Crustaceans occupy a diversity of habitats in North Carolina. Benthic crustaceans are not only important members of coastal ecosystems, but are also of significant economic importance. Several faculty are engaged in research, both basic and applied, that focuses on the biology of these groups. Dr. Posey and Troy Alphin are working on the distribution and ecology of benthic crustaceans, especially blue crabs, shrimp and rock crabs. Dr. Shafer is working on the characterization of the genome of blue crabs; Dr. Roer is a physiologist interested in the mechanisms crustaceans use for adaptation to changing salinity and Dr. Dillaman is a functional morphologist working on the process of biomineralization of the cuticle of crustaceans.