Robert Sluka received his Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of Miami and has since led projects in the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. He is currently a marine conservation consultant living in the UK. His research focuses on the application of ecological principles to the conservation and management of marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs. This includes fish habitat utilization, the effects of fishing on commercial fish species, cleaning symbiosis, design and monitoring of marine protected areas, and biodiversity studies. Additionally, he is exploring the interaction between marine conservation and theology as well as the impact of Christians in the fields of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation.

Recent publications and presentations in the field of science and faith include:

  • Sluka,R.D., Kaonga, M., Weatherley, J., Anand,V., Bosu, D., Jackson, C. 2011. Christians, biodiversity conservation, and poverty alleviation: a potential synergy? Biodiversity 12(2):108-115. DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2011.599780.
  • Robert D. Sluka. Christians: opponents or partners in conserving marine biodiversity? World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, September 26-30, 2011 Aberdeen, Scotland.
  • Robert D Sluka and David S. Price. Biodiversity Conservation: A growing priority in Christian cultural landscapes. Biodiversity conservation beyond protected areas, September 21-22, 2011 Biodiversity Institute, University of Oxford, UK .
  • David S Price and Robert D Sluka. Cross-cultural Christian Workers in Ecological Restoration and Conservation? The Society for Ecological Restoration International (SER) World Conference on Ecological Restoration, August 21-25, 2011 Merida, Mexico.
  • Robert D. Sluka. Hope for the Ocean: Christian theological ethics and marine conservation biology. Society for the Study of Christian Ethics annual conference, September 3-5, 2010 Cambridge, UK.
  • Robert D. Sluka. A Christian perspective on marine conservation biology. International Institute for Christian Studies Annual conference, July 15-17, 2010 Kansas City, USA .
  • Robert D. Sluka. Marine Conservation Science: an opportunity for blessing. Point Loma Nazarene University, March 1, 2010 San Diego, USA.
  • Robert D. Sluka. Christians: moving from scapegoats to marine conservationists. International Marine Conservation Congress, May 20-24, 2009 Washington DC, USA.
  • Sluka, R.D. and P. Simonin. 2014. Marine Capture Fisheries – A call to action in response to limits, unintended consequences, and ethics. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 66:203-212.
  • Sluka, R. D. 2012. Hope for the Ocean: Marine Biodiversity, Poverty Alleviation and Blessing the Nations. Grove Books Limited, Cambridge. 28pp.

 Selected publications

  • Sluka, R.D., and M.W. Miller. 2001. Herbivorous fish assemblages and herbivory pressure in Laamu Atoll, Republic of Maldives. Coral Reefs 20:255-262.
  • Sluka, R.D., M. Chiappone, and K. M. Sullivan Sealey. 2001. Influence of habitat on grouper abundance in the Florida Keys, U.S.A. Journal of Fish Biology 58:682-700.
  • Sluka, R.D. and S. Lazarus. 2010. Grouper (Pisces: Serranidae) relative abundance and diversity on the west coast of India. Marine Biodiversity Records, 3 : e71 Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/S1755267210000606.
  • Sluka, Robert. 2010. Chapter 15 Marine Species. Pages 53-71 In: Lester, A and Hodgetts, S Eds. Gower Wildlife Recording Weekend: A preliminary survey of St. Madoc’s Christian Youth Camp. A Rocha UK, Southall, United Kingdom.
  • Sindorf, V, B. Cowburn and R.D. Sluka. 2015. Rocky intertidal fish assemblage in the Watamu Marine National Park, Western Indian Ocean. Environmental Biology of Fishes 98: 1777-1785. DOI 10.1007/s10641-015-0397-1
  • Gordon, T.A.C., Cowburn, B, and R.D. Sluka. 2015. Defended territories of an aggressive damselfish contain lower juvenile coral density than adjacent non-defended areas on Kenyan lagoon patch reefs. Coral Reefs 34:13-16. DOI 10.1007/s00338-014-1229-z
  • Cowburn, B., R. Sluka, J. Smith, and M.O.S. Mohamed. 2013. Tourism, Reef Condition and Visitor Satisfaction in Watamu Marine National Park, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science 12: 57-70.
  • Sluka, R.D. 2013. Coastal marine fish biodiversity along the west coast of India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5: 3574–3579. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3187.11

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