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Dr. L. Kellie Dixon

Senior Scientist Emeritus

Emeritus Senior Scientists

Today's Research for Tomorrow's Oceans
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Contact:

lkdixon@mote.org

Biography:

Dr. L. Kellie Dixon retired in July 2018.

Dr. L. Kellie Dixon is the Manager of both the Chemical and Physical Ecology and the Ocean Technology Programs. She has over 36 years of experience in interpretation of water and sediment data from the rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters of Florida. Presently, in joint work with the State of Florida FWC-FWRI, she is a principal investigator of precursor and bloom event nutrient regimes associated with blooms of the red tide, Karenia brevis, as well as managing the routine and bloom-event sampling of the physical and biological conditions of the SW Florida coastal waters as sampled by autonomous underwater vehicles and Optical Phytoplankton Discriminators (OPD). Her work also includes the development and application of empirical optical models for the determination of seagrass light requirements, development of fluorescent algorithms for detection of anthropogenic chemicals, measurements of sediment nutrient flux and porewater concentrations, salinity regression modeling, studies of springs, rivers and near shore coastal waters using rapid surveys for submerged aquatic vegetation, GIS change analyses of vegetation in response to a coastal algal bloom, and analyses and interpretation of water quality data. She is experienced in the evaluations of large water, sediment, and biological data sets for impacts assessment, spatial and temporal trend detection, or determination of environmental requirements and has conducted the compilation, quality review, reduction, and graphical and statistical analysis of large data sets consisting of hyperspectral data, flow records, physical and water quality data, atmospheric deposition, phytoplankton and fishery abundance data.

Education:

Ph.D. Chemical Oceanography, University of South Florida
B.S. Chemistry, Emory University

Elsie and William Knight, Jr., Endowed Fellowship, University of South Florida (USF), St. Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg Progress Endowed Fellowship in Coastal Science, USF National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Paul L. Getting Memorial Endowed Fellowship, USF

Current Publications

Emily R. Hall, L. Kellie Dixon, Gary Kirkpatrick, Ari Nissanka, Brad Pederson (2023). Phytoplankton communities of the west coast of Florida – multiyear and seasonal responses to nutrient enrichment. Harmful Algae, 130, 102547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2023.102547

Additional Publications

Dixon, L.K. 1996. Literature Compilation and Data Synthesis for Atmospheric Deposition to the Tampa Bay Watershed. Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report No 08-96. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 486. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. 1999. Establishing light requirements for the seagrass Thalassia testudinum: An example for Tampa Bay. In: Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management, S.A. Bortone (ed.). CRC Press, LLC.

Dixon, L.K. 1999. Establishing light requirements for the seagrass Thalassia testudinum: An example for Tampa Bay. In: Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management, S.A. Bortone (ed.). CRC Press, LLC. Dixon, L.K. 2003. Red Tide Bloom Dynamics with respect to Rainfall and Riverine Flow. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 795. Sarasota, FL. Submitted to the Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. 2003. Water Quality Trend Analyses of the Saline Waters of Southwest Florida: 1960-2002. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 919. Sub. to the Sarasota Bay NEP. Dixon, L.K. 2009. Tracing Anthropogenic Wastes: Detection of Fluorescent Optical Brighteners in a Gradient of Natural Organic Matter Fluorescence. Doctoral Dissertation, University of South Florida.

Dixon, L.K. US Patent # 8269192. Method and apparatus for determining the presence of optical brighteners in water samples., Issued September 18, 2012.

Dixon, L.K. 1999. Establishing light requirements for the seagrass Thalassia testudinum: An example for Tampa Bay. In: Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management, S.A. Bortone (ed.). CRC Press, LLC.

Dixon, L.K. 2008. Optical brighteners: PARAFAC analyses of EEM fluorescence data for the conceptual design of field instrumentation and methods. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report #1316. Sarasota, FL: Mote Marine Laboratory.

Dixon, L.K. 2008. Optical brighteners: PARAFAC analyses of EEM fluorescence data for the conceptual design of field instrumentation and methods. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report #1316. Sarasota, FL: Mote Marine Laboratory.

Dixon, L.K. 2009. Tracing anthropogenic wastes: Detection of Optical Brighteners in a gradient of natural organic matter fluorescence. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of South Florida.

Dixon, L.K. 2010. Review and recommendations for Charlotte Harbor PAR data, October 2008-May 2010. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWIM). Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 1499. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. 2013. Salinity regression modeling: Novel flow weighting and use for biological evaluations in the Myakka River. Florida Scientist 76(2): 229-240.

Dixon, L.K. and C. Buehler. 2007. Evaluation of EEM Methodology for Detection of OSTDS Effluent in Ambient Surface Waters: Final Report. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report # 1187. Sarasota, FL: Mote Marine Laboratory.

Dixon, L.K. and C. Buehler. 2008. PARAFAC model development of EEM data for the University of South Florida. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report #1254. Sarasota, FL: Mote Marine Laboratory.

Dixon, L.K. and E.D. Estevez. 2000. Reservoirs of Nitrogen and Phosphorus across a Multiple Source, Nitrogen-enriched, Estuarine Gradient. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report, Sarasota, FL. Submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Air Quality Division. Dixon, L.K. and G.J. Kirkpatrick. 1995. Light attenuation with respect to seagrasses in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 407. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. and G.J. Kirkpatrick. 1999. Causes of light attenuation with respect to seagrasses in Upper and Lower Charlotte Harbor. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWIM) and Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 650. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. and J.R. Leverone. 1995. Light requirements of Thalassia testudinum in Tampa Bay, Florida. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWIM). Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 425. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K. and K. A. Steidinger. 2004. Correlation of Karenia brevis presence in the eastern Gulf of Mexico with rainfall and riverine flow. In: Steidinger, K. A., J. H. Landsberg, C. R. Tomas and G. A. Vargo (eds.), Harmful Algae 2002. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Institute of Oceanography, and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, pp. 29-31.

Dixon, L.K., 1996. Literature Compilation and Data Synthesis for Atmospheric Deposition to the Tampa Bay Watershed. Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report No 08-96. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 486. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K., 1999. Establishing light requirements for the seagrass Thalassia testudinum: An example for Tampa Bay. In: Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management, S.A. Bortone (ed.). CRC Press, LLC. 

Dixon, L.K., and A.J. Adams. 2010. Water quality and the fish assemblages of mangrove creeks: A snapshot study shows challenges in assessment of coastal zone management strategies. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 1455. Sub. to the Charlotte Harbor NEP.

Dixon, L.K., and E.D. Estevez. 1997. Biogeochemical Indicators of Trophic Status in a Relatively Undisturbed Shallow Water Estuary. Sub. to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dixon, L.K., and E.D. Estevez. 1998. Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge status and trends: a report. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 579. Sub. to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Dixon, L.K., and E.D. Estevez. 2000. Reservoirs of Nitrogen and Phosphorus across a Multiple Source, Nitrogen-enriched, Estuarine Gradient. Mote Marine Laboratory. Sub. to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dixon, L.K., and J.S. Perry. 2003. Analysis of changes in seagrass coverage, 1996-1999 and 1999-2001, for Anna Maria Sound, Sarasota, Roberts, Little Sarasota, and Blackburn Bays. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 920. Sub. to the Sarasota Bay NEP.

Dixon, L.K., E.R. Hall, and G.J. Kirkpatrick 2010. A spectrally explicit optical model of attenuation for Charlotte Harbor seagrasses. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 1460. Sub. to the Charlotte Harbor NEP. Dixon, L.K., E.R. Hall, M.E. Whelan, R.H. pierce, and G.J. Kirkpatrick. 2005. Year 1: A spatially intense nutrient survey of Charlotte Harbor during the 2005 wet season: Contract W912HZ-05-C-0044. Report to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 1067

Dixon, L.K., G.A. Vargo, J.O.R. Johansson, and R.T. Montgomery, M.B. Neely. 2009. Trends and explanatory variables in major phytoplankton groups for two southwestern Florida estuaries, U.S.A. Journal of Sea Research 61: 95-102 Dixon, L.K., M.G. Heyl, and S. Murray. 1998. Interpretation of bulk atmospheric deposition and stormwater quality data in the Tampa Bay Region. Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report no 04-98. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report no 602. 70 p. and appendices.

Dixon, L.K., S. Murray, J.S. Perry, P.J. Minotti, M.S. .Henry, and R.H. Pierce. 1996. Assessment of Bulk Atmospheric Deposition to the Tampa Bay Watershed. Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report No 08-96. Mote Marine Laboratory Technical Report No. 488. Sarasota, FL.

Dixon, L.K., S. Murray, J.S. Perry, P.J. Minotti, M.S. Henry, and R.H. Pierce. 1996. Assessment of Bulk Atmospheric Deposition to the Tampa Bay Watershed. Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report No 08-96. Mote Marine Laboratory Tech.Report No. 488. Sarasota, FL.

Estevez, E.D., L.K. Dixon, and M.S. FLannery. 1991. West Coast Rivers of Peninsular Florida. In: The Rivers of Florida. Ecological studies, v. 83. Springer-Verlag, New York. With E.D. Estevez and M.J. Flannery Hall, E.R., B.A. Pederson, L.K. Dixon, and G.J. Kirkpatrick. 2009. Patterns in community structure of phytoplankton in relation to environmental data in Sarasota Bay. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 1417. Sub. to the Sarasota Bay NEP.

Lowrey, S., L.K. Dixon, P. Sherblom, M.G. Heyl. 1993. Water and Sediment Quality: Trends and Status for Sarasota Bay. Mote Marine Laboratory No. 254. Sub. to the Sarasota Bay NEP.

Vargo, G. A., C. A. Heil, D. N. Ault, M. B. Neely, S. Murasko, J. Havens, K. Lester, L.K. Dixon, R. Merkt, J. Walsh, R. Weisberg and K. A. Steidinger. 2004. Four Karenia brevis blooms: A comparative analysis. In: Steidinger, K. A., J. H. Landsberg, C. R. Tomas and G. A. Vargo (eds.), Harmful Algae 2002. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Institute of Oceanography, and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, pp. 14-16.

Vargo, G.A., C. A. Heil, K. Fanning, L.K. Dixon, M.B. Neely, K. Lester, D. Ault, S. Murasko, J. Havens, J. Walsh, and S. Bell. 2008. Nutrient Availability in support of Karenia brevis blooms on the central West Florida Shelf: What keep Karenia blooming? Continental Shelf Research 28(1): 73-98.