College of Veterinary Medicine

 

Education:

BS, Marine Science, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida 2000
Graduate coursework, University of South Florida, Tampa 2003-2004

Honors and Awards:

“Excellence in Science” nomination, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2005

US Fish and Wildlife Service Manatee Conservation Award, 2006

Atlantic Large whale Necropsy Team Leader (NTL), National Marine Fisheries Service, 2008

Research Interests:

My primary research involves the characterization of comparative vascular morphology in seals, manatees, and dolphins in an effort to better understand blood supply to and drainage from the brain. There may exist evidence of anatomical connections that facilitate regional heterothermy of the central nervous system which may subsequently allow certain marine mammals to elicit and/or control important physiological processes such as unihemispheric sleep and the mammalian dive response. Other research I am involved in centers around propeller wound analysis in manatees and large whales, cause of death determination in large whales, manatee growth rates, and utilization of gross morphology for determination of proximity to birth.

Laboratory Experience:

• Necropsy (~2000 marine mammals)
• Marine Mammal Gross Anatomy/Morphology
• Small (dog) and large (equine) veterinary anatomy teaching assistant
  

 

Selected Publications:

For Publications Extracted From Medline Click HERE

Costidis, A.M., Reep, R., and Marino, L. (MS in prep) Body Growth Dynamics in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris).

Rommel, S.A., W. McLellan, A.M. Costidis, M. Moore. 2007. Odontocete Necropsy Procedures (Chapter 2). Odontocete Salvage, Necropsy, Ear Extraction, and Imaging Protocols. Published by: ORCAS Consulting. Funded by: Office of Naval Research.

Rommel, S. A., Costidis, A. M., Pitchford, T. D., Snyder, R., Lightsey, J. 2006. Forensic Methods for Characterizing Watercraft Components from Watercraft-Induced Wounds on the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Mar Mamm Sci. 23(1): 110-132.

Rommel, S. A., Costidis, A.M., Fernandez, A., Jepson, P.D., Pabst, D.A., McLellan, W.A., Houser, D.S., Cranford, T.W., Van Helden, A.L., Allen, D.M., and Barros, N.B. 2006. Elements of Beaked Whale Anatomy and Diving Physiology, and Some Hypothetical Causes of Sonar-related Stranding. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. 7(3): 189-209.

Lightsey, J., Rommel, S.A., Costidis, A.M., and Pitchford, T.D. 2006. Gross Necropsy Diagnosis of Watercraft-related Mortality in the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). J. Zoo Wildl. Med. 37(3): 262-275.

Rommel, S.A., A.M. Costidis. (MS in preparation). Salvage and Necropsy Manual for Carcasses of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). USFWS Manatee Husbandry Manual. N. Adimey Ed.

Selected Presentations:

Costidis, A.M. 2007. Serious Injury to Manatees. NMFS Serious Injury to Marine Mammals Workshop, Seattle, WA. Oral presentation. September 2007.

Costidis, A.M., and Rommel, S.A. Forensic Methods for Characterizing Watercraft Components from Watercraft-Induced Wounds on the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). FWC public Manatee Forum, Sarasota, FL. Oral presentation. September 2006.

Rommel, S. A., and Costidis, A. M., 2005. Comparative Morphology of the Epidural Circulation in Seals, Dolphins, and Manatees. Evolution of Aquatic Tetrapods Conference, Akron, OH. Oral presentation. May 2005.