Research
Undergraduate Research
- Building theoretical food webs based on parasite infections in definitive hosts
- Sunfish parasites and plastic ingestion
- Plastic consumption in waterbirds
- Feather distribution characteristics among different bird groups
Graduate Research
- Community Ecology of Trophically-transmitted Parasites
- Histology of Salt Glands in Loons
- Stable-Isotope Ecology of Resident and Migratory Waterbirds
- Microbiome Assemblages of Ectoparasite Communities
- Plastic Impacts and Transfer in Food Chains
Faculty Research
- Dr. Karen Keller: Digestive physiology; Biomarkers of nutrient status; Bioavailability of minerals; Neurophysiology; Relationship of nutrients and behavior.
- Dr. Thomas D. Lambert: Mammal community structure; Small Mammal Ecology; Conservation Biology; Affects of Disturbance on Communities; Foraging Theory; Seed Predation & Dispersal; Tropical Ecology.
- Dr. Hongqi Li: Morphology, Anatomy, Systematics, and Evolution of Vascular Plants; Paleobotany, Gigantopterids, Biogeochemistry, and Origin of Angiosperms. Click here to see his research and his personal web site for further information. He has organized the 6th International Carnivorous Plant Society Conference, June 1-5, 2006, at FSU.
- Dr. David P. Puthoff: My area of research focuses on plant interactions with their pathogens with an especial focus on the interactions with insect pests. In addition, studies on insect pest prevalence and abundance, along with population genetic analysis will help provide the best strategies for pest elimination. Click here to see his research.
- Dr. Richard L. Raesly: Ecology and evolution of introduced species; evolution and systematics of freshwater fishes; biology of endangered species; stream ecology.
- Dr. William L. Seddon: Director, FSU Museum of Natural History. Comparative physiology, biochemical mechanisms of temperature adaptation in freshwater fishes, and molecular biology applications for population biology. Undergraduate and graduate research projects include feeding behavior of fishes, characterization of small animal parasites, optimization of DNA isolation from animal tissues and scat, and the use of molecular methods to assess distribution of small mammalsis the director of the FSU Biotechnology Training Center and his research covers comparative physiology; biochemical mechanisms of temperature adaptation in freshwater fishes; primary tissue culture, molecular biology. Click here to see his research.
- Dr. Thomas L. Serfass is the Chair of the Biology Department. Ecology and management of wildlife populations, wildlife techniques, wildlife reintroductions, carnivore behavior and ecology. Click here to see his research. He organized the IXth International Otter Colloquium, June 6-10, 2004, at FSU.
- Dr. Kate L. Sheehan: Ecological parasitology, plastics ecology, and their interactions in natural systems. I am interested in understanding the roles that both parasites and plastic pollution play in shaping the trophic relationships of organisms in freshwater, estuarine, and marine systems. Much of the research I conduct is collaborative in nature, and employs sophisticated taxonomic, biochemical, and spatio-statistical methods to learn about the ways that our planet is changing. I often work on avian-parasite systems, with particular emphasis on waterbirds that live in freshwater, coastal, and pelagic systems.
- Dr. Rebekah Taylor: Dr. Taylor’s research interests are centered on immunology, specifically the immune responses and tissues in the mucosal layers of the intestine. Recent projects have included the characterization and analysis of microscopic lymphoid tissues called cryptopatches and isolated lymphoid follicles in the small intestine of wild animals, including field mice (Peromyscus sp.) and fish (C. commersonii). These tissues have been shown to form and change dramatically in response to diet and inflammation in laboratory animals, but little is known about cryptopatches and isolated lymphoid follicles in wild vertebrates. Dr. Taylor mentors undergraduate and graduate students who have an interest in learning advanced biological techniques such as small mammal trapping and handling, dissection and cryopreservation, tissue sectioning, histochemical staining, and immunofluorescence microscopy to complete research projects in this area.
- Mrs. Clara Thiel: My current research focuses on rare plants and ecosystems throughout Appalachia and the mid-Atlantic region. I have strong interests in the biogeography and evolutionary ecology of insular ecosystems and endemic plant species, as well as the resilience of these biodiversity hotspots towards anthropogenic impacts, shifts in disturbance regime, and climate change.