Publications

Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postdoctoral Authors

2023

• McClain, C.R., Boolukos, C.M., Bryant, S.R., Hanks, G. 2023 Sunken trees in the deep sea link terrestrial and marine biodiversity.  in review
• Hanks, G., Clay, N.A., Herrman, M., Nunnally, C., Bryant, S.R., and McClain, C.R. Disentangling the drivers of the species-area relationship—effects of area, energy, and dispersal limitation. in review
• McClain, C.R., Bryant, S.R., Hanks, G., and Brynes, J. 2023. Species-Energy Relationships Are Maintained Through Multiple Processes Underlying Species-Abundance Relationships. in review
• McClain, C.R., Hanks, G., Bryant, S.R., Hatch, A., Manlick, P., Newsome, S., Nunnally, C., Rouse, G. Romano, C., and Whiteman J. Functional Diversity and Non-Random Assembly Connect Diversity and Ecosystem Function on the Bottom of the Ocean. in review.

2022

• Bryant, S.R. and McClain, C.R. 2022. Functional space expansion driven by transitions between advantageous traits across a deep-sea energetic gradient. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B. 289:20221302
• Bryant, S.R.. and McClain, C.R. 2022. Energetic constraints on body-size niches of deep-sea bivalves. Biology Letters. 18:20220112
• Bryant, S.R. and McClain, C.R. 2022. The macrofaunal metropolis formed in the sediments around the first-ever deep-sea alligator fall. Marine Ecology. e12707.
• McClain, C.R., Bryant, S.R., Hanks, G., and Bowles, M. 2022. Extremophiles in Earth’s Deep Seas: A View Toward Life in Exo-Oceans. Astrobiology.22:1009-1028
• Bell, K.L.C., Chow, J.S, Hope, A., Quinzin, M.C., Cantner, K.A., Amon. D/J., Cramp, J.E., Rotjan, R.D., Kamalu, L., de Vos, A., Talma, S., Buglass, S., Wade, V., Filander, Z. Noyes, K., Lynch, M, Knight, A., Lourenço, M, Girguis P.R., de Sousa, J.B., Blake, C., Kennedy B.R.C., Noyes, T.J., McClain, C.R. 2022. Low-Cost, Deep-Sea Imaging and Analysis Tools for Deep-Sea Exploration: A Collaborative Design Study. Frontiers in Marine Science. 9: 10.3389/fmars.2022.873700
• Cooke, R., Gearty, W., Chapman, A.S.A., Dunic, J., Edgar, G.J., Lefcheck, J.S., Rilov, G., McClain, C.R., Stuart-Smith, R.D., Lyons, S.K., and Bates, A.E. 2022. Anthropogenic disruptions to longstanding patterns of trophic-size structure in vertebrates. Nature Ecology & Evolution. 6: 684-692
• Dove, A.D.M., Meekan, M.G., McClain, C.R. 2022. How and Why Is the Whale Shark the World’s Largest Fish? Whale Sharks Biology, Ecology, and Conservation
• Rowat, D., Robinson, D.P., Dove, A.D.M., Aranjo, G., Coco, C., Clauss, T., Dearden, P., Grace, M.K., Green, J.R., Hearn, A.R., Holmberg, J., Hoopes, L., Matsumoto, R., McClain, C.R., Meekan, M.G., Murakumo, K., Norman, B., Nozu, R., Pardo, S.A., Peele, E.E., Penaherrera-Palma, C., Perry, C., Prebble, C.E.M., Reynolds, S., Roman, M., Rohner, C.A., Sato, K., Schmidt, J.V., Schreiber, C., Sequeira, A.M.M., Womersly, F., Yanagisawa, M., Yopak, K.E., Ziegler, J., Pierce, S.J. 2022. Outstanding Questions in Whale Shark Research and Conservation. Whale Sharks Biology, Ecology, and Conservation

2021

• Ingels, J., Amon, D., Bernardino, A.F., Bhadury, P., Bik, H., Clark, M.R., Dahlgren, T., Jones, D.O.B., McClain, C.R., Nunnally, C., Snelgrove, P., Tuhumwire, J.T., Yasuhara, M. 2021. Chapter 7M Abyssal Plains, in The Second Global Integrated Marine Assessment: World Ocean Assessment II (United Nations, New York), Vol I, p 453-476.
• Gaskins, L.C. and McClain, C.R. 2021. Visible name changes promote inequity for transgender researchers. PLoS Biology. 19(3): e3001104.
• McClain, C.R. 2021. The commonness of rarity in deep-sea taxon. Oikos. 130: 863-878.
• Howell, K.L., Hilario, A., Allcock, A.L., Bailey, D., Baker, M., Clark, M.R., Colaco, A., Copley, J., Cordes, E., Danovaro, R., Dissanayake, A., Escobar-Briones, Esquete, P., Gallagher, A., Gates, A.R., Gaudron, S.M., German, C., Gjerde, K., Higgs, N.D., Le Bris, N., Levin, L.A., Manea, E., McClain, C.R., Menot, L., Mestre, N.C., Metaxas, A., Milligan, R.J., Muthumbi, A.W., Narayanaswamy, B.E., Ramalho, S., Ramirez-Llodra, E., Robson, L., Rogers, A.D., Sellanes, J., Sigwart, J.D., Sink, K.J., Snelgrove, P.V.R., Stefanoudis, P.V., Sumida, P.Y., Taylor, M.L., Thurber, A.R., Vieira, R., Watanabe, H.K., Woodall, L.C., and Xavier, J.R.. 2021. A decade to study deep-sea life. Nature Ecology & Evolution.5:265-267

2020

• Danovaro, R., E. Fanelli, J. Aguzzi, D. Billett, L. Carugati, C. Corinaldesi, A. Dell’Anno, K. Gjerde, A. J. Jamieson, S. Kark, C. R. McClain, L. Levin, N. Levin, E. Ramirez-Llodra, H. Ruhl, C. R. Smith, P. V. R. Snelgrove, L. Thomsen, C. L. Van Dover, and M. Yasuhara. 2020. Ecological variables for developing a global deep-ocean monitoring and conservation strategy. Nature Ecology & Evolution 4, 181–192.
• McClain, C.R., T. Webb, C.C. Nunnally, S.R. Dixon, S. Finnegan, J.A. Nelson. 2020. Metabolic niches and biodiversity: A test case in the deep-sea benthos. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7: 216
• Nunnally, C.C., Benfield, M.C., and McClain, C.R.. 2020. Trait-based diversity of deep-sea benthic megafauna communities near the Deepwater Horizon oil spill site. Marine Ecology. e12611
• Howell, K.L., Hilario, A., Allcock, A.L., Bailey, D., Baker, M., Clark, M.R., Colaco, A., Copley, J., Cordes, E., Danovaro, R., Dissanayake, A., Escobar-Briones, E.G., Garrote, P.E., Gallagher, A., Gates, A.R., Gaudron, S.M., German, C., Gjerde, K., Higgs, N.D., Le Bris, N., Levin, L.A., Manea, E., McClain, C.R., Menot, L., Mestre, N.C., Metaxas, A., Milligan, R.J., Muthumbi, A.W., Narayanaswamy, B.E., Ramalho, S., Ramirez-Llodra, E., Robson, L., Rogers, A.D., Sellanes, J., Sigwart, J.D., Sink, K.J., Snelgrove, P.V.R., Stefanoudis, P.V., Sumida, P.Y., Taylor, M.L., Thurber, A.R., Vieira, R., Watanabe, H.K., Woodall, L.C., and Xavier, J.R., 2020. A blueprint for an inclusive, global deep-sea Ocean Decade field programme. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7:584861
• Schwing, P., Montagna, P. A., Joye, S.B., Paris, C.B., Cordes, E., McClain, C.R., Kilborn, J.P., and Murawski, S.A. 2020. A Synthesis of Deep Benthic Faunal Impacts and Resilience following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Frontiers in Marine Science. 7:560012.

2019

• McClain, C.R., C.C. Nunnally, S.r. Dixon, G.W. Rouse, M. Benfield. 2019. Alligators in the abyss: The first experimental reptilian food fall in the deep ocean. PLoS One 14: e6795.
• McClain, C. R., C. L. Nunnally, and M. C. Benfield. 2019. Persistent and substantial impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on deep-sea megafauna. Royal Society Open Science. 6:191164
• Saulsbury, J., D. K. Moss, L. C. Ivany, M. Kowalewski, D. R. Lindberg, J. F. Gillooly, N. A. Heim, C. R. McClain, J. L. Payne, P. D. Roopnarine, B. R. Schone, D. Goodwin, and S. Finnegan. 2019. Evaluating the influences of temperature, primary production, and evolutionary history on bivalve growth rates. Paleobiology 45:405-420
• McClain, C. R. 2019. Likes, comments, and shares of marine organism imagery on Facebook. PeerJ 7:e6795

2018

• McClain, C. R., C. L. Nunnally, A. Chapman, and J. Barry. 2018. Energetic increases lead to richness increases through niche space expansion and packing. Biology Letters 14:20180294
• McClain, C. R., N. A. Heim, M. L. Knope, and J. L. Payne. 2018. Is biodiversity energy-limited or unbounded? A test in fossil and modern bivalves. Paleobiology 44:385-401
• McClain, C. R., J. P. Barry, and T. J. Webb. (2018). Increased energy differentially increases richness and abundance of optimal body sizes in deep-sea wood falls. Ecology 99:184-195.
• Gearty, W., J. L. Payne, and C. R. McClain. 2018. Energetic tradeoffs control the size distribution of aquatic mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. online early.

2017

• Webb, T. J., J. P. Barry, and C. R. McClain. (2017). Abundance-occupancy relationships in deep-sea wood-fall communities. Ecography 40:1339-1347.
• Uyeda, J. C., M. W. Pennell, E. T. Miller, R. Maia, and C. R. McClain. (2017). The evolution of energetic scaling across the vertebrate tree of life. American Naturalist 190:185-199.
• McClain, C. R., J. Conover, J. Conover, B. J. Roberts, and V. Schutte. (2017). Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON). Limnology and Oceanography Bulletin online early.
• McClain, C. R. (2017). Practices and promises of Facebook for science outreach: Becoming a ‘nerd of trust’ PloS Biology 15:e2002020.

2016

• Stuart, C. T., S. Brault, G. T. Rowe, C.-L. Wei, M. Wagstaff, C. R. McClain, and M. A. Rex. (2016). Nestedness and species replacement along bathymetric gradients in the deep sea reflect productivity: a test with polychaete assemblages in the oligotrophic north-west Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Biogeography 44:548-555.
• Smith, F.A., J.L. Payne, M. Balk, S. Finnegan, N.A. Heim, M. Kowalewski, S.K. Lyons, C.R. McClain, D.W. McShea, P.M. Novack-Gottshall, P.A. Spaeth Anich and S.C. Wang (2016) Body size evolution across the Geozoic. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 44:523–53
• McClain, C.R., P. Barry, D. Eernisse, T. Horton, J. Judge, K. Kakui, C. Mah, and A. Warén (2016) Multiple processes generate productivity-diversity relationships in experimental wood-fall communities. Ecology 97: 885–898

2015

• Nunn, C.L., S.C. Alberts, C.R. McClain, S. Meshnick, T.J. Vison, B.M. Weigmann, A.G. Rodrigo (2015) Linking Evolution, Ecology, and Health: TriCEM. Bioscience, 8;748-749
• McClain, C.R. and M.A. Rex (2015) Toward a conceptual understanding of beta-diversity in the deep-sea benthos. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 46:623-642
• Orzechowski, E., R. Lockwood, J. Byrnes, S. Anderson, S. Finnegan, P. Harnik, Z.V. Finkel, D. Lindberg, L. Liow, H. Lotze, C.R. McClain, J. McGuire, A. O’Dea, J. Pandolfi, C. Simpson, and D. Tittensor (2015) Marine extinction risk shaped by trait-environment interactions over 500 million years. Global Change Biology, 10:3595–3607
• Finnegan, S., S.C. Anderson, P.G. Harnik, C. Simpson, D.P. Tittensor, J.E. Byrnes, Z.V. Finkel, D.R. Lindberg, L.H. Liow, R. Lockwood, H. Lotze, C.R. McClain, J.L. McGuire, A. O’Dean, and J.M. Pandolfi (2015) Paleontological baselines for evaluating extinction risk in the modern oceans. Science 348:567-570
• McClain, C.R. and T. Schlacher (2015) On some hypotheses of diversity of animal life at great depths on the seafloor. Marine Ecology 36:849-872
• Bik, H.M., A.D.M. Dove, M.C. Goldstein, R. Helm, R. MacPherson, K. Martini, A. Warneke, C.R. McClain (2015) Ten simple rules for effective online outreach. PLOS Computational Biology 11:e1003906
• McClain, C.R., M.A. Balk, M.C. Benfield, T.A. Branch, C. Chen, J. Cosgrove, A. Dove, R.R. Helm, F.G.E. Hochberg, L.C. Gaskins, F.B. Lee, S.E. McMurray, C. Schanche, S.N. Stone, and A.D. Thaler (2015) Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna. Peer J, 2:e715
• Martin, L.J., R.R. Dunn, R. Adams, A. Bateman, H.M. Bik, J. Hawks, S. Hird, D. Hughes, S. Kembel, K. Kinney, S.-O. Kolokotronis, C. Levy, C.R. McClain, J.F. Meadow, R. Medina, G. Mhuireach, C. Moreau, J. Munshi-South, C. Palmer, L. Popova, C. Schal, M. Taubel, M. Trautwein, J. Ugalde, (2015) Evolution of the indoor biomeTrends in Ecology and Evolution 30:223-232
• McClain C.R. and L. Lundsten (2015) Assemblage structure is related to slope and depth on a deep offshore Pacific seamount chain. Marine Ecology 36:210-220
• McClain, C.R. and L. Neeley (2015) A critical evaluation of science outreach via social media: its role and impact on scientists. Faculty of 1000 Research 3:300

2014

• McClain, C.R., R. Filler, and J.R. Auld (2014) Does energy availability predicts diversity in gastropod reproductive strategies? Proceedings of the Royal Society, B 281:20140400
• McClain, C.R. and J. Barry (2014) Beta-diversity on deep-sea wood falls reflects gradients in energy availability. Biology Letters 10:20140129
• Payne, J., N. Heim, M. Knope, C.R. McClain (2014) Metabolic dominance of bivalves predates brachiopod diversity decline by 200 million years. Proceedings of the Royal Society, B 281:20133122

2013

• Brault, S., C.T. Stuart, M.C. Wagstaff, C.R. McClain, J.A. Allen, M.A. Rex (2013) Contrasting patterns of α- and β-diversity in deep-sea bivalves of the eastern and western North Atlantic. Deep-Sea Research II 92:157-164
• Rodrigo A., S. Alberts, K. Cranston, J. Kingsolver, H. Lapp, R. McClain, R. Smith, T. Vision, J. Weintraub, and B. Weigmann (2013) Science Incubators: Synthesis Centers and Their Role in the Research Ecosystem. PLoS Biology 11: e1001468
• McClain, C.R., P.A.P. Durst, A.G. Boyer, and C.D. Francis (2013) Unraveling the determinants of insular body size shifts. Biology Letters 9:1-3

2012

• Payne, J.L., F.A. Smith, M. Kowalewski, R.A. Krause, A.G. Boyer, C.R. McClain, S. Finnegan, P.M. Novack-Gottshall, and L. Sheble (2012) A lack of attribution: closing the citation gap through a reform of citation and indexing practices. Taxon. Online early
• Thaler, A.D., K.A. Zelnio, A. Freitag, R. MacPherson, D. Shiffman, H. Bik, M.C. Goldstein, and C.R. McClain (2012). Digital Environmentalism: Tools and strategies for the evolving online ecosystem. In D. Gallagher (ed.) Environmental Leadership: A Reference Handbook.SAGE Reference
• Harnik, P.G., H.K. Lotze, S.C. Anderson, Z.V. Finkel, S. Finnegan, D.R. Lindberg, L.H. Liow, R. Lockwood, C.R. McClain, J.L. McGuire, A. O’Dea, J.M. Pandolfi, C. Simpson, and D.P. Tittensor (2012) Extinctions in ancient and modern seas. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 27:608-617
• McClain, C.R., A.P. Allen, D.P. Tittensor, and M.A. Rex (2012) The Energetics of Life on the Deep Seafloor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A. 38:15366-15371
• McClain, C.R., P. Unmack, J. Jackson-Ricketts, and T. Gullet (2012). Increased Energy Promotes Size-Based Niche Availability in Marine Mollusks. Evolution 66:2204-2215
• McClain, C.R., J.C. Stegen, and A.H. Hurlbert (2012) Dispersal, Niche Dynamics, and Oceanic Patterns in Beta-Diversity in Deep-Sea Bivalves. Proceeding of the Royal Society, B 22:1993-2002

2011

• Kowalewski, M., J.L. Payne, F.A. Smith, S.C. Wang, D.W. McShea, S. Xiao, P.M. Novack-Gottshall, C.R. McClain, R.A. Krause, A.G. Boyer, S. Finnegan, S.K. Lyons, J.A. Stempien, J. Alroy, and P.A. Spaeth (2011) The Geozoic Supereon. Paleos 26:251-255
• Tittensor, D.P., M.A. Rex, C.T. Stuart, C.R. McClain, and C.R. Smith (2011) Species-energy relationships in deep-sea mollusks, Biology Letters, 7:718-722
• McClain, C.R., J.Nekola, L.Kuhnz, and J. Barry (2011) Local-scale faunal turnover on the deep Pacific floor. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 442:193-200
• Finnegan, S., C.R. McClain, M.A. Kosnik, and J.L. Payne (2011) Escargot through time: an energetic comparison of marine gastropod assemblages before and after the Mesozoic Marine Revolution. Paleobiology, 37:252-269
• Payne, J.L., C.R. McClain, A.G. Boyer, J.H. Brown, S. Finnegan, M. Kowalewski, R.A. Krause Jr., S.K. Lyons, D.W. McShea, P.M. Novack-Gottshall, F.A. Smith, J.A. Stempien, and S.C. Wang (2011) The evolutionary consequences of oxygenic photosynthesis: a body size perspective. Photosynthesis Research, 107:37-57

2010

• Rex, M.A., C.T. Stuart, R.J. Etter, and C.R. McClain (2010) Biogeography of the deep-sea gastropod Oocorys sulcata Fischer 1884. Journal of Conchology 40: 287-290
• McClain, C.R. and S. Hardy (2010) The dynamics of biogeographic ranges in the deep sea. Proceeding of the Royal Society, B, 277:3533-3546
• McClain, C.R., L. Lundsten, J. Barry, and A. DeVogelaere (2010) Assemblage structure, but not diversity or density, change with depth on a northeast Pacific seamount. Marine Ecology, 31:1-12
• McClain, C.R. and Barry, J.P (2010) Habitat heterogeneity, biogenic disturbance, and resource availability work in concert to regulate biodiversity in deep submarine canyons. Ecology, 91:964-976

2009

• McClain, C.R.,A. Rex, and R.J. Etter. (2009) Macroecological Patterns in the Deep Sea. In Marine Marcoecology. Eds. K. Roy and J. Whitman. University of Chicago Press
• Lundsten, L., C.R. McClain, J.P. Barry, G.M. Caillet, D.A. Clague, A. DeVogelaere, and J.B. Geller (2009) Ichthyofauna on three seamounts off southern and central California. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 398:223-232
• McClain, C.R. and A.G. Boyer (2009) Biodiversity and body size are linked across metazoans. Proceedings of Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276: 2209-2215 [Highlighted by Faculty of 1000]
• McClain, C.R., L. Lundsten, M. Ream, J. Barry, and A. DeVogelaere (2009) Endemicity, Biogeography, Composition, and Community Structure On a Northeast Pacific Seamount. PLoS One, 4:e4141
• Payne, J.L., A.G. Boyer, J.H. Brown, S. Finnegan, M. Kowalewski, R.A. Krause Jr., S.K. Lyons, C.R. McClain, D.W. McShea, P.M. Novack-Gottshall, F.A. Smith, J.A. Stempien, and S.C. Wang (2009) Two-phase increase in the maximum size of life over 3.5 billion years reflects biological innovation and environmental opportunity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, U.S.A., 1:24-27 [Highlighted by Faculty of 1000]

2008

• McClain, C.R. and J.C. Nekola (2008) The role of local-scale process on terrestrial and deep-sea gastropod body size distributions across multiple scales. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 10:129-146

2007

• McClain, C.R. (2007). Guest Editorial: Seamounts: Identity Crisis or Split Personality? Journal of Biogeography, 34:2001-2008
• Johnson, N.A., M.A. Rex, J.W. Campbell, C.R. McClain, T.S. Moore, and M.D. Dowell (2007) The relationship between the standing stock of deep-sea macrobenthos and surface production in the western North Atlantic. Deep-Sea Research, 54:1350-1360
• McClain, C.R., E.P. White, and A.H. Hurlbert (2007) Challenges in the application of geometric constraint models. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 16:257-264

2006

• Rex, M.A., R.J. Etter, J.S. Morris, J. Crouse, C.R. McClain, N.A. Johnson, C.T. Stuart, R. Thies, R. Avery (2006) Global bathymetric patterns of standing stock and body size in the deep-sea benthos. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 317:1-8 [featured article]
• McClain, C.R. and J. Crouse (2006) The influence of ecological role on bathymetric patterns of deep-sea species: size clines in parasitic gastropods. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 320:161-167
• McClain, C.R., A. Boyer, G. Rosenberg (2006) The island rule and the evolution of body size in the deep sea. Journal of Biogeography, 33:1578-1584 [featured article]

2005

• McClain, C.R., (2005) Bathymetric patterns of morphological disparity in deep-sea gastropods from the western North Atlantic Basin. Evolution, 59:1492-1499
• McClain, C.R., M.A. Rex, and R. Jabbour. (2005) Deconstructing bathymetric patterns of body size in deep-sea gastropods. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 297:181-187
• Rex, M.A., C.R. McClain, N.A. Johnson, R.J. Etter, J.A. Allen, P. Bouchet, A. Warén (2005) A source-sink hypothesis for abyssal biodiversity. American Naturalist, 165:163-178 [Am. Nat. Highlight Paper of 2005]
• McClain, C.R., and Etter, R.J. (2005) Mid-domain models as predictors of species diversity patterns: a case study using bathymetric diversity gradients in the deep sea. Oikos, 109:555-566

2004

• McClain, C.R. (2004) Connecting species richness, abundance, and body size in deep-sea gastropods. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 13: 327-334
• McClain, C.R., M.A. Rex, and N. Johnson (2004) Morphological disparity as a biodiversity metric in lower bathyal and abyssal gastropod assemblages. Evolution, 58:338-348

2013

• Linse, K., M. Schrödl, C.R. McClain, and L. Allcock (2003) Mollusca in the Antarctic deep sea-preliminary notes on their taxonomy, biogeography, and diversity. Reports on Polar and Marine Research (ANDEEP I & II: Antarctic benthic deep-sea biodiversity). 470:95-101

2001

• McClain, C.R., M. Fougerolle, M.A. Rex, and J. Welch. (2001) MOCNESS estimates of thesSize and abundance of a pelagic Gonostomatid fish (Cyclothone pallida) off the Bahamas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 81:869-871
• McClain, C.R. and Rex, M.A. (2001) The relationship between dissolved oxygen concentration and maximum size in deep-sea Turrid gastropods: an application of quantile regression. Marine Biology, 139: 681-685