Current Grad Students - A-F

Email: fabe@ku.edu

Advisors: Edward O. Wiley III and Bruce Lieberman

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biology from Bates College

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Research Interests: Macroevolutionary patterns in rates of evolution, biogeography, and morphology of Devonian trilobites

Recent Publications:

• Luttrell, G.R., F.R. Abe, M.P. Davis, and K.R. Anderson. 2007. Recent collections of the slenderhead darter, Percina phoxocephala (Nelson), from the Kansas River Basin. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 110: 127–128.

Recent Presentations:

• Abe, F. 2007. Investigating evolutionary radiations using morphometrics, biogeography, and speciation rates: A case study involving Devonian trilobites; Annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Denver, CO, October.
• Abe, F. 2006. Morphological investigation of a putative hybrid zone between Moxostoma macrolepidotum and Moxostoma pisolabrum (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) in the Kansas River Basin; Annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa, FL, July. (Poster)

Email: blyalex@ku.edu

Advisor: Rudolf Jander

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in biology from Case Western Reserve University; B.S. in zoology from the University of Maryland—College Park

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD

Research Interests: Animal behavior

Dissertation Research: Home range orientation in the house mouse

Recent Publications:

• Ridgel, A.L., Alexander, B.E., Ritzmann, R.E. 2007. Descending control of turning behavior in the cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 193(4):385-402.

Email: mja43@ku.edu

Advisor: Robert Moyle

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in natural resources from Cornell University

Hometown: Baldwin, NY

Research Interests: Speciation, diversification, phylogenetics, and biogeography of Neotropical birds. Evolution of vocalizations in birds.

Recent Publications:

• Lebbin, D. J., Hosner, P. A., Andersen, M. J., Valdez, U., and Tori, W. P. In review. First description of the nest and eggs of the White-lined Antbird (Percnostola lophotes) and breeding observations of poorly known birds inhabiting Guadua bamboo in Southeastern Peru.
• Tobias, J. A., Lebbin, D. J., Aleixo, A., Andersen, M. J., Guilherme E., Hosner, P. A., N. and Seddon. (in press). Distribution, behavior, and conservation status of the Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus). Wilson Journal of Ornithology.
• Andersen, M. J., Lebbin, D. J., and P. H. Hosner. 2007. First photographic evidence of Veery (Catharus fuscescens) for Peru. Boletín SAO 17(1):36-38.
• Lebbin, D. J., Harvey, M. G., Lenz, T. C., Andersen, M. J., & J. M. Ellis. 2007. Mixed-species flock of fall migrant birds foraging at night by artificial light. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119(3):502-506.

Email: narayani@ku.edu

Advisor: A. Townsend Peterson

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in computer science form the University of Pune, India; B.S. in computer science from the University of Pune, India

Hometown: Bangalore, India

Research Interests: Ecological niche modeling, biodiversity informatics, remote sensing, GIS

Recent Publications:

• N. Lyngdoh, S.H. Santosh, B.T. Ramesha, M. Nageswara Rao, G. Ravikanth, N. Barve, K. N. Ganeshaiah, R. Uma Shananker. 2005. Rattan species richness and population genetic structure of Calamus flagellum in North-Eastern Himalaya, India. J. Bamboo and Rattan 4(3): 293-307.

Email: danben@ku.edu

Advisor: Michael Engel

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in entomology; M.A. in entomology from the University of Kansas B.S. in zoology from the University of Washington.

Hometown: Euphrata, WA

Research Interests: Systematics and behavior of bees and wasps

Current Research: Phylogeny and behavior of the moustache wasps (Crabronidae: Crabronina)

Recent Publications:

• Bennett, D.J. & Engel, M.S. 2006. A new moustache wasp in Dominican amber, with an account of apoid wasp evolution emphasizing Crabroninae (Hymenoptera: Crabonidae). American Museum Novitates 3529: 1-10.
• Bennet, D.J., and Engel, M.S.. 2005. A primitive sapygid wasp in Burmese amber (Hymenoptera: Sapygidae). Acta zoological cracoviensia 48B (1-2): 1-9.

Recent Presentations:

• Bennett, D.J. 2006. Diversity and evolution of Hawaiian ophionine wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); International Society of Hymenopterists Congress, Sun City, South Africa, January.

Email: bentlage@ku.edu

Advisor: Paulyn Cartwright

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in zoology from the University of Hannover, Germany; Pre-degree in biology from the University of Kiel, Germany.

Hometown: Born in Bielefeld, Germany but grew up in a small village called Horn-Bad Meinberg. Since then has lived and studied at various places and institutions in Germany, Australia and the US.

Research Interests: Patterns and processes governing ocean biogeography; current study system of choice are jellyfishes, in particular the coastal shelf inhabiting box-jellyfishes (Cubozoa) and the open-ocean medusae of Trachylina (Hydrozoa); phylogenetic analyses; GIS based modeling methods; taxonomy of study animals

Recent Publications:

• Bentlage, B., Peterson, A.T., and Cartwright, P. In review. Inferring distributions of chirodropid box-jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) in geographic and ecological space using ecological niche modeling.
• Collins, A.G., Bentlage, B., Lindner, A., Lindsay, D., Haddock, S.H.D., Jarms, G., Norenburg, J.L., Jankowski, T., and Cartwright, P. In press. Phylogenetics of Trachylina (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) with new insights on the evolution of some problematical taxa. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
• Bentlage, B. and Wörheide, G. 2007. Low genetic structuring among Pericharax heteroraphis (Porifera: Calcarea) populations from the Great Barrier Reef (Australia), revealed by analysis of nrDNA and nuclear intron sequences. Coral Reefs 26: 807-816.
• Collins, A.G., Bentlage, B., Matsumoto, G.I., Haddock, S.H.D., Osborn, K.J., Schierwater, B. 2006. Solution to the phylogenetic enigma of Tetraplatia, a worm-shaped cnidarian. Biology Letters 2:120-124.

Recent Presentations:

• Bentlage, B., Collins, A.G., and Cartwright, P. 2008. Phylogenetics of Cubozoa and a progress report on marine niche modeling; Third Annual Cnidarian Tree of Life Meeting, La Paz, Mexico.
• Bentlage, B., Collins, A.G., and Cartwright, P. 2008. Phylogenetics and environmental space occupation of box-jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Cubozoa); Evolution, Minneapolis, MN, June.
• Bentlage, B. 2007. Conservatism of ecological niches in Cubozoa; Second Annual Cnidarian Tree of Life Workshop and Student-Postdoc Symposium, Cnidarian Phylogenetics and Evolution, St. John, USVI.
• Bentlage, B., Collins, A.G., Cartwright, P. 2007. Prospects of molecular systematics for Cubozoa; Second International Jellyfish Blooms Symposium, Gold Coast, AUS, June. (Poster)
• Collins, A.G., Bentlage, B., Haddock, S.H.D., Jankowski, T., Lindsay, D.J., Pagès, F., and Cartwright, P. 2007. Phylogenetics of Trachylina; Sixth Workshop of the Hydrozoan Society, Plymouth, UK, June.
• Bentlage, B. 2007. Ecological niche conservatism in box-jellyfishes; Second International Jellyfish Blooms Symposium, Diversity: from Adenine to Zoogeography, Gold Coast, AUS, June.
• Bentlage, B., and Wörheide, G. 2007. Phylogeography of Pericharax heteroraphis (Porifera) from the Great Barrier Reef; Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Biogeography and Phylogenetics, Phoenix, AZ, January.

Recent Awards:

• PADI Foundation, “An Integrative Approach to Understanding Species’ Distributions and Relationships of Australiasian Box-Jellyfishes (Cubozoa; Cnidaria)”, 2007 ($5,970)
• Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Support to attend the “Evolution 2008” meeting, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, 2008 ($300)
• Ohio State University and the Willi Hennig Society, Fellowship to attend the “North American Workshop in Cladistic Methods”, Columbus OH, 2007 ($700)
• Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and KU Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research Center, Support to attend the 2^nd Cnidarian Tree of Life Workshop and Student-Postdoc Symposium, Cnidarian Phylogenetics and Evolution, St. John, USVI, 2007 ($ 400)

Email: bwbenz@ku.edu

Advisor: A. Townsend Peterson

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biodiversity, ecology, and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas.

Research Interests: Comparative phylogeography of montane New Guinea birds

Recent Publications:

• Peterson, A.T., Benz, B.W., Papes, M. 2007. Entry pathways for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza into North America via bird migration. PLoS ONE 2(2): e261. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000261.
• Pramuk, J.B., M.J. Grose, A.L. Clarke, E. Greenbaum, E. Bonaccorso, J.M. Guayasamin, A.H. Smith-Pardo, B.W. Benz, B.R. Harris, E. Siegfreid, Y.R. Reid, N. Holcroft-Benson, and E.O. Wiley. 2007. Phylogeny of finescale shiners of the genus Lythrurus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) inferred from four mitochondrial genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42: 247-297.
• Benz, B.W., M.B. Robbins, A.T. Peterson. 2006. Evolutionary history of woodpeckers and allies (Aves: Picidae): Placing key taxa on the phylogenetic tree. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40: 389-399.
• Benz, B.W., C.E. Martin. 2006. Foliar trichomes, boundary layers, and gas exchange in 12 species of epiphytic Tillandsia (Bromeliaceae). Journal of Plant Physiology 163: 648-656.

Recent Presentations:

• Benz, B.W. and M.B. Robbins. 2007. Molecular phylogenetics and species limits in celeus woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae); National meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Laramie, WY, August. (Poster).
• Benz, B.W., M.B. Robbins, and A.T. Peterson. 2005. Molecular phylogenetics and historical biogeography of the piculets (Picumninae: Picidae); National meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Santa Barbara, CA, August.

Email: scheetah@ku.edu

Advisors: Helen Alexander and John Kelly

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biology from Calvin College, Honors.

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Research Interests: Evolutionary ecology, mating systems, pollinator-plant interactions

Recent Awards:

• 2008. Small Grants Program University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves. Effect of Seed Predation and Disturbance on Wild and Crop-Wild Sunflowers.
• 2008. University of Kansas Botany Endowment Funds. Mary Harkey Hall Award. Effect of Seed Predation and Disturbance on Wild and Crop-Wild Sunflowers.
• 2008. University of Kansas Botany Endowment Fund. Mary Harkey Hall Award. Experimental Evolution of Mating System under Varying Pollinator Availability in Mimulus guttatus.

Email: tmcarroll@ku.edu

Advisor: James Thorp

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas; Ph.D. in education from the University of Kansas; M.S. in education from Southwest Missouri State University; B.S. in education from Southwest Missouri State University.

Hometown: Springfield, MO

Research Interests: Stream ecology, benthic macroinvertebrates, water quality

Recent Presentations:

• Carroll, T.M. 2007. The effect of resource pulses and spatial subsidies on foodweb dynamics and community structure in KARST Springs of the Ozarks; Annual meeting of the American Benthological Society, Columbia, SC, June.
• Carroll, T.M. 2006. Feeding habits of banded and foureye butterfly fish; Meeting of the Missouri Academy of Science, Kirksville, MO, April.

Email: jjhays@ku.edu

Advisor: Kirsten Jensen

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in biology from Sam Houston State University; B.S. in biology from Peru State College.

Hometown: Shubert, NE

Research Interests: Diversity, systematics, and biogeography of Cestodes infecting Elasmobranchs. Molecular phylogenetics relating to host-parasite coevolution.

Recent Publications:

• Hays, J.J., R.E. Clopton, T.J. Cook, and J.L. Cook. 2007. Revision of the genus Nubenocephalus and description of Nubenocephalus secundus n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Actinocephalidae) parasitizing adults of Argia sedula (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) in the Primitive Texas Big Thicket, U.S.A. Comparative Parasitology 74(2): 286-293.
• Clopton, R.E. and J. J. Hays. 2006. Revision of the genus Protomagalhaensia and description of Protomagalhaensia wolfi n. comb. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Hirmocystidae) and Leidyana haasi n. comb. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Leidyanidae) parasitizing the Lobster Cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea (Dictyoptera: Blaberidae). Comparative Parasitiology 73(2): 137-156.
• Hays, J.J., R.E. Clopton, D.F. Cappaert, and D.R. Smitley. 2004. Revision of the genus Stictospora and description of Stictospora villani, n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Actinocephalidae) from larvae of the Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in Michigan. Journal of Parasitology 90(6): 1450-1456.

Recent Presentations:

• Hays, J.J., T.J. Cook, and R.E. Clopton. 2008. A biogeographical study of gregarines parasitizing Argia spp; The American Society of Parasitologists, Arlington, TX, June.
• Hays, J.J., T.J. Cook, and R.E. Clopton. 2008. A biogeographical study of gregarines parasitizing Argia spp. in Texas; Southwestern Association of Parasitologists, University of Oklahoma Biological Station, Kingston, OK, April.
• Hays, J.J., T.J. Cook, and R.E. Clopton. 2008. Argia spp. and their gregarines in 6 biogeographical provinces of Texas; Texas Academy of Science, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX, March.
• Hays, J. J., T.J. Cook, and R.E. Clopton. 2007. Patterns of gregarine infection in Argia spp. across biogeographical provinces. American Society of Parasitologists; The First North American Congress of Parasitology, Mérida, Mexico, June.

Email: jeffcole@ku.edu

Advisors: Jennifer Gleason and Michael Greenfield.

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biology from the University of California—Los Angeles.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Research Interests: Speciation, systematics, and behavior of Orthoptera

Dissertation Research: Sexual selection and speciation in shield-backed katydids (genus Nebuda, Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Recent Publications:

• Prum, R.O., Cole, J.A., Torres, R.H. 2004. Blue integumentary colours in dragonflies (Odonata) are not produced by incoherent Tyndall scattering. Journal of Experimental Biology 207: 3999-4009.

Recent Presentations:

• Cole, J.A. 2008. Is sexual selection driving speciation in shield-back katydids? An interpopulation comparison of female preferences for male calling songs; Meeting of the International Society of Behavioral Ecology, Ithaca, NY, August.

Email: ccollins@ku.edu

Advisor: Bryan Foster

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona; B.A. in biology from Pitzer College.

Hometown: Denver, CO

Research Interests: Community ecology, restoration ecology, conservation biology

Dissertation Research: Influence of global changes on plant communities

Recent Publications:

• Collins, C.D., Holt, R.D., and Foster, B.L. In review. Spatial patterns of species decline in an experimentally fragmented landscape. Ecology.
• Collins, C.D. and Foster, B.L. In review. Community-level consequences of AMF depend on resource environment. Ecology.
• Collins, C.D. and Alexander, H. In review. Statistics in an alien world: a comprehensive assessment for statistical literacy in a biostatics laboratory. Journal of Statistics Education.
• Collins, C.D. and Foster B.L. 2008. The role of topography and soil characteristics in the relationship between species richness and primary productivity in a Kansas grassland. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 111: 105-117.
• McGill, B and Collins, C.D. 2003. A unified theory for macroecology based on spatial patterns of abundance. Evolutionary Ecology Research 5: 469-492.

Recent Presentations:

• Collins, C.D. 2008. Spatial patterns of extinction in an experimentally fragmented landscape; Ecological Society of America, Milwaukee, WI, August.
• Collins, C.D. 2008. Hierarchical scaffolding: a dynamical systems approach to skill-building in biostatistics; Greater Kansas City Symposium on Teaching and Learning, Parkville, MO, April.
• Collins, C.D. and Foster, B.L. 2007. Impacts of soil nutrient status on mycorrhizal symbioses: consequences for plant community diversity; Ecological Society of America, San Jose, CA, August.
• Collins, C.D., Holt, R.D. & Foster, B.L. 2007. Patch size affects plant extinction rates during succession in an experimentally fragmented grassland; US-IALE Landscape Ecology Conference, Tucson, AZ, April.
• Collins, C.D., & Foster, B.L. 2004. Fragmentation, succession, and the accumulation of species in space and time; Ecological Society of America, Portland, OR, August.

Recent Awards:

• KU Dissertation Fellowship, 2008-09
• International Association of Landscape Ecologists: Best Student Paper Award, 2007
• NASA-MSU professional enhancement award, 2007
• Michael S. Gaines Award for Teaching Excellence, 2007

Email: andreac@ku.edu

Advisor: Daphne Fautin

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; Grad. Cert. in environmental management from Griffith University; B.S. (Hons I) in marine biology from the University of Queensland.

Hometown: Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Previous employment:

• Research Assistant—Museum of Tropical Queensland, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
  http://www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au/
• Research Assistant—Queensland Museum, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
  http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/

Research Interests: Taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny of Actiniaria (sea anemones), cnidarian biology and phylogeny, invertebrate zoology, marine biology, symbiosis

Dissertation Research: Character analysis of branched outgrowths and spherical defensive structures: implications for taxonomy and phylogeny of sea anemones

Publications:

• Fautin, D.G., Crowther, A.L., and Wallace, C.C. In press. Sea anemones (Cnidaria; Anthozoa; Actiniaria) of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum.
• Khan, R.N., Becker, J.H.A., Crowther, A.L., and Lawn, I.D. 2004. Spatial distribution of symbiotic shrimps (Periclimenes holthuisi, P. brevicarpalis, Thor amboinensis) on the sea anemone Stichodactyla haddoni. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 84:201-203.
• Khan, R.N., Becker, J.H.A., Crowther, A.L., and Lawn, I.D. (2003) Sea anemone host selection by the symbiotic saddled shrimp Periclimenes holthuisi. Marine and Freshwater Research. 54:653-656.

Popular articles:

• Crowther, A.L. and Wallace, C.C. (2005) Australia’s Sea Anemones. Biologue (an ABRS Publication) 30:14-15.

Recent Presentations:

• Crowther, A.L., Fautin, D.G., and Daly, M. 2008. Systematic position of Thalassianthidae among sea anemones using mitochondrial and nuclear genes; Annual meeting of the Society of Comparative and Integrative Biology, San Antonio, TX, January.
• Crowther, A.L. and Fautin, D.G. 2008. Shell-forming sea anemones from Australia; Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, January. (Poster)
• Crowther, A.L. 2008.A symbiotic relationship between a sea anemone Bunodeopsis? and the crab Lybia; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Student Research Paper Competition, University of Kansas Chapter, Lawrence, KS, April.
• Crowther, A.L. 2007.A symbiotic relationship between a sea anemone Bunodeopsis? and the crab Lybia; The University of Kansas Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization Retreat, Lawrence, KS, November.
• Crowther, A.L. 2007. A new species of shell-forming sea anemone from Australia; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Student Research Paper Competition, University of Kansas Chapter, Lawrence, KS, March. Third place in early graduate student division.

Recent Awards:

• Kansas Academy of Science Student Research Grant, Fall 2008, $1000.
• AMNH Lerner Gray Fund for Marine Research, Spring 2008, $1250.
• Smithsonian short-term visitor scholarship, 2008, $1875.
• The University of Kansas Women’s Club Scholarship. 2008-2009, $1250.
• Panorama Small Grant Program, The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, Spring 2008, $950.
• Travel Grant, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Kansas, Spring 2008, $300.
• Panorama Small Grant Program, The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, Spring 2007, $850.
• Travel Grant, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Kansas, Spring 2007, $200.
• Friday Harbor Laboratories Financial Aid to attend Comparative Embryology course, The University of Washington, Summer 2007, $1200.
• Ida Hyde Scholarship, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Kansas, Fall 2006, $3000.

Email: mpdavis@ku.edu

Website: http://people.ku.edu/~mpdavis

Advisor: Edward O. Wiley III

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biology from Regis University, Honors.

Hometown: Westminster, CO

Research Interests: In general, my research is concerned with examining the evolutionary relationships of teleostean fishes and exploring molecular and morphological evolution within a phylogenetic framework. Of specific interest are fishes that inhabit the deep sea, as the extreme habitats of this enviornment have produced fascinating evolutionary events among the 2000 species of marine fishes that have invaded this realm (e.g., telescopic eyes, bioluminesence, hermaphroditism). My ongoing work in this area is focused on further exploring the evolutionary relationships among Lizardfishes and their allies, mechanisms of speciation in Lanternfishes (the most speciose group of mesopelagic - bathypelagic fishes), and evolution of reproductive morphology and strategy in the deep sea. I am also interested in the apllications of Geometric Morphometrics for systematic biology, including quantitative descriptions of shape-based morphological transformation series.

Recent Publications:

• Davis, M.P. In review. Evolutionary relationships of the Aulopiformes (Euteleostei: Cyclosquamata): a molecular and total evidence approach. In: Nelson, J. S., Schultze, H.-P., and Wilson, M. V. H. (Eds.), Origin and phylogenetic interrelationships of teleosts. München (Verlag Dr. F. Pfeil).
• Ghedotti, M.J., R.M. Moroze, and M.P. Davis. In review. Phylogeny of the North American topminnows and killifishes, Family Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) based on primarily morphological evidence. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
• Luttrell, G.R., F.R. Abe, M.P. Davis, and K.R. Anderson. 2007. Recent collections of the slenderhead darter, Percina phoxocephala (Nelson), from the Kansas River Basin. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 110: 127-128.
• Ghedotti, M.J., A.M. Simons, and M.P. Davis. 2004. Morphology and phylogeny of the studfish clade, subgenus Xenisma (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Copeia (1):53-61.

Recent Presentations:

• Davis, M.P. and Holcroft, N.I. 2008. A geometric morphometric study of photophore patterns in lanternfishes: species recognition, mate recognition, neither, or both? (Scopelomorpha: Myctophidae); American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada, July.
• Davis, M.P. and Holcroft, N.I. 2008. Placement of the goatfishes (Perciformes: Mullidae) within an acanthomorph context using RAG1 and a total evidence analysis of mullid interrelationships; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada, July.
• Davis, M.P. and Arratia, G. 2008. A morphological investigation into a potential new species of Moxostoma (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from the Kansas River basin; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada, July.
• Davis, M.P. 2007. Relationships within the order Aulopiformes: A molecular approach based on nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences; Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, St. Louis, MO, July.
• Davis, M.P. and N. I. Holcroft. 2007. Interrelationships of the goatfishes (Perciformes: Mullidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences; Meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, St. Louis, MO, July. (Poster)
• Davis , M.P. 2006. Relationships within the suborder Synodontoidei (Aulopiformes: Synodontoidei): A review; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans , LA , July.
• Davis , M.P., F.R. Abe, and G.R. Luttrell. 2006. Morphological investigation of a putative hybrid zone between Moxostoma macrolepidotum and Moxostoma pisolabrum (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) in the Kansas River Basin ; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, New Orleans , LA , July.
• Ghedotti, M.J., R.M. Moroze, and M.P. Davis. 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of the Fundulidae, the North American topminnows and killifishes, (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) using morphological data; American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Tampa , FL, July.
• Ghedotti, M.J. and M.P. Davis. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships of the Pliocene killifish Fundulus detillae (Teleostei:Cyprinodontiformes); Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, St. Paul , MN, October.
• Davis , M.P. and M.J. Ghedotti. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships of the killifishes of the subgenus Fundulus (Teleostei:Cyprinodontiformes) as inferred from morphological data; West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, Colorado Springs, CO, April.

Recent Awards:

• 2008, Deep Fin Student Exchange Program - $2,000
• 2007, Panorama Society Small Grant ( University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center ) - $775
• 2006, Panorama Society Small Grant ( University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center ) - $1,200
• 2003, SPARC Student Research Grant ( Regis University ) - $485
• 2002, SPARC Student Research Grant ( Regis University ) - $500
• 2001, SPARC Student Research Grant ( Regis University ) - $250

Email: steved@ku.edu

Advisor: Michael Engel

Education: Current Ph.D. aspirant in entomology; M.A. in entomology from the University of Kansas; B.S. in entomology from the University of Maryland.

Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD

Research Interests: Morphological and molecular systematics or baridine weevils

Recent Publications:

• Davis, S.R. and Engel, M.S. 2007. A new ambrosia beetle in Miocene amber of the Dominican Republic (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Platypodinae). Alavesia 1: 121-124.
• Davis, S.R. 2007. Wing locking mechanisms in the weevil subfamily Baridine (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Entomological Research 37(suppl. 1): A103.
• Omar, Y.M., Zhang, R., and Davis, S.R. 2007. On the genus Stereoborus Wollaston (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cossoninae) with description of a new species from China. The Coleopterist’s Bulletin 61(2): 200-207.

Recent Presentations:

• Davis, S.R. 2007. Phylogeny of Baridinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America; San Diego, CA, December.
• Davis, S.R. 2007. Wing locking mechanisms in the weevil subfamily Baridinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, San Diego, CA, December. (Poster)
• Davis, S.R. 2007. Weevil diversity in Miocene Dominican amber: A preliminary overview (Coleoptera: Curculionidae); Annual meeting of the Central States Entomological Society, Emporia, KS, April.

Recent Awards: Foreign Language Area Scholarship, 2007–08

Email: scd@ku.edu

Advisor: Edward O. Wiley III

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in zoology from the University of Washington.

Research Interests: Phylogeny, evolution, and biogeography of fishes, especially meso- and bathypelagic taxa

Dissertation Research: Molecular phylogenetics of the order Stomiiformes (dragonfishes and allies)

Recent Publications:

• Williams, J., K. McNyset, S. DeVaney, and E.O Wiley. In preparation. A tale of 4 carps: Ecological niche modeling and staggered invasion history in Eurasian carps.

Recent Presentations:

• DeVaney, S.C. 2007. Phylogenetic placement of the bobtail snipe eels (Cyematidae) and elopomorph relationships; Joint meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, St. Louis, MO, July. (Poster)
• DeVaney, S.C. 2007. Phylogenetic origins of Neoteleostei and placement of Stomiiformes; Joint meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, St. Louis, MO, July.
• DeVaney, S.C. 2006. Systematics of Stomiiform fishes: Phylogeny and evolution in the deep ocean; Ocean Sciences meeting, Honolulu, HI, February
• DeVaney, S.C. 2005. Interrelationships of Stomiiformes: A molecular perspective; 7th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, May.

Recent Awards:

• Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship, 2002–2006
• NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute in Japan, 2004

Email: weash@ku.edu

Advisor: Daphne Fautin

Education: Current M.A. student in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in marine biology from the University of West Florida.

Hometown: Dunedin, FL

Research Interests: Taxonomy of Actiniaria, invertebrate zoology, coral reefs

Email: esselsty@ku.edu

Website: http://www.people.ku.edu/~esselsty

Advisors: Rafe Brown and Robert Timm

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in wildlife science from Oregon State University.

Research Interests: Biogeography and systematics of southeast Asian mammals

Recent Publications:

• Esselstyn, J.A., H.J.D. Garcia, M.V. Saulog, and L.R. Heaney. 2008. A new species of Desmalopex (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) from Mindoro Island, Philippines, with a phylogenetic analysis of Pteropodine genera. Journal of Mammalogy 89: 815-825.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2007. A new species of stripe-faced fruit bat (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae: Styloctenium) from the Philippines. Journal of Mammalogy 88: 951-958.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2007. Should universal guidelines be applied to taxonomic research? Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 90: 761-764.
• Esselstyn, J. A., A. Amar, & D. Janeke. 2006. Impact of post-typhoon hunting on Mariana fruit bats (Pteropus mariannus). Pacific Science 60:531–539.
• Esselstyn, J. A., P. Widmann, & L. R. Heaney. 2004. The mammals of Palawan Island, Philippines. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 117:271-302.
• Esselstyn, J. A., G. J. Wiles, & A. Amar. 2004. Habitat use of the Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata). Acta Chiropterologica 6:303-308.

Recent Presentations:

• Esselstyn, J.A. 2008. Is density-dependent diversification the norm in island archipelagos; University of Kansas Biodiversity Research Center, Seminar Series, Lawrence, KS, September.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2008. A multilocus perspective on the history of shrew diversification in the islands of SE Asia; Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Brookings, SD, June.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2008. Evolutionary history of shrews on SE Asian islands, Invited Seminar, Avila University, Kansas City, MO, March.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2008. Phylogeny and historical biogeography of shrews in SE Asia, University of Kansas Biodiversity Research Center, Seminar Series, Lawrence, KS, February.
• Esselstyn, J.A. 2007. Molecular phylogenetics of Philippine white-toothed shrews; Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Albuquerque, NM, June.

Recent Awards:

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2005-2008
• American Society of Mammalogists Fellowship, 2008-2009

Email: evansnat@ku.edu

Advisor: Paulyn Cartwright

Education: Current master’s student in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in biology, Honors, from Oregon State University.

Hometown: Albany, OR

Research Interests: Phylogenetics and biogeography of hydrozoans.

Recent Presentations:

• Evans, N. 2007. Phylogenetic placement and biogeography of Polypodium hydriforme; Second Annual Cnidarian Tree of Life Workshop and Student Post-doc Symposium, Cnidarian Phylogenetics and Evolution, St. John, USVI.

Email: bfinch@ku.edu

Advisor: Helen Alexander

Education: Current master’s student in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.A. in biology from the University of Kansas; B.A. in education from the University of Missouri—Kansas City; B.A. in history from the University of Louisville.

Research Interests: Plant population ecology

Recent Publications:

• Alexander, H.M., S. Price, R. Houser, D. Finch, and M. Tourtellot. 2007. Is there reduction in disease and predispersal seed predation at the border of a host plant’s range?—field and herbarium studies of Carex blanda. Journal of Ecology 95: 446-457.