| Student |
Advisor(s) |
Research Interests |
| Safra
Altman
saltman[AT]umd.edu |
Biology
Dr. Hines
SERC |
I am interested in marine ecology.
I am currently studying the impacts of invasive species
in marine fouling communities and looking at what drives
community resistance and invasibility. To address these
issues, I am studying the relationships between biodiversity
and invasion success and resource availability and invasion
success on different spatial scales in San Francisco Bay
and Chesapeake Bay. |
| |
Biology |
My thesis work examines the divergence of reproductive
traits across populations of stalk-eyed flies and the impact
of divergence in these traits on reproductive isolation
among incipient species. |
| |
Biology
|
I am broadly interested in social
communication in bats. Currently, I am
investigating the role of low frequency social calls as
a mechanism for roostmate recruitment in Pallid bats (Antrozous
pallidus). Pallid bats are unique among vespertilionid
bats in that they often emit a loud, audible social call
which is frequently given when bats return from foraging
and perform pre-dawn rallying flights outside a roost area.
A mechanism for maintaining group cohesion in this species
would be especially important given their high roost lability
and the benefits of roosting in groups (ie. social thermoregulation
|
Mercedes Burns
mmburns[at]umd.edu |
Dr. Shultz
Entomology |
coming soon... |
| |
Entomology |
I am interested in plant-insect interactions, how
they lead to specialization, and speciation in both plants
and insects. I am studying a native holly leafminer, Phytomyza
glabricola, which has formed host races on two native
species of holly, Ilex glabra and I. coriacea.
I am testing for hybridization of the two host species,
and using this system to test the hybrid bridge hypothesis.
I am also examining the parasitoid assemblages on the two
hosts to test whether the original host shift was caused
by enemy-free space. |
Leah Carpenter
lcarpent[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Thompson
CRC
Dr. Ottinger
Animal and Avian
Sciences |
I am broadly interested in animal reproductive behavior. In future research I hope to focus on how the event of mating can evoke parental behavior and investment in offspring, especially in species with altricial young. In addition, I am interested in the magnitude of the effect of communication on female mate choice. |
| Chris
Che-Castaldo
ccast75[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Fagan
Biology |
I am studying the relationship between
insect herbivory and primary succession on Mt. St. Helen's
'Pumice Plain.' Specifically, I am examining how spatial variation
in herbivory by a curculionid weevil affects the pace and
pattern of Sitka willow recolonization. I am also interested
in the indirect effect of weevil herbivory on the local vertebrate
community during succession. |
Linda Cendes
lcendes[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Borgia
Biology |
I am studying the connection between sexual selection and chemical signaling in satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus). Specifically, I'm focusing on the painting behavior of the male bowerbird. I'm interested in learning how paint acts as a signal between bowerbirds and how painting behavior relates to mating success and female choice. |
|
jpche[AT]umd.edu |
Biology
|
My research focuses on the ecological interactions of a metal-hyperaccumulating plant. Plants that can uptake high amounts of heavy metals are not only of evolutionary and biological interest, but also have economic value in their potential use in remediating polluted soils. However, the ecology of these plants is poorly understood, and field studies are especially lacking. I am currently running field and greenhouse experiments to examine the population dynamics and competitive ability of the cadmium and zinc hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (Brassicaceae). My field sites include abandoned mines similar to those where T. caerulescens may be planted for phytoremediation. It is my intention that the results from these studies may also provide insights into the ecological impacts of introducing a non-native plant for remediation purposes. |
|
|
Biology |
My research interest is population
genetics and phylogentics of marine animals, especially
marine copepods. I really like to explore marine biodiversity
and its underlying evolutionary processes through reconstruction
of evolutionary history and genealogy of those little cute
planktonic animals. This is going to be very important for
marine conservation biology. |
|
Laura
Craig
lscraig[AT]umd.edu
|
Entomology |
I am studying in-stream nutrient
processing in rapidly urbanizing watersheds. My goal is
to identify stream characteristics (hydrological regimes,
substrate type, organic matter availability, water quality,
etc.) that control nitrate removal in headwater streams.
I am also interested in understanding how land-based best
management practices (stormwater management) and stream
corridor restoration projects can help to reduce loading
of nitrogen to downstream ecosystems. |
Brian Davidson
bdavidso[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Braun
NMNH
Dr. Via
Biology |
I am broadly interested in the ecology and evolution of birds. I would like to investigate the effects of ecology on gene exchange between taxa. My current project focuses on patterns of genomic introgression across the Carolina chickadee / Black-capped chickadee hybrid zone using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. AFLPs provide a way to assess introgression at many loci, whether negative, neutral, or positive. Ultimately a more complete understanding of hybridization has implications for both theory (e.g. speciation and species concepts) and conservation (e.g. hybridization due to introduced species, secondary contact zones formed due to human disturbance or climate change). |
| |
Biology |
I am studying the evolution
of germline sex determination in the genus Caenorhabditis,
using genetics and molecular biology to investigate how
mating systems have changed among the model species C.
elegans and closely related nematodes. |
Sarah Hankerson
sjhank[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Dietz
Biology |
I am studying primate spatial movement of the golden lion
tamarin and golden-headed lion tamarin in Brazil. I am interested
in how factors such as sleeping sites, foraging requirements,
and predator encounters impact 3-D movement patterns in lion
tamarins. In addition, I am working on determining physical
tree and habitat characteristics that predict sleeping site
selection in these species. |
| MaLinda
Henry
mdhenry[AT]umd.edu
|
Dr. Dietz
Biology |
I am interested in primate behavioral
ecology and have experience working with New and Old World
Primates in both captive and field environments. My
MS examined competition for plant food resources between
bonobos and a local community in the DemRep of Congo.
For my Ph.D. I am investigating how plant and insect resource
availability changes reproductive cyclicity and conception
in endangered golden lion tamarins in two Brazilian tropical
forest reserves. I am utilizing current enzyme immunoassay
techniques for urine and feces to document cyclical changes
in reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
By doing so I hope to identify a level of resource availability
that must be maintained in order to support reproducing
populations of these cooperatively breeding monkeys. |
Jake Hosen
jhosen[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Palmer
Entomology |
coming soon... |
| |
Biology |
I have two primary research interests: mating system
evolution and speciation. For my dissertation I am studying
how high male mating costs may have affected reinforcement,
and thus speciation, in the Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala.
To do this, I am defining species boundaries and determining
the extent of hybridization using nDNA and mtDNA sequences,
I am documenting patterns of prezygotic isolation between
sympatric and allopatric species and populations, and finally
I am testing how high male mating costs--due to spermatophore
investment--might be changing the direction in which reinforcement
acts in this genus. Results of this work will hopefully
shed some light on how speciation has occurred so rapidly
in this genus and may also serve to elucidate a new pattern
for reinforcement. |
Nathan Jud
njud[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Mitter
Entomology
Paleobiology Fellowship |
coming soon... |
| |
Biology |
I am broadly interested in evolution and behavioral
ecology. More specifically my research on satin bowerbirds
(Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) at Wallaby Creek, NSW,
Australia, focuses on how sexual selection and cognition
are related. I am currently testing several hypotheses,
including: 1) male mating success is associated with male
problem solving ability, 2) males improve bower-construction
skills with age, and 3) there are age-related differences
in how females use bower quality in mate assessment. |
| |
Dr. Neel
Plant Science & Landscape Architecture and Entomology |
I am interested in how patterns
of land conversion affect species diversity and persistence,
particularly in the tropics. My research focuses on the
role of intervening land cover surrounding forest fragments
(i.e., matrix) on the isolation and degradation of bird
communities in Jamaica, and the interaction of life history
traits with species persistence. |
| Sarah Kingston
skingsto[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Braun
NMNH |
I am interested in investigating the extent of genetic
introgression across avian hybrid zones using genomic techniques. |
Abby Kula
akula[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Dudash
Biology
Dr. Fenster
Biology |
My primary research interest is the interaction between plants and insects. The aim of my dissertation research is to understand nursery pollination in Silene stellata (Caryophyllaceae). Adult moths of Hadena ectypa (Noctuidae) pollinate S. stellata flowers, while their larvae consume many of the fruits produced. An added complexity of this system is that the outcome of the interactions may be altered by pollination by other moths that do not consume fruits. |
| |
|
I am interested in research regarding the behavior
and the evolution of behavior primarily of birds and mammals.
Bowerbirds have captured my interest due to their complex
male display traits. At this time I have not narrowed my
focus to a specific research topic but I look forward to
exploring the evolution of the fascinating display and mating
behavior of the satin bowerbirds. My future research will
include yearly field work at our field site in Austraila. |
Bea Mao
bmao1[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Moss
Psychology
Dr. Wilkinson
Biology |
coming soon... |
| |
Biology |
I am studying the role of pollinator
specialization on the evolution of floral traits and breeding
systems of the tribe Gesnerieae, a plant taxon that radiated
in the Caribbean archipelago. I have documented specialized
(hummingbird and buzz-pollination by bees), and generalized
pollination systems (bats, moths and birds), as well as
a diversity of breeding systems. My preliminary phylogenies
suggest that hummingbird pollination is the ancestral state
from which generalized systems evolved. Low visitation by
hummingbirds may have triggered changes to more generalized
flowers, or to selfing breeding systems. I am currently
testing the hypothesis that hummingbird specialization is
associated with high levels of pollen limitation in Gesnerieae.
I am also testing whether or not autonomous selfing serves
as a reproductive assurance mechanism when pollinators are
rare. |
| |
Biology
Dr. Denno
Entomology |
The area and connectivity of habitat patches can
greatly influence species occupancy and abundance in spatially
heterogeneous environments. In spatially-structured communities
with limited dispersal between patches (metacommunities),
individual species’ responses to spatial factors may
lead to differences in trophic structure across a patch
network. A major focus of my research is to determine how
species that differ in key ecological traits, such as trophic
position, diet breadth, and dispersal ability, respond to
the area and connectivity of habitat patches in a landscape.
Specifically, I will identify if differential effects across
species lead to critical thresholds in patch area and connectivity.
To this end, I have been studying the assemblage of arthropods
found on natural patches of the salt marsh grass Spartina
patens, via extensive field surveys and experiments.
This relatively tractable model system provides a unique
opportunity to quantify the effects of area and connectivity
on a full community of interacting species. |
Owen
McDonough
otmcdo[AT]umd.edu |
Entomology |
Broadly speaking, I am interested in
running-water ecosystems. More specifically, I am interested
in investigating various stream restoration and watershed
management techniques in order to determine which efforts
best limit nitrogen loading to the Chesapeake Bay. |
|
|
Biology |
I seek to better understand the underlying behavioral
mechanisms of various ungulate movement strategies which
can be observed under different landscape scenarios with
varying environmental predictability. My project looks to
develop computer models that simulate and link behavioral
movement mechanisms which can be either based on memory,
perceptual cues or triggered by environmental factors. It
explores their efficiency under different scenarios of resource
distributions across time and space. Finally it tries to
integrate empirical data on resource distributions as well
as movements of moving animals, such as satellite data on
primary productivity and satellite tracking data of Mongolian
gazelles. New insights about the driving forces of ungulate
movements will support conservation efforts for nomadic
and migratory species in general and Mongolian gazelles
specifically, which are constantly moving and difficult
to manage with traditional static protected areas. |
Kelly O'Quin
koquin[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Carleton
Biology |
I study the evolution of the cichlid visual system in the context of cichlid speciation. Cichlid fishes found in the east African Great Lakes are the most rapidly speciating organisms known. Mate choice for Interspecific differences in male nuptial color are proposed to drive this rapid radiation, and vision may be an important component of this. Questions I am interested in include: What is the phylogenetic scale at which cichlid visual systems vary? In what aspects of the visual system do closely related cichlid species differ? What selective force is driving the evolution of the cichlid visual system? Is sensory bias driving cichlid speciation? |
| |
Entomology
|
I am interested in how competition between non-native Arionid slugs and native Philomycid slugs may negatively impact Philomycid populations. I am seeking to quantify the relative importance of the resources involved in conflict, determining the interindividual mechanisms of competition, and establishing how important habitat factors may interact with competition.
|
James
Pettengill
jpetteng[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Neel
Plant Science & Landscape Architecture and Entomology |
One of my research objectives is to elucidate
the phylogenetic relationships among a number of closely related
Agalinis species in the section Erectae using a combination
of molecular (microsatellites and anonymous nuclear sequences)
and morphological data. This section of the genus includes
a number of state-rare species as well as the federally-listed
Agalinis acuta. Recent genetic evidence has raised
questions about the evolutionary distinctiveness of Agalinis
acuta such that I am also interested in species concepts.
Understanding levels of distinctiveness among the putative
taxa in this section is critical to setting conservation priorities. |
|
sheilar[AT]umd.edu |
Biology
Dr. Braun
NMNH |
I am studying the effect of relatedness on mating
behavior in the satin bowerbird. Satin bowerbirds have a
polygynous mating system in which females are free to choose
mates based on their preferences for courtship displays,
and there is an extreme skew in male mating success. Several
prominent sexual selection models suggest that male displays
and female preferences have genetic bases; therefore, close
relatives should share these traits. I am interested in
how relatedness affects female mate choice and male display.
I am estimating genetic relatedness between individual birds
in a natural population using microsatellite markers, and
evaluating their behavioral interactions in the context
of their relatedness. In particular, I am interested in
the following questions: 1) Do related females make similar
mate choices? 2) Do related males have similar displays
and mating success? 3) Does relatedness between males and
females influence female mate choice decisions? 4) Do related
males display near each other? |
Clark Rushing
crushing[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Peter Marra
National Zoo
Dr. Michele Dudash
Biology |
coming soon... |
Julie Samy
jsamy[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Thompson
CLFS and Conservation and Research Center
Dr. Wilkinson
Biology |
coming soon... |
|
Biology |
I am studying how the availability
of nutrients and energy influences the biodiversity of cave
ecosystems. Specifically, I am interested in how the quantity
and quality of allochthonous inputs into caves support the
obligate cave species that depend on these resources. I
am also interested in the stoichiometry of cave arthropods
(that is, their chemical composition, namely C: N: P), and
it’s relationship to cave adaptation. Many of the
cave-adapted life history strategies may be correlated with
changes in body stoichiometry, such as slow growth and thin
cuticles (associated with low P and N, respectively). I
will test this hypothesis through experiments both in the
field and in the laboratory. I suggest that typical cave-adapted
traits such as slow growth rates and thin exoskeletons,
which classically have been interpreted as the result of
relaxed selection pressures or the accumulation of neutral
mutations, may be alternatively interpreted as adaptations
to the unique stoichiometric challenges of cave environments. |
Gwen Shlichta
bugheart[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Barbosa
Entomology |
I am interested in local adaptation/host-associated
differentiation of riparian forest caterpillars and their
parasitoids. My research focuses on a suite of moth larvae
on several host tree species at multiple sites. My question
aims at whether local adaptation/host-associated differentiation
cascades to adjacent trophic levels-from caterpillars to
the wasps that parasitize them. |
Jennifer
Siani
jmsiani[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Dietz
Biology |
My primary research interests include
parental investment, allocaregiving, animal communication
and sibling rivalry. I am conducting a field study on golden
lion tamarins to determine the costs and distribution of
providing infant care. Specifically, my research will determine
how tamarins allocate resources based on offspring sex,
how that investment affects caregiver body mass and activity
budgets, and when infants can increase the quantity of investment. |
|
Biology |
I am broadly interested in the evolution, reproduction,
and survival strategies of invertebrate animals. My current
work focuses on the evolution of regeneration, asexual reproduction,
and symbiosis in a genus of acoel flatworms. By tracing
phylogenetic relationships among and within the Acoela,
I hope to elucidate the evolutionary pathways that have
led to the development of variable asexual reproductive
strategies and the evolution of obligate symbiotic relationships
with unicellular algae. I also plan to determine potential
differences in development and gene expression that occur
at different stages of asexual reproduction and regeneration
in the Acoela. |
Brandie
Smith
bsmith[AT]aza.org |
Dr. Dietz
Biology
Dr. Ballou
NZP |
I am interested in the genetic and demographic issues particular to small populations. Specifically, my research focuses on how management can slow loss of genetic diversity in a population over time. The management strategy currently used to preserve genetic diversity relies on a knowledge of a population's pedigree and the ability to control pairings between individuals. This strategy is practical for many species in captivity, but is unrealistic for species for which there is insufficient information or over which we have less control (e.g., wild animals or captive animals that occur in herds or tanks). Populations such as these, where detailed pedigree information is unknown and/or specific pairings cannot reliably be made, are generally referred to as "groups". I am evaluating different management strategies and the impact they have on maintaining genetic diversity in various type of groups. |
Colin Studds
studdsc[AT]si.edu |
Biology
Dr. Marra
National Zoo |
I study the ecology of migratory birds during their
tropical non-breeding season. I’m interested in how
habitat occupancy affects individual performance and annual
survival rates. |
|
Biology |
I am broadly interested in marine
ecology and organismal interactions in benthic communities.
Using molecular techniques, I aim to describe the dynamics
of genetic interactions between species. I am currently
investigating the potential coevolution of the eastern oyster
Crassostrea virginica and its protistan parasite Perkinsus
marinus, which is causing oyster mortality to varying degrees
along the east coast of the United States. I ultimately
intend to explore changes in gene frequencies in relation
to local and population-wide environmental variance. |
|
andreanna05[AT]yahoo.com |
Dr. Fleischer Smithsonian
Dr. Hawthorne
Entomology
|
My interests are in applying evolutionary and population
genetics to conservation issues. I am examining demographic
changes in the endangered Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma
sandwichensis) over the last 2,500 years as Polynesians
and then Europeans colonized the Hawaiian Islands.
I hope to also examine changes in population structure over
time and space as the breeding distribution of this once
common species has become increasingly restricted to high
elevations on a few of the larger islands. |
Eduardo Zattara
ezattara[AT]umd.edu |
Dr. Bely
Biology |
I have a long standing interest on Evolutionary Biology
as a whole, and particularly on the ways that alterations
in gene expression regulation during development result in
evolutionary changes and novelties. I believe that integrating
knowledge of developmental processes is the key to achieving
a really solid and all-encompassing evolutionary synthesis.
I'm now starting research aimed at finding out the main processes
involved in segment determination and differentiation in closely
related oligochaete worms, using a comparative approach both
across species and across developmental processes –
namely, embryogenesis, regeneration and reproductive paratomic
fission. |
