Steven Saul
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Phone: 480-965-6534
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Wanner Hall 6073 S. Backus Mall Mesa, AZ 85212
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Mail code: 2780Campus: Poly
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Dr. Steven Saul is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. He received his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries and master’s in marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. His undergraduate studies were in environmental science and music at the University of Richmond. Dr. Saul’s research applies an interdisciplinary systems-based approach to understanding tropical marine resource dynamics, the ways that humans use these resources, and the feedback between humans and the natural system. This approach identifies solutions that improve the management of marine resource sustainability while preserving food security, economic sustainability, and maintaining cultural ways of life for coastal communities. Quantitative and qualitative tools, including statistical, equation-based, and agent-based modeling, remote sensing and geographical information systems, behavioral economics, anthropological interviews, and field data collection help achieve this goal. Dr. Saul has developed scientific products for policy guidance in collaboration with international and domestic government agencies, intergovernmental bodies, not-for-profit organizations, for profit companies, and coastal communities of various sizes ranging from small remote villages to large commercial operations in countries throughout the tropics, as well as the United States. Dr. Saul is a voting member of the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council’s Science and Statistical Committee, where he peer reviews fisheries research and translates scientific findings into policy recommendations. Dr. Saul also serves as a reviewer for several peer review journals, and on the editorial board of Frontiers in Marine Science. Outside of work, Dr. Saul enjoys scuba diving, snorkeling, gardening, hiking, mountain biking, playing the piano, and most importantly, spending time with his family.
- Ph.D. Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science 2012
- M.A. Marine Affairs and Policy, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science 2006
- B.S. Environmental Studies and Music, University of Richmond, Virginia 2004
Steve is a quantitative marine ecologist who applies a systems-based approach to natural resource management using tools such as statistical models, agent-based models, remote sensing, mapping, geographical information systems, spatial statistics, and field data collection. A system’s-based approach to ecology looks at ecosystems as one complex system composed of many interacting parts, including an explicit representation of the human dimension. As these parts interact with one another, patterns and properties emerge, which can be used to help inform policy development and decision-making. Steve’s work is highly interdisciplinary, applied, engages multiple stakeholder groups, and is used to advise the development of policies that balance ecological and socioeconomic sustainability.
Wibisono, E., D. Dimarchopoulou, S. Saul, P. Carvalho, A. Nugraha, P.J. Mous, and A.T. Humphries. Accepted. Combining CPUE and SPR indicators to assess the Indonesian deep-slope demersal fisheries. Fisheries Research.
Madsen, J.K., Ekawaty, R., Ananthanarayanan, A., Bailey, R., Carrella, E., Dorsett, C., Drexler, M., Mous, P., Muawanah, U., and S. Saul. 2023. Understanding Fisher Behavior: the case of snapper fishers in Indonesia. Marine Resource Economics 38(1): 85-100.
Lu, X., S. Saul, and C. Jenkins. 2022. Statistical methods for predicting spatial abundance of reef fish species. Ecological Informatics 69: 101624.
Woodyard, M., B.A. Polidoro, C.W. Matson, R.A. McManamay, S. Saul, K.E. Carpenter, T.K. Collier, R. Di Giulio, R.D. Grubs, J.P. Incardona, C. Linardich, J.A. Moore, I.C. Romero, D. Schlenk, and K. Strongin. 2022. A comprehensive petrochemical vulnerability index for marine fishes in the Gulf of Mexico. Science of the Total Environment 821: 152892.
Strongin, K.R., A. Lancaster, B. Polidoro, A. Aguilar-Perera, P. González Diaz, J. González-Méndez, L. McKinney, H. Espinosa, P. Daniel Pech, D. Cobián Rojas, S. Saul, and S. Perera Valderrama. 2022. A proposal framework for tri-national agreement on biological conservation in the Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem. Marine Policy 139: 105041.
Ainsworth, C.H, E.P. Chassignet, D. French-McCay, C.J. Beegle-Krause, I. Berenshtein, J. Englehardt, T. Fiddaman, H. Huang, M. Huettel, D. Justic, V.H. Korafalu, Y. Liu, C. Mauritzen, S. Murawski, S. Morey, T. Ӧzgӧkmen, C.B. Paris, J. Ruzicka, S. Saul, J. Sheperd, S. Socolofsky, H. Solo Gabriele, T. Sutton, R.H. Weisberg, C. Wilson, L. Zheng, and Y. Zheng. 2021. Ten years of modeling the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ecological Modelling and Software 142: 105070.
Saul, S., E. Brooks, and D. Die. 2020. How fisher behavior affects stock assessment: insights from an agent-based modeling approach. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 77(11): 1749-1757.
Strongin, K., C. Linardich, B. Polidoro, S. Saul, G. Ralph, and K. Carpenter. 2020. Translating globally threatened species information into regional guidance for the Gulf of Mexico. Global Ecology and Conservation 23: e01010.
Burgess, M.G., M. Drexler, R.L. Axtell, R.M. Bailey, J.R. Watson, A. Ananthanaryanan, R. Cabral, E. Carrella, M. Clemence, C. Costello, C. Dorsett, S.D. Gaines, E.S. Klein, P. Koralus G. Leonard, S.A. Levin, L.R. Little, J. Lynham, J. Koed Madsen, A. Merkl, B. Owashi, S.L. Scott, S. Saul, I.E. van Putten, and S. Wilcox. 2020. Opportunities for agent-based modeling in human dimensions of fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 21: 570-587.
Carrella, E., S. Saul, M.G. Burgess, R.B. Cabrall, M. Drexler, K. Marshall, R.M. Bailey, C. Dorsett, and J.K. Madsen. 2020. Simple adaptive rules describe fishing behavior better than perfect rationality in the U.S. West Coast groundfish fishery. Ecological Economics 169: 106449.
Purkis, S., A.C.R. Gleason, C.R. Purkis, A.C. Dempsey, P. Renaud, M. Faisal, S. Saul, and J.M. Kerr. 2019. High-resolution habitat and bathymetry maps for 65,000 km2 of Earth’s remotest coral reefs – the Living Oceans Foundation Global Reef Expedition. Coral Reefs 38(3): 467-488.
Saul, S. and C. Capielo. 2019. Catch and release: the effectiveness of an educational class on anglers caught with fishing citations. Fisheries 44(2): 59-72.
Bailey, R., E. Carrella, R.L. Axtell, M.G. Burgess, R.B. Cabral, M. Drexler, C. Dorsett, J.K. Madsen, A. Merkl, and S. Saul. 2018. A computational approach to managing coupled human-environmental systems: the POSEIDON model of ocean fisheries. Sustainability Science, 14: 259-275.
Saul, S. and S. J. Pittman. 2017. Human ecology at sea: modeling and mapping human-seascape interactions. In: Seascape Ecology: Taking Landscape Ecology Into the Sea. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley and Sons.
Saul, S. and D. Die. 2016. Modeling the decision making behavior of fishers in the reef fish fishery on the West Coast of Florida. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 21(6): 567-586.
Saul, S. and S. Purkis. 2015. Semi-automated object-based classification of coral reef habitat using discrete choice models. Remote Sensing 7: 15894-15916.
Saul, S., D. Die., J.F. Walter III, D.F. Naar, and B.T. Donahue. 2013. Modeling the spatial distribution of commercially important reef fish on the West Florida Shelf. Fisheries Research 143: 12-20.
Saul, S., D. Die, E.N. Brooks, and K. Burns. 2012. An individual-based model of ontogenetic migration in reef fish using a biased random walk. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 141: 1439-1452.
- Fisheries assessment and management strategy evaluation.
- Model ensemble approaches to data poor fisheries assessment to capture process uncertainty when providing management advice.
- Developing agent-based models to understand the bidirectional feedbacks between human behavior and marine ecosystem dynamics to improve fisheries assessment and management outcomes.
- Understanding the linkages between the structure, spatial distribution, and health of coral reefs, their fish populations, and the fishing communities they support.
- Methods to determine the spatial distribution of fish abundance using habitat and field sampling data.
- Methodologies to improve the automation of satellite imagery processing and mapping for coral reefs.
Courses
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 598 | Special Topics |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
| ABS 494 | Special Topics |
| MAT 494 | Special Topics |
| SEA 394 | Special Topics |
| SEA 494 | Special Topics |
| SEA 598 | Special Topics |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 598 | Special Topics |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
| ABS 494 | Special Topics |
| MAT 494 | Special Topics |
| SEA 394 | Special Topics |
| SEA 494 | Special Topics |
| SEA 598 | Special Topics |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 500 | Research Methods |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 500 | Research Methods |
| ABS 394 | Special Topics |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 494 | Special Topics |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 593 | Applied Project |
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |
| ABS 500 | Research Methods |
2019 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ABS 370 | Ecology |
| ABS 592 | Research |
| ABS 599 | Thesis |