [3] Why be cryptic? Choice of host urchin is not based on camouflage in the caridean shrimp Gnathophylloides mineri. Acta Ethologica 12:105-113.
• Maciá, S. and MP Robinson (2009) [4] Growth rates of the tropical sea urchins Tripneustes ventricosus and Lytechinus variegatus based on natural recruitment events. Carib. J. Sci. 45(1): 64-68
• Maciá, S, MP Robinson (2008) [5] Habitat-dependent growth in a Caribbean sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus: the importance of food type. Helgoland Mar. Res. 62(4): 303-308.
• Maciá, S, MP Robinson, A Nalevanko (2007) [6] Experimental dispersal of recovering Diadema antillarum increases grazing intensity and reduces macroalgal abundance on a coral reef. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 348: 173-182.
• Maciá, S, MP Robinson (2005) [7] Effects of habitat heterogeneity in seagrass beds on grazing patterns of parrotfishes. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 303: 113-121.
• Maciá, S, MP Robinson, P Craze, R Dalton, and JD Thomas (2004) [8] New observations on airborne jet propulsion (flight) in squid with a review of previous reports. J. Molluscan Studies 70(3): 309-311.
• Prince, JS, WG LeBlanc, and S Maciá (2004) [9] Design and analysis of multiple choice feeding preference data. Oecologia 138(1): 1-4.
• Lirman, D. B Orlando, S Maciá, D Manzello, L Kaufman, P Biber and T Jones (2003) [10] Coral communities of Biscayne Bay, Florida and adjacent offshore areas: Diversity, abundance, distribution, and environmental correlates. Aq. Conserv. 13: 121-135.
• Irlandi, E, B Orlando, S Maciá, P Biber, T Jones, L Kaufman, D Lirman, and E Patterson (2002) [11] The influence of freshwater runoff on biomass, morphometrics, and production of Thalassia testudinum. Aq. Bot. 72(1): 67-78.
• Maciá, S (2000) [12] The role of sea urchin grazing and drift algal blooms in the community ecology of a subtropical seagrass bed. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 246: 53-67.
• Maciá, S and D Lirman (1999) [13] Destruction of Florida Bay seagrasses by a grazing front of sea urchins. Bull. Mar. Sci. 65: 593-601.