Current Grad Students: G–O

Email: laci@ku.edu

Advisor: Joy Ward

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

Hometown: Hutchinson, KS

Research Interests: Physiological and evolutionary responses of plants to changes in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations over geologic time

Publications:

• Gerhart L.M., Ward J.K. 2010. Tansley Review: Plant responses to low [CO2] of the past, New Phytologist 188: 674-695.

Presentations:

• Gerhart L.M, Harris J.M., Ward J.K. 2010. Interannual physiological responses of glacial trees to changes in atmospheric [CO2] since the Last Glacial Maximum, Ecological Society of America 95th Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, August 3.
• Gerhart, L.M., Harris, J.M., Ward, J.K. 2009. Evolutionary responses of trees to changes in atmospheric CO2, Ecological Society of America 94th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, August.
• Gerhart, L.M. and J.K. Ward. 2008. Evolutionary responses of tree growth to geologic changes in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations; Ecological Society of America 93rd Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, August. (Poster)
• Gerhart, L.M. and J.K. Ward. 2008. Carbon assimilation in Ice Age trees growing at low atmospheric CO₂; Gordon Research Conference —CO₂ Assimilation in Plants: Genome to Biome, Biddeford, ME, August. (Poster)

Awards:

• Arthur J. Mix Botany Scholarship, 2010
• Mary Harkey Hall Award in Plant Biology, 2009
• Sigma Xi Student Research Paper Competition, 1st Place Early Graduate Student Section, 2009
• IGERT C-Change: Climate Change, Humans and Nature in the Global Environment Fellowship, 2009-2010
• Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship, 2008-2012

Email: grismer@ku.edu

Mentors: Rafe Brown and Linda Trueb

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology
• M.S. in biology from Villanova University, 2010

• B.S. in biology from Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge, 2007

Research Interests: Phylogeny and biogeography of Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian herpetofauna

Recent Publications:

• Bauer, A. M., , J. F. Parham, R. M. Brown, B. L. Stuart, L. L. Grismer, T. J. Papenfuss, W. Böhme, J. M. Savage, S. Carranza, J. L. Grismer, P. Wagner, A. Schmitz, N. B. Ananjeva, R. F. Inger. 2010. Availability of new Bayesian-delimited gecko names and the importance of character-based species descriptions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 278: 490–492.
• Grismer, L. L.,  S. Anuar, E. Quah, M. A. Muin, K. O. Chan, J. L. Grismer, N. Ahmad. 2010. A new spiny, prehensile-tailed species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Malaysia with a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on morphology. Zootaxa. 2625: 40-52.
• Grismer, L. L., M. Sumonthat, M. Cota, J. L. Grismer, P. L. Wood Jr., O. S. Pauwels, K. Kunya. 2010. A revision and redescription of the rock gecko Cnemaspis siamensis (Taylor 1925) Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Peninsular Thailand with descriptions of seven new species. Zootaxa. 2576: 1–55.
• Chan, K. O., L. L. Grismer, S. Anuar, E. Quah, M. A. Muin, A. E. Savage, J. L. Grismer, N. Ahmad,C. Remigio, L. F. Greer. 2010. A new endemic rock Gecko Cnemaspis Strauch 1887 (Squamata:Gekkonidae) from Gunung Jerai, Kedah, northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa. 2576: 59–68.
• Ngo, V. T., L. L. Grismer, J. L. Grismer. 2010. A new species of Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827 Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Phu Quoc National Park, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, Southwestern Vietnam. Zootaxa. 2604: 37–51.
• Grismer, L. L., C. K. Onn, E. Quah, M. A. Muin, A. E. Savage, J. L. Grismer, N. Ahmad, L. F. Greer III, A. C. Remegio. 2010. Another new, diminutive rock gecko (Cnemaspis Strauch) from Peninsular Malaysia and a discussion of resource partitioning in sympatric species pairs. Zootaxa. 2569: 55–66.
• Grismer, L. L., C. K. Onn, J. L. Grismer, P. L. Wood Jr., A. Norhyati. 2010. A checklist of the herpetofauana of the Banjaran Bintang, Peninsular Malaysia. Russian Journal of Herpetology.  17: 147–160.
• Grismer, J. L. 2009. Battle Sexes: Asexuality verses Sexuality. IRCF Reptiles and Amphibians. 16:1.
• Grismer, L. L., P. L. Jr. Wood, J. L. Grismer. 2009. A New Insular Species of Skink of the Genus Sphenomorphus Strauch 1887 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Pulau Perhentian Besar, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. Tropical Life Science Research. 20:1.
• Chan, K. O., L. L. Grismer, P. L. Jr. Wood, J. L. Grismer, A. Norhayati. 2009. Preliminary Checklist of the Herpetofauna of Pulau Besar, Melaka, Malaysia. Tropical Life Science Research. 20:1.
• Grimser, L. L., N. V. Tri, J. L. Grismer. 2008. A new species of pitviper of the genus Cryptelytrops (Squamata: Viperidae) from a small island off the southern coast of Vietnam. Zootaxa. 1715: 57-68.

• Grismer, J. L. 2008. Book review of Amphibians and Reptiles of Bali. Herpetological Review. 39: 124-125.

Recent Presentations:

• Asexuality on the Beach: Phylogeny, Biogeography and the Origin of Parthenogenesis in Leiolepis. Stowers Institute for Medica Research, Kansas City, MO. November 2010. Invited Seminar Speaker.
• Grismer, J.L. 2009. Asexuality on the Beach: Phylogeny, Biogeography and the Origin of Parthenogenesis in Leiolepis. Joint Meetings of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists' League. Portland, Oregon.
• Grismer, J.L. 2009. Rumble in the Jungle: The displacement of Leiolepis belliana form northwestern Peninsular Malaysia by the parthenogenic species Leiolepis triploida. Tropical Vertebrates Symposium. Bonn, Germany.
• Grismer, J.L. 2008. Preliminary Phylogeography of Leiolepis belliana and Leiolepis reevesii. Joint Meetings of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists' League. Montreal, Canada.
• Grismer, J.L. 2008. Whos Who: The Specific Status of Leiolepis belliana and Leiolepis reevesii. First Annual Agamid Lizard Symposium, Bonn Germany.

Email: d460h434@ku.edu

Advisor: Bryan Foster

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evoluationry biology

• B.S. in biology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Magna Cum Laude, 2010

Research Interests: Ecology and prairie restoration

Publications:

• Reed, A.W., D. Hall, and N.A. Slade. In preparation. Climate induced changes in growth rates of prairie vole and cotton rat populations: Evidence of demographic buffering.

Presentations:

• A.W. Reed, D. Hall, and N.A. Slade. 2010. Effects of climate variability on populations of cotton rat and prairie vole. 90th Annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists. Laramie, WY. June.

 

Email: charper@ku.edu

Advisor: Thomas N. Taylor

Education:

• Currently a master's student in ecology and evolutionar biology
• B.S. in plant biology from Purdue, 2010

• B.S. in plant breeding and genetics from Purdue, 2010

Hometown: Del Rio, Texas

Research Interests: Paleobotany, paleomycology, and plant evolution

Recent Publications:

• Krings, M., T.N.Taylor, H. Hass, N. Dotzler, E.L. Taylor, H. Kerp, and C. Harper. 2010 Enigmatic microfossils from the Lower Devonian Rhynie chert with possible affinities to the water molds (Peronosporomycota). Journal of Paleontology. (submitted)

Recent Presentations:

• Harper, C. Molecular approaches in determining phyB association with glyphosate resistance in weeds. 2009 Purdue University Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium, W Lafayette, IN (Poster)
• Harper, C. Trichome distribution in flowers of Abutilon theophrasti, Velvet Leaf. 2008 Purdue University Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium, W Lafayette, IN (Poster)
• Harper, C. Starch Granule Architecture. 2007 Agronomic Society of America Undergraduate Poster Contest, New Orleans, LA (Poster)
• Harper, C. Starch Granule Architecture. 2007 Purdue University Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium, West Lafayette, IN (Poster)

• Harper, C. Starch Granule Architecture and Starch Digestibly. 2007 Maize National Genetics Conference, St. Charles, IL (Poster)

Recent Awards:

• 2010. Botany Endowment Fund. The University of Kansas. $350
• 2010. Women in Science. Botanical Society of America. $200
• 2009. American Society of Plant Biologists Undergraduate Film Competition. 1st place. $500
• 2009. Purdue Undergraduate Research Symposium. College of Agriculture Dean’s Choice Award. $250
• 2008. Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation Summer Scholar
• 2007. Purdue Undergraduate Research Symposium. 3rd Place Life Science. $200

Email: hensz@ku.edu

Mentor: Jorge Soberon

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.S. in biology from Washington State University, 2010

Research Interests: Biomathematics, biogeography, niche-modeling

Recent Awards:

• 2010. NSF C-Change IGERT, Climate Change Humans and the Global Environment Trainee. 

 

Email: hosner@ku.edu

Advisor: Robert Moyle

Education:

• Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.S. in natural resources from Cornell University, 2003

Hometown: Holly, MI

Research Interests: Diversification, biogeography, population history, molecular systematics, conservation, neotropical and SE Asian birds

Recent Publications:

• Styring, A.R., Ragai, R., Unggang, J., Stuebing, R., Hosner, P.A., and F.H. Sheldon. 2011. Bird community assembly in Bornean industrial tree plantations: effects of forest age and structure. Forest Ecology and Management 261: 531–544.
• Hosner, P.A., Sheldon, F.H., Lim, H.C., and R.G. Moyle.2010. Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Asian trogons (Aves: Trogoniformes) inferred from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57: 1219–1225.
• Sheldon, F.H., Hosner, P.A., and Styring, A. 2010. Use of industrial and agricultural tree plantations by Bornean forest birds: a long term perspective. Biological Conservation.
• Peterson, A.T., M.J. Andersen, S. Bodbyl-Roels, P.A. Hosner, A Nyári, Carl Oliveros, Monica Papes.2009. A prototype forecasting system for bird-borne disease spread in North America based on migratory bird movements. Epidemics. 1(4): 240-249.
• Sheldon, F.H., H.C. Lim, J. Nais, M. Lakim, A. Tuuga, P. Malin, J. Majuakim, A. Lo, M. Schilthuizen, P.A. Hosner, R.G. Moyle. 2009. Observations on the ecology, distribution, and biogeography of forest birds in Sabah, Malaysia. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 57: 577–586.
• Hosner, P.A., Behrens, K.D., and N.E.L. Huanca. 2009. The first records of Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons) in Bolivia, and other notes on Bolivian Bird Distribution. Boletin SAO 18.
• Huanca, N.E., Hosner, P.A., Hennessey, A.B. 2009. Nests, vocalizations, and conservation status of endangered Cochabamba Mountain-Finches (Compsospiza garleppi). Journal of Field Ornithology 80: 215-223.
• Hosner, P.A., Behrens, K.D., and Hennesey, A.B. 2009. Birds (Aves) Serrania Sadiri, Paque Nacional Madidi, Depto. La Paz, Bolivia. Checklist 5: 222-237.
• Hosner, P.A. and N.E.L Huanca. 2008. The nest, eggs, and breeding behavior of the Puna Tapaculo (Scytalopus simonsi). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120 473-477.
• Tobias, J.A., Lebbin, D.J., Andersen, M.J., Hosner, P.A., Seddon, N., Guilherme, E. and A. Aleixo. 2008. Vocal repertoire, behavior, and distribution of the Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus), including the first records for Bolivia and Brazil. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 120: 38-49.
• Moyle, R.G. and P.A. Hosner. 2008. Taxonomic status of the Kinabalu Swiftlet. Bull. British Ornithologists Club 198: 94-100.
• Lebbin, D.J., Hosner, P.A., Andersen, M.J., Valdez, U., and Tori, W.P. 2007. 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. Boletin SAO 17:119-132.
• Andersen, M.J., Lebbin, D.J.L., and P.A. Hosner. 2007. First photographic evidence of Verry (Catharus fuscescens) for Peru. Boletin SAO 17: 36-38.

• Hosner, P.A. and D.W. Winkler. 2007. Dispersal distances of tree swallows from continent wide data and a local area study. Journal of Field Ornithology 78: 290-293.

Recent Presentations:

• Hosner, P.A. Testing the Pleistocene aggregate island complex (PAIC) model of diversification in co-distributed avian lineages. AFO/COS/WOS, Kearney, NE March 2011
• Hosner, P.A. Pleistocene island groups do not sufficiently explain diversification in eight Philippine bird lineages. NHMGSO retreat, Lawrence, KS October 2010.
• Hosner, P.A. Molecular Phylogeny and biogeography of the Knipolegus Black-tyrants . American Ornithologists’ Union meeting, San Diego, CA, 2010.
• Hosner, P.A. Biogeography of Asian trogons. NHMGSO retreat, Lawrence, KS October 2009.
• Hosner, P.A.Natural history and conservation of the endangered Cochabamba Mountain-Finch. NHMGSO retreat, Lawrence, KS, November 2007.

Awards:

• KU Graduate Student Research Fund/KUBI Panorama Fund: $3000. 2011
• Michael S. Gaines award for excellence in teaching principals of biology (KU). 2011
• American Museum of Natural History Chapman Fund: $2000. 2011
• American Ornithologists’ Union Alexander Wetmore Award. $2500. 2011.
• NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant. Testing the Pleistocene aggregate island complex (PAIC) model of diversification in co-distributed avian lineages. $14,824. 2011-2013.
• National Geographic Society Committee for Exploration and Research. An avifaunal inventory of Ayacucho, Peru: speciation across dry valley and an underappreciated center of endemism. $13,533. 2011.
• American Philosophical Society: Lewis and Clark Fund for Research and Exploration. $3,500. 2010
• Tinker Foundation Travel grant. $850. 2008.
• KUNHM Panorama Fund. $700. 2008.

 

Email: kate.ingenloff@ku.edu

Advisor: A. Townsend Peterson

Education:

• Current master's aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.Sc. in wildlife and fisheries sciences, Texas A&M University

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Research Interests: Ecological niche modeling, apex predator ecology, impacts of climate change across trophic scales

Prior Employment:

• Disease Vector Field Biologist, Genesis Laboratories (Bihar State, India & Fort Collins, CO)

• Environmental & Natural Resource Management Volunteer, US Peace Corps (Republic of the Gambia, West Africa)

Publications:

• Ingenloff, K., R. Garlapati, D. Poché, I. Singh, J. Remmers & R. Poché. In press. Feed-through insecticides for the control of Phlebotomus argentipes.  Journal of Medical and Veterinary Entomology.
• Poché, R., D. Poché, R. Garlapati, K. Ingenloff & J. Remmers. In prep.  Efficacy of targeted chemical control of Phlebotomus argentipes at the village level in kala-azar endemic Bihar, India: Pilot study. Journal of Vector Ecology.
• Shirley, M.H., K. Ingenloff, C. Bogwardt, M.J. Eaton, M. Jallow, and J.D. Austin. In Prep. Comprehensive conservation of African slender-snouted (Mecistops cataphractus) and dwarf (Osteolaemus tetraspis) crocodiles at the western limit: The Gambia and Senegal. Biological Conservation.

Email: m707j068@ku.edu

Advisors: Robert Moyle and A. Townsend Peterson

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology
• M.Sc. in natural resource management from Andalas University, Indonesia, 2007

• B.Sc. in animal taxonomy and ornitholoogy from Andalas University, Indonesia, 2003

Hometown: Padang, Indonesia

Research Interests: Population divergence and speciation of forest birds, geographical isolation

Publications:

• Novarino, W., A.Mardiastuti, L.B. Prasetyo, R. Widjakusuma, Y.A. Mulyani, H. Kobayashi, A. Salsabila, Jarulis and M.N. Janra. 2008. Guild composition and niche breadth of understorey birds in Sipisang, West Sumatra. Biota 13(3): 156- 163.

• Novarino, W., S.N. Kamilah, A. Nugroho, M.N. Janra and M. Silmi. 2007. Visitation of mammals on salt licks in protected forest of Taratak, Pesisir Selatan District of West Sumatra. Biota 12(2): 100-107.

Presentations:

• Janra, M.N., W. Novarino, D. Gusman and Aadrean. 2010. The study on montane birds in two mountains of West Sumatra. Poster presented in the 2010 International Meeting of the Association for the Tropical Biology and Conservation. Bali, Indonesia, July.

Awards:

• 2010-2011. Small-scale Research Grant Programme. Year II. Nagao Natural Environment Foundation Japan. Ecology of Avian Community in Singgalang Mountain, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
• 2010-2011. Future Conservationists Award from Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) UK. Facilitating Avian Conservation in Post-logging Lowland Rainforest of Sumatra, Indonesia.
• 2009-2010. Small-scale Research Grant Programme. Year I. Nagao Natural Environment Foundation Japan. Ecology of Avian Community in Singgalang Mountain, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
• 2009. Indonesia Educational Office Research Grant, Department of Education and Cultural of Republic of Indonesia. Ecology and Biodiversity of Mountainous Birds in Sumatra.
• 2008. IdeaWild, USA. Digiscoping Equipments for Birdwatching Activity.
• 2006. HEDS Small Grant. Utilization of artificial nestbox as a conservation effort of avifauna biodiversity in the area of Andalas University Grand Forest.
• 2005. HEDS Small Grant. Morphology of Alcedo meninting (Alcedinidae) in Andalas University Grand Forest.
• 2005-2007. Ford Foundation Fellowship.

 

Email: robinmei@ku.edu

Advisor: Robert Moyle

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.S. in ecology, behavior, and evolution from the University of California, Los Angeles, 2009

Research Interests: Avian speciation and brood parasitism

Publications:

• Kaiser K, Scofield DG, Alloush M, Jones RM, Marczak S, Martineau K, Oliva MA, and Narins PM. In press. When sounds collide: The effect of anthropogenic noise on a breeding assemblage of frogs in Belize, Central America. Behaviour.
• Oliva, MV, Jones, RM, Kaiser, K, Alloush, M, Marczak, S and Martineau, K. 2010. Dendropsophus microcephalus. Predation. Herpetological Review 41 (2): 195.
• Marczak, S, Alloush, M, Jones, RM, Martineau, K, Oliva, M, and Kaiser, K. 2010. Geographic distribution: Sibon dimidiata (Slender snail-sucker). Herpetological Review 41(1): 111.

• Kaiser, K, M Alloush, RM Jones, S Marczak, K Martineau, and MA Oliva. 2009. Use of Visual Implant Alpha (VIAlpha) Fluorescent Tags in a Small Hylid Frog with a New Technique for Application. Herpetological Review 40(4): 421-422.

Presentations:

• Jones, RM, Schlunegger, J., Pollinger, J., and Wayne, R. CSI Santa Monica Mountains: Social structure of the mountain lion (Puma concolor) using molecular genetics. Presentation at UCLA Science Poster Day, Los Angeles, CA, 2009.
• Kaiser, K., Alloush, M., Jones, RM, Marczak, S., Martineau, K., Oliva, M.V., and Narins, P.M. When sounds collide: Effects of anthropogenic noise on frog calling behavior. Presentation at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Portland, OR, 2009.

Email: klymiuk@ku.edu

Advisor: Thomas N. Taylor

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in botany
• M.Sc. Systematics & Evolution, University of Alberta 2011
• B.Sc. with Specialization in Paleontology, with Distinction, University of Alberta 2009

Hometown: Manning, Alberta, Canada

Research Interests:

Presently, my background is comparative plant anatomy and cladistic systematics, but I am hoping to branch (or perhaps "hyphae"?) out into palaeomycological research, which I would like to incorporate into investigations of trends in paleoecological succession.  I am presently engaged in preparing petrographic thin sections of silicified peat from the Eocene (48.7 Ma) Princeton Chert of southern British Columbia, Canada.  The fossil plants at this site are preserved in situ, and often in growth habit.  Because of this, the 40+ layers that comprise the outcrop offer a marvellous opportunity to study plant-fungal interactions, and to determine how they might have changed throughout the depositional history of this konservat-laggerstatten.  Today, most peat is produced in cold northern bogs and fens, and fungi are among the most important decomposers of organic material.  Tropical peat-accumulating settings, like the Sarawak peat swamps of Malaysia, have been investigated as possible analogues for coal-forming depositional settings, but mycological research in temperate and tropical settings is rather inchoate.   Similarly, palaeomycology is a rapidly burgeoning field, but the ecological context of putatively cold-temperate peat systems like those found in Antarctica is not fully understood. In this light, the subtropical mire preserved as the Princeton Chert stands to offer important insights into the palaeoecological context of fungi and their role in peat formation and maturation processes.  Furthermore, investigations of Eocene fungi will serve to expand our knowledge of the diversity of fossil fungi and provide valuable data complementing endeavours to reconstruct the phylogeny of modern fungal groups.

My prior research has involved the description of new species of fossil conifers from the Cretaceous of Vancouver Island (British Columbia), and the whole-plant reconstruction of Pinus arnoldii Miller, which marks the first organismal concept for an extinct member of Pinaceae.  I have also brushed up against bryophytes, enigmatic ?seed ferns, and fruits attributable to Nyssaceae (Cornales).  In my previous incarnation as a M.Sc. student, I became very interested in cladistic methodology, specifically synthesizing morphological data with molecular systematics, and look forward to opportunities to continue synergizing my knowledge of plant anatomy with systematics.

Publications:

• Klymiuk, AA, R.A. Stockey, and G.W. Rothwell. 2011. The first organismal concept for an extinct species of Pinaceae: Pinus arnoldii Miller.  International Journal of Plant Sciences 172: 294-313.

Presentations:

(* = presenting author)

• 11/07/2011 – Botanical Society of America, Isabel Cookson Award Series (Paleobotanical Section Papers): Klymiuk, AA*, RA Stockey, GW Rothwell.  2011.  A new Taxodioid (Cupressaceae) seed cone from the Upper Cretaceous of British Columbia, Canada.  Botany 2011, 104th meeting of the Botanical Society of America; St Louis, MO.
• 2/08/2010 – Botanical Society of America, Isabel Cookson Award Series (Paleobotanical Section Papers):  Klymiuk, AA*, RA Stockey.  2010.  Evolution of Pinaceae: a new seed cone from the Cretaceous of Vancouver Island.  Botany 2010, 103rd meeting of the Botanical Society of America; Providence, RI.               
• 27/07/2009 – Botanical Society of America, Isabel Cookson Awards Series
  Klymiuk, AA*, RA Stockey, GW Rothwell.  2009.  The first organismal concept for an extinct species of Pinaceae: Pinus arnoldii Miller.  Botany 2009, 102nd meeting of the Botanical Society of America; Snowbird, UT.
• 28/07/2009 – Botanical Society of America, Paleobotanical Section Papers:
  Stockey, RA*, GW Rothwell, AA Klymiuk.  2009.  Is Doylea a cupulate seed fern, a conifer, or neither? Botany 2009, 102nd meeting of the Botanical Society of America; Snowbird, UT.

Awards:

• 2011 – Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Travel Award
• 2010 – Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research Teaching Award
• 2009 – Botanical Society of America’s Young Botanist Award
• 2009 – Dept. of Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Award
• 2008 – Jason Lang Memorial Scholarship

Email: boryana@ku.edu

Advisor: John K. Kelly

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.S. in interdisciplinary studies in mathematical biology from Truman State University, 2011

Research Interests: Bioinformatics

Presentations

• Koseva, B.S., S.M. Quinn. 2010. Modeling Energy Allocation in a Generalist Snake Predator, N.sipedon.
  2nd annual Undergraduate Research Conference at the Interface of Biology and
  Mathematics. NIMBioS, Knoxville, TN.
• Koseva, B.S., A.F. Tougas. 2010. Modeling Optimal Foraging in a Generalist Snake Predator,
  N.sipedon. Student Research Conference. Truman State University, Kirksville, MO.
• Koseva, B.S., A.F. Tougas. 2009. Modeling Optimal Foraging in a Generalist Snake Predator,
  N.sipedon. 1st annual Undergraduate Research Conference at the Interface of Biology and
  Mathematics. NIMBioS, Knoxville, TN.
• Koseva, B.S., A.H. DeBrot, D.R. Elliott, C.M. Owens, and C.E. Montgomery. 2009. Digestive
  Physiology of three Missouri Snake Species. Missouri Herpetological Association, Bull
  Shoals, MO.

Email: e346k458@ku.edu

Mentor: Ford Ballantyne IV

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.A. in anthropology from New York University, Magna Cum Laude, 2004.

Hometown: Arlington, Virginia

Research Interests: Global climate change, animal behavior models

Email: cwlinkem@ku.edu

Advisor: Rafe Brown

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.A. in integrative biology from the University of California—Berkeley

Hometown: Truckee, CA

Research Interests: My research program uses squamate reptiles as a model to answer questions in evolutionary biology. This involves an integrative approach, combining morphological evolution, systematics, biogeography and development. Currently, I am working with scincid lizards in the Sphenomorphus Group to answer numerous questions about body-form evolution, osteological development, Southeast Asian biogeography, and character evolution of scalation in skinks.

Website: http://www.cwlinkem.com

Recent Publications:

• Welton L. J., Siler C. D., Diesmos A. C., Linkem C. W., and Brown R. M. 2010. Philippine bent-toe geckos of the Cyrtodactylus agusanensis complex: Phylogeny, morphological diversity, and description of three new species.  Herpetological Monographs.
• Brown R. M., Linkem C. W., Diesmos A. C., Balete D. S., Duya M. V., and Ferner J. F. 2010. Species boundaries in Philippine montane forest skinks (Genus Sphenomorphus): three new species from the mountains of Luzon and clarification of the status of the poorly-known S. beyeri, and S. knollmanae and S. laterimaculatus.  Occasional Papers of the Kansas Natural History Museum 42:1–27.
• Brown R. M., Linkem C. W., Siler C. D., Sukumaran J., Esselstyn J. A., Diesmos A. C., Iskandar D. T., Bickford D., Evans B. J., McGuire J. A., Supriatna J., Andayani N. 2010. Phylogeography and historical demography of Polypedates leucomystax in the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines: Evidence for recent human-mediated range expansion? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57:598–619
• C. W. Linkem, K. M. Hesed, A. C. Diesmos, R. M. Brown. 2010. Species boundaries and cryptic lineage diversity in a Philippine forest skink complex (Reptilia; Squamata; Scincidae; Lygosominae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56:572–585.
• C. D. Siler, A. C. Diesmos, C. W. Linkem, M. Diesmos, and R. M. Brown. 2010. A new species of limestone-forest frog, genus Platymantis (Amphibia: Anura: Ceratobatrachidae) from central Luzon Island, Philippines. Zootaxa 2482:49–63.
• C. W. Linkem, C. D. Siler, A. C. Diesmos, E. Sy, and R. M. Brown. 2010. A new species of Gekko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from central Luzon Island, Philippines. Zootaxa 2396: 37–49.
• C. W. Linkem, A. C. Diesmos, and R. M. Brown. 2010. A new species of scincid lizard (Genus: Sphenomorphus) from Palawan Island, Philippines. Herpetologica 66(1): 67–79.
• J. Sukumaran and C. W. Linkem. 2009. Choice of Topology Estimators in Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis. Molecular Biology and Evolution 26:1–3.
• C.W. Linkem, J.A. McGuire, C.J. Hayden, M.I. Setiadi, D. Bickford, and R.M. Brown. 2008. A new species of bent-toe gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Sulawesi Island, Eastern Indonesia. Herpetologica 64(2):232–242.
• C.J. Hayden, R.M. Brown, G. Gillespie, M.I. Setiadi, C.W. Linkem, D.T. Iskandar, U. Laela, D. Bickford, A. Riyanto, I. Mumpuni, and J.A. McGuire. 2008. A new species of bent-toed gecko Cyrtodactylus 1827 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Herpetologica 64(1):109–120.
• J.A. McGuire, C.W. Linkem, M. Koo, D.W. Hutchinson, K.K. Lappin, D.O. Orange, J. Lemosespinal, B. Riddle, and J. Jaeger. 2007. Mitochondrial introgression and incomplete lineage sorting through space and time: phylogenetics of crotaphytid lizards. Evolution 61: 2879–2897.
• C.D. Siler, C.W. Linkem, A. Diesmos, and A. Alcala. 2007. A new species of Platymantis (Amphibia; Anura; Ranidae) from Panay Island, Philippines. Herpetologica 63: 351–364.
• A.D. Leaché, M.O. Rödel, C.W. Linkem, R.E. Diaz, A. Hillers, and M.K. Fujita. 2006. Biodiversity in a forest island: reptiles and amphibians of the Togo Hills, Kyabobo National Park, Ghana. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 4(1): 22–45.
• C.W. Linkem and J.A. McGuire. 2006. Range extension of Micruroides euryxanthus. Herpetological Review 37(4): 499.

 

Recent Presentations:

• Linkem, C. W., J. A. McGuire, D. Iskandar, and R. M. Brown. 2010.  Phylogeography of Sulawesi skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus.  Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization Retreat.  Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
• C. W. Linkem and R. M. Brown. 2010. Morphological evolution in Philippine Sphenomorphus. Oral presentation at Evolution 2010, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA. June.
• C. W. Linkem, J. A. McGuire, D. Iskandar, and R. M. Brown. 2009. Phylogeography of Sulawesi skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus. Oral presentation atSoutheast Asian Gateway Evolution, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, England.
• C. W. Linkem and J. Oaks. 2009. Empirical Examination and Utility of the Dirichlet Process Prior in Bayesian Phylogenetics: A Test with Scincid and Anolis Lizards.  Oral presentation at Evolution 2009, Ernst Mayr Competition, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, June.
• C. W. Linkem, A. C. Diesmos, and R. M. Brown. 2009. Systematics of Philippine skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus (Reptilia: Scincidae: Lygosominae). Oral presentation at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Portland, Oregon, July.
• C. W. Linkem. 2009. Systematics of Philippine skinks in the genus Sphenomorphus. National Museum of the Philippines. Manila, Philippines.
• C. W. Linkem. 2008. Systematics, taxonomy, and body-form evolution in Sphenomorphus: a prelude; Museum lunch series, University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, Lawrence, KS.
• C. W. Linkem, R.M. Brown, and J.A. McGuire. 2007. Molecular phylogenetics and biogeography of the emerald skink (Lamprolepis smaragdina); Museum lunch series, University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, Lawrence, KS.
• C. W. Linkem, R. M. Brown, D.T. Iskandar, A.C. Diesmos, J.A. McGuire. 2005. Phylogeography of Lamprolepis smaragdina in Southeast Asia and the West Pacific; Annual Meeting of the Kansas Herpetological Society, Pittsburgh, KS.

 

Recent Awards:

• 2010—KU-EEB Summer Research Fund —$4,000.00
• 2009—NSF DDIG—$14,800.00
• 2009—NHM Panorama Fund—$900.00
• 2009—CAS Stearns Grant-in-aid—$790.00
• 2007—NHM Panorama Fund—$1095.00
• 2007—Lewis and Clark Fellowship—$1500.00
• 2006—NHM Panorama Fund—$600.00

Email: alira@ku.edu

Advisors: A. Townsend Peterson and Jorge Soberon

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in environmental biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; B.S. in biology from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Hometown: Zamora, Michoacán, México

Research Interests: Description and analysis of species’ distributions at multiple spatial scales, the scaling of the factors that determine the presence of a species’ in a particular site and its entire geographic range. I will use a real case incorporating population dynamics and a mechanistic approach as the means for understanding the area of distribution of a species. I am also interested in the analysis of general diversity patterns at local and regional levels, as well as the evaluation and assessment of beta-diversity, in its relationship to ecological niche theory.

Recent Publications:

• John M. Schukman, Andrés Lira-Noriega, and A. Townsend Peterson. Multiscalar ecological characterization of Say’s and Eastern phoebes and their zone of contact in the Great Plains. The Condor (In press)
• Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza, Andrés Lira-Noriega, María del Coro Arizmendi, Humberto Berlanga, Patricia Koleff, Jaime García-Moreno y A. Townsend Peterson. Áreas de conservación para las aves de México: integrando criterios de priorización. CONABIO. (Book chapter—In press)
• Tania Urquiza Haas, Patricia Koleff, Andrés Lira Noriega, Melanie Kolb, Jesús Alarcón. Selección de áreas prioritarias para la conservación de los vertebrados terrestres: ¿es posible usar un grupo como indicador? CONABIO. (Book chapter—In press)
• López Acosta, J. C., A. Lira Noriega, I. Cruz y R. Dirzo. 2011. La proliferación de luces nocturnas: Un indicador de actividad antrópica en México. CONABIO. Biodiversitas, 94:1-5
• Jiménez-Valverde, A., A. Lira-Noriega, A. T. Peterson, and J. Soberón. 2010. Marshalling Existing Biodiversity Knowledge to the Challenge of Evaluating Biodiversity Status and Trends in Regional Planning Exercises. Ecological Research 25(5): 947-957.
• Jiménez-Valverde, Alberto, Narayani Barve, Andrés Lira-Noriega, Sean P. Maher, Yoshinori Nakazawa, Monica Papeş, Jorge Soberón, Jeet Sukumaran, and A. Townsend Peterson. 2010. Dominant Climate Influences on North American Bird Distributions. Global Ecology and Biogeograpy 20(1):114-118.
• Vega, Rodrigo, Camilla Fløjgaard, Andrés Lira-Noriega, Yoshinori Nakazawa, Jens-Christian Svenning and Jeremy B. Searle. 2010. Northern glacial refugia for the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) in Europe revealed by phylogeographic analyses and species distribution modelling. Ecography 33:260-271.
• Jiménez-Valverde, Alberto, Yoshinori Nakazawa, Andrés Lira-Noriega and A. Townsend Peterson. 2009. Environmental Correlation Structure and Ecological Niche Model Projections. Biodiversity Informatics, 6, 28-35
  
• Urquiza-Haas, T., M. Kolb, P. Koleff, A. Lira-Noriega, J. Alarcn. 2009. Methodological approach to identify Mexico’s terrestrial priority sites for conservation. Gap Analysis Bulletin. 16: 60-70
• A. T. Peterson, N. Barve, L. Mauricio Binib, J. A. Diniz-Filhob, A. Jiménez-Valverde, A. Lira-Noriega, J. Lobo, S. Maher, P. de Marco, Jr., E. Martínez-Meyer, Y. Nakazawa and J. Sobern. 2009. The climate envelope may not be empty. PNAS, vol. 106, no. 16, E47.
• Koleff, P., M. Tambutti, I. March, R. Esquivel, C. Cantú, y A. Lira-Noriega. 2009. Identificacin de prioridades y análisis de vacíos y omisiones en conservacin de la biodiversidad de México, en Capital natural de México, vol. II: Estado de conservacin y tendencias de cambio. Conabio, México, pp. 651-718.
• Koleff, P., J. Sobern, H.T. Arita, P. Dávila, . Flores-Villela, J. Golubov, G. Halffter, A. Lira-Noriega, et al. 2008. Patrones de diversidad espacial en grupos selectos de especies, en Capital natural de México, vol. I: Conocimiento actual de la biodiversidad. Conabio, México, pp. 323-364.

 

Recent Presentations:

• Fabricio Villalobos, Andrés Lira-Noriega, Jorge Soberón and Héctor T. Arita. 2011. Range-diversity plots for conservation planning: using richness and rarity in priority setting. International Biogeography Society (IBS), Crete.
• Lira-Noriega, A. 2010. Insights on the distribution of the desert mistletoe. Center of Latin American Studies—Meriendas (KU).
• Lira-Noriega, A. 2010. A GIS and object oriented classification application to the problem of scaling ecological patterns and processes. GIS Day, KU.
• Schukman, J.M., Andrés Lira-Noriega and A. Townsend Peterson. 2009. Ecological characterization of Say’s and Eastern Phoebes at multiple spatial scales. 127th Stated AOU Meeting (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12-15 August 2009).
• Jorge Soberón and Andrés Lira-Noriega. 8th Annual Symposium GIS Day at KU. Presentation. 2009. An analysis of conservation gaps for Mexico. November 18, 2009.
• Lira- Noriega, A. Jorge Soberón, Patricia Koleff,Héctor T. Arita, Patricia Dávila, Oscar Flores-Villela, Gonzalo Halffter, Claudia E. Moreno, Elizabeth Moreno, Mariana Munguía, Miguel Murguía, Adolfo G. Navarro-Sigüenza, Oswaldo Téllez, Leticia Ochoa-Ochoa, A. Townsend Peterson and Pilar Rodríguez. 2008. Spatial diversity patterns of the Mexican vertebrales. 93^rd Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 4.
• Soberón, J. and A. Lira-Noriega. 2008. The association of environmental variables with diversity measures at different spatial scales. 93^rd Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 4.

 

Recent Awards:

• 2010.  Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Grant. 4,000 euros. “A Comparison of Correlative and Mechanistic Ecological Niche Modeling Approaches for Understanding Biodiversity Pattern”
• 2010. GIS Day at KU, 2nd Place Speaker.  $150 US.
• 2010. Tinker Summer Field Research Grant. $1350 US dls (includes a matching fund from the Biodiversity Institute, The University of Kansas). “Mapping of the distribution of the hemiparasitic plants Phoradendron californicum and P. serotinum (Viscaceae) at different spatial scales.”
• 2009. Marcia Brady Tucker Student Travel Award for presenting at the 127th Stated AOU Meeting (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12-15 August)
• 2009—NHM Panorama Fund—$1000.00
• 2008-present—CONACYT Fellowship

Email: l447l824@ku.edu

Mentor: James Thorp

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.A. in biology from the University of Minnesota - Morris, 2011.

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Research Interests: Freshwater ecology, ecosystem services and conservation

Awards:

• 2011. Jay Y. Roshal Award.

Email: cmaier@ku.edu

Mentor: Andrew Short

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in entomology
• M.S. in entomology from Montana State University, 2010
• B.S. in fisheries science from Virginia Tech, 2007

 

Hometown: Jersey City, NJ

Research Interests: Systematics, evolution, and biology of Dryopoidea and Myxophagan beetles

Recent Publications:

• Maier, C.A., M.A. Ivie, J.B. Johnson, and D.R. Maddison, 2010.A New Northern-most Record for the Family Hydroscaphidae LeConte, with Description of a New Nearctic Species(Coleoptera: Myxophaga). The Coleopterists Bulletin 64(3): 289-302

 

Recent Presentations:

• Gimmel,M.L.andC.A. Maier, 2010.The Scirtid Fauna of Louisiana.Display Poster Presentation, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA.
• Maier,C.A.and M.L. Ferro, 2010. Elmidae of Missouri State Parks.Display Poster Presentation, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA.
• Parys, K.A., M.L. Gimmel, M.L. Ferro, S.A. Gil,C. A. Maier, J.-S. Park, E. Schoeller, & L. Lawton, 2010.Promoting Entomology at LSU:The Mad Dog Marathon. Display Poster Presentation, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA.
• Maier, C.A., M.A. Ivie, and R.C. Winton, 2010. Hot Hydroscapha:Finding potentialhydroscaphid habitat in Idaho’s hotsprings (Coleoptera: Hydroscaphidae). Contributed Oral Paper, Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting 2010, San Diego, CA.
• Ivie, M.A., D.E. Bright, A.R. Cline, I.A. Foley, M.L. Gimmel, K.J. Hopp, E.A. Ivie, L.L. Ivie, J.B. Johnson, C.A. Maier, S.B. Peck, R.C. Winton, 2009. The beetles of St. Lucia, West Indies: literature records vs. expedition findings vs. predicted outcomes; Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.
• Maier, C.A., M.A. Ivie, M.Yu. Kalashian, M.G. Volkovitsh, 2009. Not-so-boring metallic woodboring beetles: systematic studies in the genus Sphenoptera (Coleoptera: Buprestidae); Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.
• Ivie, M.A., D.S. Sikes, C.A. Maier, R.C. Winton, 2009. The Coleoptera of Saba, West Indies; Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.
• Maier, C.A., M.Yu. Kalashian, M.A. Ivie, M.G. Volkovitsh, 2008. A LUCID® key to the subgenera and species-groups of Sphenoptera Dejean of the Palaearctic (Coleoptera: Buprestidae); Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Reno, NV.

 

Recent Awards:

• 2010. KU Entomology Endowment Travel Award. $782.00.

 

Mentor: Robert Moyle

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology
• M.S. in integrative genomics from Black Hills State University, 2011

• B.S. in genetics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008

Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI

Research Interests: Speciation and biodiversity

Website: http://people.ku.edu/~j460m658/index.shtml

Publications:

• Siemens DH, Duvall-Jisha J, Jacobs J, Manthey JD, Haugen R & Matzner S. 2012. Water deficiency induces stress-tolerance-chemical defense evolutionary tradeoff that may help explain local range limits in plants. Oikos doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2011.19944.x
• Manthey JD, Klicka J & Spellman GM. 2011.Isolation driven divergence: speciation in a widespread North American songbird (Aves: Certhiidae). Molecular Ecology. 20: 4371-4384.

• Manthey JD, Klicka J & Spellman GM.  2011. Cryptic diversity in a widespread North American songbird: phylogeography of the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana).  Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58: 502-512.

Select Presentations:

• Manthey JD, & Spellman GM.  2011 Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists and the American Society of Naturalists.  The fast-Z effect: increased efficacy of fixation in Z-linked markers in Certhia americana.  Norman, OK.
• Manthey JD & Spellman GM.  2010 Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists and the American Society of Naturalists. Asymmetric gene flow following secondary contact in the Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli). Portland, OR.

• Manthey JD, Klicka J & Spellman GM.  2010 Joint Meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Cooper Ornithological Society and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. Multi-Locus Phylogeography of the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana).  San Diego, CA.

Awards:

• 2011 - NSF IGERT C-CHANGE Fellowship.  The University of Kansas.
• 2010 - South Dakota Space Grant Consortium Fellowship ($1750).
• 2010 - South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union – Husmann Memorial Scholarship ($500).
• 2010 - South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union –Whitney Memorial Research Grant ($500).
• 2010 - Cooper Ornithological Society Graduate Student Membership 2-year Award.
• 2009 - Master of Science in Integrative Genomics Research Fellowship.  Black Hills State University.

Email: kmickle@ku.edu

Mentors: Hans-Peter Schultze and Edward O. Wiley III

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in biology from Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA; B.S. in biology from Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA

Hometown: Somerdale, NJ

Research Interests: Systematics and phylogenetics of Paleozoic lower actinopterygian fishes

Recent Publications

• Mickle, Kathryn E., Lund, Richard, and Grogan, Eileen.  2009. Three new palaeoniscoid fishes from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Serpukhovian, Mississippian) of Montana (USA) and the relationships of lower actinopterygians.  Geodiversitas 31 (3):623–668. 
• Mickle, Kathryn E. & Bader, Kenneth.  2009. A new platysomid from the Upper Carboniferous of Kansas (USA) and remarks on the systematics of deep-bodied lower actinopterygians.  Acta Zoologica 90:211–219. 
• Mickle, Kathryn E. 2007. A new platysomid from the Late Carboniferous of Kansas (USA), Ichthyolith Issues, Special Publication 10, Abstract of Papers from 40^th Anniversary Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, 491:67. 
• Mickle, Kathryn E. 2006. An Overview of Palaeoniscoid Actinopterygian Vertebrae from the Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Abstracts of Papers from Annual Meeting, 26:100A
• Mickle, Kathryn E., Lund Richard, Grogan, Eileen D. 2005. Three new paleoniscoid fishes from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Serpukhovian, Mississippian) of Montana and the relationships of lower actinopterygians, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Abstracts of Papers from Annual Meeting, 25:92A

Recent Presentations

• Mickle, K. E. 2010. Revisiting the actinopterygian preoperculum. Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Pittsburgh, PA, Poster.   
• Mickle, K. E. 2010. Revisiting the actinopterygian preoperculum. Talk at the KU Graduate Student Retreat.
• Mickle, K. E.  2010. Revisiting the actinopterygian preoperculum. Mesozoic Fishes Conference, Saltillo, Mexico.
• Mickle, K.E. 2009. The lower actinopterygian fauna of the Manning Canyon Shale Formation (Upper Mississippian, Lower Pennsylvanian) of Utah.  Kansas Academy of Science, Topeka, KS, March. 
• Mickle, K. E. 2009.  Carboniferous lower actinopterygian fossil fishes from the Manning Canyon Shale Formation of Utah. Talk at the Sigma Xi conference at the University of Kansas, April. 
• Mickle, K.2008. The Bear Gulch Limestone—A review of 40 years of fishing in a Paleozoic bay. KU Museum Lunch Talk, November.
• Mickle, K. 2007. Fossil Lower Actinopterygians—hurdles faced while investigating their diversity and relationships, talk at KU Graduate Student Retreat, November .
• Mickle, K.  2007. Digging for 318 Million Year Old Fish in Montana; and a Swedish Fish Conference, KU Museum Lunch Talk, October.
• Mickle, K. 2007. Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes—hurdles faced while investigating their diversity and relationships,  talk at graduate student seminar, Ohio State University Stone Laboratory, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, October.
• Mickle, K.E. 2007. A new platysomid from the Late Carboniferous of Kansas; Symposium on Early Vertebrates/Lower Vertebrates, Uppsala, Sweden, August.
• Mickle, K.E. 2006. An overview of palaeoniscoid actinopterygian vertebrae from the Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana; Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Ottawa, Canada, October.
• Mickle, K.E. 2006. Relationships of Bear Gulch palaeoniscoids and lower actinopterygians; International Paleontological Congress, Beijing, China, June.

• Mickle, K.E. 2005. Three new palaeoniscoid fishes from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Serpukhovian, Mississippian) of Montana and the relationships of lower actinopterygians; Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Mesa, Arizona, October.

Awards

• 2010 – NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, $12,200
• 2010 – Panorama Research Grant, $700
• 2010-KU Graduate Studies Summer Research Fellowship, $5,000
• 2009—Ernst Mayr Travel Grant in Animal Systematics, $1,200
• 2009—Panorama Research Grant, $700
• 2009—Second place PhD oral presentations, Kansas Academy of Science
• 2007—Panorama Research Grant, $785
• 2006—NSF and Palaeontological Society travel grant, $1,000
• 2005—Panorama Research Grant, $700
• 2005—Departmental Travel Grant, $150

Email: kjmin@ku.edu

Advisors: Ford Ballantyne IV and Sharon Billings

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evoluationary biology
• M.C.P. in environmental studies from Seoul National University, 2010
• B.S. in immunology from POSTECH, 2007

Hometown: Seoul, Korea

Research Interests: Biogeochemistry, landscape ecology, global climate change

Publications:

• Kwon, M., Seo, J., Min, K., Park, S., Jang, I., Kang, H. 2010. Greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, and N2O) fluxes from tidal marsh along with water level gradient. Spring Academic Conference of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers.
• Seo, J., Kwon, M., Min, K., Park, S., Jang, I., Kang, H. 2010. Microbial enzyme activity trends in the Han river estuary. Spring Academic Conference of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers.

Awards:

• 2009-2010. Korea Student Aid Foundation (KOSAF) Scholarship.
• 2009. Alumni Association Scholarship, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National Univeristy.

Email: pmonnahan@ku.edu

Mentor: John Kelly

Education:

• Current doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.S. in biology from Truman State University, 2009

Research Interests: Evolutionary and ecological genomics

Recent Publications:

• Almany, G. R., et al. (2009). "Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 May 2009–31 July 2009." Molecular Ecology Resources 9(6): 1460-1466.

Recent Presentations:

• Monnahan, P. J.  2010. Identification of 29 novel, polymorphic microsattelite loci in the red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis).  GSO Retreat 2010, Lawrence, KS.

Email: murphyc@ku.edu

Advisor: Bryan Foster

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.S. in environmental studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas

Hometown: Columbus, NE

Research Interests: Plant and soil community ecology; Plant and soil feedbacks

Recent Publications:

• Foster BL, Questad EJ, Collins CD, Murphy CA, Dickson TL and Smith VH. In press. Dispersal limitation contrains plant species sorting and community differentiation across a soil nitrogen gradient. Journal of Ecology.
• Foster BL, Khavin IS, Murphy CA, Smith VH, Ramspott ME, Price KP and Kindscher K. 2010. Integrated responses of grassland biodiversity and ecosystem properties to hay management: A field experiment. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 113: 103-119.
• Foster, B.L., Kindscher, K., Houseman, G.R., and Murphy, C.A. 2009. Effects of hay management and native species sowing on grassland community structure, biomass and restoration. Ecological Applications 19 (7): 1884-1896.
• Foster, B.L., Murphy, C.A., Keller, K.R., Aschenbach, T.A., Questad, E.J., and Kindscher, K. 2007. Restoration of Prairie Community Structure and Ecosystem Function in an Abandoned Hayfield: A Sowing Experiment. Restoration Ecology 15(4): 652-661.
• Murphy, C.A., Foster, B.L., Ramspott, M.E., and Price, K.P. 2006. Effects of cultivation history and current grassland management on soil quality in northeastern Kansas.  Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 61(2): 75–84.
• Foster, B.L., Dickson, T.L., Murphy, C.A., Karel, I.S., and Smith, V.H.  2004.  Propagule pools mediate community assembly and diversity-ecosystem regulation along a grassland productivity gradient.  Journal of Ecology 92: 435–449.
• Murphy, C.A., Foster, B.L., Ramspott, M.E., and Price, K.P.  2004.  Grassland management and soil bulk density.  Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 107(1/2): 45–54.

• Murphy CA and Lindquist JL. 2002.  Growth response of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) to three postemergence herbicides.  Weed Science 50(3): 364–369.

Recent Presentations:

• Murphy CA. 2010. The influence of plant communities and seasonality upon soil bacterial communities in a tallgrass prairie system. Biology Seminar, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Tenneessee-Chattanooga.
• Murphy CA and Foster BL. 2010. The influence of plant species identity and seasonality on soil rhizosphere bacterial communities. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.
• Murphy CA and Foster BL. 2009. Impacts of tallgrass prairie restoration on soil bacterial communities, plant communities and ecosystem properties. The Society of Nematologists and Soil Ecology Society Conference. Burlington, Vermont.
• Murphy CA. 2009. Investigating the impacts of differing plant species upon soil bacterial communities. University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves (KSR) Informal Seminar Series.
• Murphy, C. 2007. Effects of fertilization and haying on soil bacterial communities in a northeastern Kansas experiment; Ecological Society of America Conference, San Jose, CA.
• Murphy CA.2007. Investigating the impact of plant species diversity upon soil bacterial communities. University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves (KSR) Informal Seminar Series.
• Murphy CA. 2007. Feedback effects among plant species diversity and soil microbial communities and its importance to ecosystem processes within tallgrass prairie. Postgraduate Course; Soil Ecology: Crossing the frontier between below- and above-ground. Wageningen, The Netherlands.
• Murphy CA, Foster BL, Ramspott ME, Price KP and Kindscher K. 2005. Effects of fertilization and haying on grassland productivity, community properties and relationships to spectral reflectance. Ecological Society of American Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada.
• Foster BL, Murphy CA, Dickson TL, Karel IS, Collins C and Questad E. 2005. Development of the diversity-productivity relationship during community reassembly is constrained by propagule availability.  Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada.
• Murphy CA and Foster BL. 2004. Soil characteristics after three years in a nutrient enrichment and haying experiment. University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves (KSR) Informal Seminar Series.
• Ramspott ME, Price KP, Foster BL and Murphy CA. 2004. Using airborne multispectral sensor data to assess land-use impacts on carbon stocks in a managed grassland ecosystem. Association of American Geographers, Centennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
• Ramspott ME, Price KP, Foster BL and Murphy CA. 2004. Characterization of biophysical factors in an experimental cool-season grassland using multiscale VNIR remote sensing. Association of American Geographers, Centennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
• Murphy CA, Foster BL, Ramspott ME and Price KP. 2003. Soil characteristics of Conservation Reserve Program in relation to other privately managed grasslands. Society for Ecological Restoration Annual Meeting, Austin, TX.
• Murphy CA, Foster BL, Ramspott, ME, Price KP, Hildebrand T and Evanhoe L. 2003. Spatial scaling of plant species richness in grasslands: relationships to productivity, soils and management. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA.
• Murphy CA. 2003. Grassland management and soil bulk density. Sigma Xi Student Research Paper Competition. University of Kansas.
• Ramspott ME, Price KP, Foster BL and Murphy CA. 2003. . Linking remotely sensed measurements to biophysical factors in a cool-season grassland in Northeast Kansas. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Annual Meeting, Anchorage, AK.
• Murphy CA and Lindquist JL. 1998. Growth response of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) to three postemergence herbicides. Weed Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

• Murphy CA, Louda SM and McEachern AK. 1995. Distribution and abundance of spiders on Cirsium pitcheri in relation to plant and habitat characteristics. Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Lincoln, NE.

Recent Awards:

• Graduate Student Paper Presentation Travel Award. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas. $300. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA. August 1-6, 2010.
• Graduate Student Paper Presentation Travel Award, 2009. $200.
• Small Grants Program; University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves, 2009. $528.
• Small Grants Program; University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves, 2008. $360.
• Graduate Student Paper Presentation Travel Award. 2007. $200.
• KU Women 4 KU Women Fund, 2007. $250.
• Graduate Student Travel Award - KBS, 2007. $250.
• Graduate Student Travel Award - EEB, 2007. $250.
• Student Endowment Funds; Dept. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2006. $1,000.
• Small Grants Program; University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves, 2006. $530.
• Graduate Student Research Training Travel Award, 2005. $200.
• Graduate Student Paper Presentation Travel Award, 2005. $200.
• University of Kansas Field Station and Ecological Reserves 2003 Small Grants Program, 2003. $310.40.
• Graduate Student Paper Presentation Travel Award, 2003. $400.
• Graduate Student Travel Award, 2003. $461.

Email: nawrocki@ku.edu

Advisor: Paulyn Cartwright

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; B.A. in molecular biology and genetics from Northwestern University

Hometown(s): Born in Portland, Oregon. Other places I call home: Winona, MN; Chicago, IL

Research Interests:  I'm broadly interested in the phylogenetics, evolution, and development of invertebrates - in particular, hydrozoans (Phylum: Cnidaria). Other interests include: complex character evolution, heterochrony, and higher-level metazoan evolution.

Dissertation Research: My dissertation work examines the evolution and development of species belonging to the clade Aplanulata, a group of hydrozoans that includes the model organism Hydra

Publications:

• Nawrocki, A.M., Schuchert, P. and Cartwright, P. 2010. Phylogenetics and evolution of Capitata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa), and the systematics of Corynidae. Zoologica Scripta 39(3): 290-304
• Cartwright, P. and Nawrocki, A.M. 2010. Character Evolution in Hydrozoa. Journal of Integrative and Comparative Biology. 50(3): 456-472.

 

Presentations:

• Nawrocki, A.M., A. Johnson, P. Cartwright. 2010. Evolution of Coloniality in Aplanulata (Cnidara: Hydrozoa).  International Meeting of the Hydrozoan Society, Lecce, Italy.
• Nawrocki, A.M., Schuchert, P., and Cartwright, P. 2009. An Update on Capitata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) Phylogenetics; Cnidarian Tree of Life Annual Meeting, Orono, Maine, August.
• Nawrocki, A.M., Barbeitos, M.S., and Cartwright P. 2008. Phylogenetics of Aplanulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) and the evolution of hydromedusae; Evolution Conference, Minneapolis, MN, June.
• Nawrocki, A.M., Barbeitos, M.S., and Cartwright P 2008. Phylogenetics of Aplanulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) and the evolution of hydromedusae; Cnidarian Tree of Life Annual Meeting, La Paz, Mexico, July.
• Nawrocki, A. 2008. Molecular evidence clarifies hydra's closest relatives; Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Antonio, TX, January.
• Nawrocki, A. 2007. Phylogenetic placement of hydra: Evidence from nuclear and mitochondrial markers; International Workshop on Hydra and the Development of Animal Form, Tutzing, Germany, September.

 

Awards:

• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Travel Grant. The University of Kansas. 2010.
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Travel Grant. 2009.
• National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant. 2009.Aplanulata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa): A Model Clade for Investigating the Evolutionary and Developmental Basis of Hydrozoan Body Plan Diversity; http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0910211
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Travel Grant. 2008.
• The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center Panorama Grant.2008.Capitate hydrozoans of Baja California, Sur, Mexico.
• Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship. 2007-2011
• The University of Kansas Ida H. Hyde Scholarship. 2007-2008
• The University of Kansas Kenneth B. Armitage Award for Teaching Excellence. 2007

Email: joaks1@ku.edu

Advisor: Rafe Brown and Mark Holder

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.S. in biology from Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge; B.S. in biology from the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh

Hometown: Oshkosh, WI

Research Interests: Phylogenetics, biogeography, and phylogeography of reptiles and amphibians

Recent Publications:

• Siler, C.D., J.R. Oaks,  J.A. Esselstyn, A.C. Diesmos, and R.M. Brown.  Submitted.  Phylogeny and biogeography of Philippine bent-toed geckos (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) contradicts a prevailing model of Pleistocene diversification.
• Oaks, J.R., J.M. Daul, and G.H. Adler. 2008. Life span of a tropical forest rodent, Proechimys semispinosus. Journal of Mammology 89(4): 904-908.

• Grismer, L.L., T. Neang, T. Chav, P.L. Wood, J.R. Oaks, J. Holden, J.L. Grismer, T.R. Szutz, and T.M. Youmans. 2008. Additional amphibians and reptiles from the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in Northwestern Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia, with comments on their taxonomy and the discovery of four new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 56(1): 161-175.

Recent Presentations:

• Oaks, J.R., J. Sukumaran, J.A. Esselstyn, C.W. Linkem, C.D. Siler, R.M. Brown.  2010. Comparative phylogeography of terrestrial vertebrates across Philippine Pleistocene aggregate island complexes.  Evolution 2010, Portland, Oregon.
• Oaks, J.R.  2010. Objective partition choice and the phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of the true crocodiles (Crocodylus).  KU Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series.  Lawrence, Kansas.
• Oaks, J.R.  Objective Partitioning in Phylogenetic Inference.  Oral presentation at the Sigma Xi Research Paper Competition, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, April 2009.
• Oaks, J.R., and C.W. Linkem.  Accommodating Among-Site Rate Variation in Phylogenetic Inference: Data Partitioning as a Random Variable and the Objective Choice of Partition Strategy.  Oral presentation atEvolution 2009, Ernst Mayr Competition, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho,June 15, 2009.
• Linkem, C.W., and J.R. Oaks.  Empirical Examination and Utility of the Dirichlet Process Prior in Bayesian Phylogenetics:  A Test with Scincid and Anolis Lizards. Evolution 2009, Ernst Mayr Competition, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho,June 15, 2009.
• Oaks, J.R.  Objective partition choice and the phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of the true crocodiles.  Oral presentation at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Portland, Oregon, 24 July 2009.
• Oaks, J.R.  Approximate Bayesian Computation in the Chiricahua Mountains.  KU Natural History Museum Lunch Seminar Series, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, May 2009. 
• Oaks, J.R.  Accommodating Among-Site Rate Variation in Phylogenetic Inference:  Data Partitioning as a Random Variable and the Objective Choice of Partition Strategy.  KU Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization Retreat, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, December 2008. 

• Oaks, J.R.  Evolution of the True Crocodiles (Crocodylus).  Oral presentation at the Sigma Xi Research Paper Competition, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, April 2008.  (Awarded 2nd place).

Recent Awards:

• 2010. NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant. Comparative Phylogeography of a Dynamic Archipelago. $14,886.
• 2010. NSF travel and training grant. ~$1,000.
• 2010. KU Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Summer Fellowship. $4,000.
• 2010. KU Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Travel Award. May. $300.
• 2010. KU Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Travel Award. June. $300.
• 2010. KU Biodiversity Institute Travel Grant. $300.
• 2009. Henri Seibert award for best paper in Systematics/Evolution.
• 2009. Estimating Species Trees Workshop Travel Grant.
• 2009. Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research.
• 2009. Society of Systematic Biologists Award for Graduate Student Research.
• 2009. Panorama Grant.

Email: n.h.odell@ku.edu

Advisor: Kirsten Jensen

Education:

• Current master's student in ecology and evolutionary biology

• B.A. in biology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Research Interests: Taxonomy and systematics of Elasmobranch tapeworms, investigating host-parasite relationships including coevolution and host specificity.

 

Email: oliveros@ku.edu

Advisor: Rob Moyle

Education:

• Currently a doctoral candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology
• M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology from KU, 2009

• B.S. in mathematics from De La Salle Univeristy, Magna Cum Laude, 1997

Hometown: Las Pinas, Philippines

Research Interests: Philippine and Southeast Asian ornithology, biogeography, and conservation

Recent Publications:

• Oliveros, C. H., H. Ota, R. I. Crombie and R. M. Brown. 2011. The herpetofauna of the Babuyan Islands, Northern Philippines. Scientific Papers, Natural History Museum, the University of Kansas 43: 1-20.
• Oliveros, C. H. and C. A. A. Layusa.  2011.  First description of the nest and eggs of the Calayan Rail.  Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology 42: 143-146.
• Brown, R. M., A. C. Diesmos and C. H. Oliveros. In press.  A new flap-legged forest gecko (Genus Luperosaurus) from the Northern Philippines. Journal of Herpetology.
• Esselstyn, J. A., C. H. Oliveros, R. G. Moyle, A. T. Peterson, J. A. McGuire and R. M. Brown. 2010. Integrating phylogenetic and taxonomic evidence illuminates complex biogeographic patterns along Huxley’s modification of Wallace’s Line.  Journal of Biogeography 37: 2054–2066.
• Sanchez-Gonzales, L. A., C. H. Oliveros, N. Puna and R. G. Moyle. 2010. Nest, nest placement and eggs of three Philippine endemic birds.  The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 122: 587–591.
• Oliveros, C. H. and C. A. A. Layusa.  2010. First record of Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo for the Philippines.  Forktail 26: 139.
• Esselstyn, J.A. and C.H. Oliveros. 2010.  Colonization of the Philippines from Taiwan: A multilocus test of the biogeographic and phylogenetic relations of isolated populations of shrews.  Journal of Biogeography 37(8): 1504-1514.
• Oliveros, C.H. and R.G. Moyle. 2010. Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 54: 822-832.
• Peterson, A.T., M.J. Andersen, S. Bodbyl-Roels, P. Hosner, Á. Nyári, C. Oliveros and M. Papeş. 2009. A prototype forecasting system for bird-borne disease spread in North America based on migratory bird movements. Epidemics 1(4): 240-249.
• Brown, R.M., Oliveros, C., Siler, C., and Diesmos, A.C. 2009. Phylogeny of Gekko from the Northern Philippines, and Description of a New Species from Calayan Island. Journal of Herpetology 43(4): 620-635.
• Brown, R.M., Oliveros, C.H., Siler, C.D., and Diesmos, A.C. 2008. A new Gekko from the Babuyan Islands, Northern Philippines. Herpetologica 64(3): 305-320.
• Oliveros, C.H., Telan, S. and Guerrero, J. 2008. Philippine crocodile conservation on Dalupiri Island, northern Philippines. National Museum Papers 14(2008): 98-108.
• Oliveros, C., Peterson, A.T., and Villa, M.J.C. 2008. Birds, Babuyan Islands, province of Cagayan, Northern Philippines: New island distribution records. Check List 4(2): 137-141.

• Reyes, M.A.P., D. Bennett and C. Oliveros. 2008. The monitor lizards of Camiguin Island, northern Philippines. Biawak 2(1): 28-36.

Presentations:

• Oliveros, C. H. and R. G. Moyle. 2011. Origin and diversification of Philippine birds: examples from bulbuls and scops owls. 20th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Dumaguete City, Philippines. April. Contributed oral paper.
• Brown, R., J. Esselstyn, C. Oliveros and A. Diesmos. 2011. The Conservation Significance of Phylogenetic Exceptions to the Palawan Rule. 20th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Dumaguete City, Philippines. April. Contributed oral paper.
• Layusa, C. A. A., C. H. Oliveros and A. Lira-Noriega. 2011. Modeling the distribution of an island-endemic rail. 20th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Dumaguete City, Philippines. April. Contributed oral paper.
• Oliveros, C. H., C. A. A. Layusa and J. B. Reynon. 2011. Monitoring the population of the Calayan Rail.  20th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Dumaguete City, Philippines. April. Poster presentation.
• Oliveros, C. H., C. A. A. Layusa and J. B. Reynon. 2011. Monitoring the population of the Calayan Rail.  2011 Joint Meeting of the Association of Field Ornithology, Cooper Ornithological Society and Wilson Ornithological Society, Kearney, NE. March. Contributed oral paper.
• Andersen, M. J., C. H. Oliveros, A. Nyari, C. E. Filardi and R. G. Moyle.  2010. A molecular phylogeny of the Variable Kingfisher (Ceyx lepidus) reveals a novel Philippine lineage. Joint Meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Society, the American Ornithologists’ Union, and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, San Diego, California.  February.
• Moyle R. G., M. J. Andersen, C. H. Oliveros and S. Reddy.  2010. Higher level phylogeny of the core babblers (Timaliidae). Joint Meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Society, the American Ornithologists’ Union, and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, San Diego, California.  February.
• Garcia, H., N. M. Follosco, C. A. Layusa, C. Monoy, C. Oliveros and J. Reynon. 2010. Gathering local knowledge in quantifying hunting pressure on the Calayan Rail  Gallirallus calayanensis. 19th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines. April.  Poster.
• Garcia, H., N. M. Follosco, C. A. Layusa, C. Monoy, C. Oliveros and J. Reynon. 2010. Gathering local knowledge in quantifying hunting pressure on the Calayan Rail  Gallirallus calayanensis. 1st Student Conference in Conservation Biology, Bangalore, India. June.
• Layusa, C. A., N. M. Follosco and C. H. Oliveros. 2009. Establishing a Community-Managed Wildlife Sanctuary Calayan Island, Northern Philippines. 18th Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Annual Meeting, Baguio City, Philippines. April. Poster.
• Layusa, C. A., N. M. Follosco and C. H. Oliveros. 2009. Establishing a Community-Managed Wildlife Sanctuary Calayan Island, Northern Philippines.  International Congress for Conservation Biology, Beijing China.  July. Poster.
• Oliveros, C. H. and R. G. Moyle. 2009. Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls. 127^th Annual Meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. A. August. 
• Oliveros, C. 2008. Conservation of the Calayan Rail. Seminar to undergraduate biology majors, Avila University, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. Oct.
• Oliveros, C., Layusa, C.A., and Morales, M.A. 2008. Monitoring the status of the Calayan Rail. 22nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Conservation Biology, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.A., July.

• Oliveros, C. 2007. Conservation of the Calayan Rail. Graduate Student Organization Annual Retreat, Univeristy of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, Oct.

Grants and Awards:

• August 2009. "Establishing a locally-managed wildlife sanctuary in Calayan Island," Team member, PHP 712,800, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc.
• August 2009. "Calayan Rail Project 3: Targeting community involvement in conserving an island-endemic species," Team member, USD 1,500 in equipement, Ideawild.
• March 2009. Conservation Leadership Programme Leadership Award, "Calayan Rail Project 3: Targeting community involvement in conserving an island-endemic species," Team member, USD 50,000, Conservation Leadership Programme.
• January 2009. OBC Wildwings Conservation Awareness Award, "Participatory approach in localizing environmental educatiohn in the Municipality of Calayan, Cagayan, and Philippines," Team member, GBP 1,000, Oriental Bird Club.
• July 2007. John Judy Grant Award, Team member, USD 500, Environmental Education and Conservation Global.
• March 2007.Conservation Leadership Programme Follow-up Award, "Calayan Rail Project 2: Building stakeholders' capacity to conserve an island-endemic species," Team leader, USD 25,000, Conservation Leadership Programme.

Email: boneill@ku.edu

Advisor: James Thorp

Education:

• Currently a doctoral aspirant in ecology and evolutionary biology
• M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas
• B.S. in aquatic biology from Bemidji State University

Hometown: Ada, MN

Research Interests: Large river ecology, specifically how flow pulses and hydrogeomorphic fluctuations affect the benthic macroinvertebrate community, espescially in sand bed prairie rivers. The continuously shifting sandbars of the Kansas River provides an interesting study area where little research has been done in the past.

Recent Publications:

• O’Neill, B.J. and J.H. Thorp. Submitted June, 2010. Flow refugia for the zoobenthos of a sand bed river: the role of physical habitat complexity. Submitted to Journal of the North American Benthological Society. In Press.

• Thorp, J.H., J.E. Flotemersch, M.D. Delong, A.F. Casper, M.C. Thoms, F. Ballantyne, B.S. Williams, B.J. O’Neill, and C.S. Haase. 2010. Linking ecosystem services, rehabilitation, and river hydrogeomorphology. BioScience 60(1):67-74..

Recent Presentations:

• O’Neill, B.J., and J.H. Thorp. 2009. Benthic macroinvertebrate response to hydrogeomorphic fluctuations in a sand bed, prairie river. 56^th Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society. Poster Presentation. Salt Lake City, UT, May 25-28, 2008.
• O’Neill, B.J., and J.H. Thorp. 2008. River channel complexity: climate change, hydrogeomorphology, and the benthic community. Kansas EPSCoR Symposium. Poster Presentation. Lawrence, KS, April 19, 2008.
• O’Neill, B.J. and J.H. Thorp. 2009. Hydrogeomorphic fluctuations in a sand bed prairie river: benthic invertebrates, river complexity and habitat use. First Biennial Conference of the International Society for River Science. St. Pete Beach, FL.
• O'Neill, B.J.and J.H. Thorp. 2009. Ecological responses to hydrogeomorphic fluctuations in a sand bed prairie river: river complexity, habitat availability, and benthic invertebrates. 2009 Kansas Statewide EPSCoR Conference. Manhattan, KS.

• O’Neill, B.J., and J.H. Thorp. 2009. Benthic macroinvertebrate response to hydrogeomorphic fluctuations in a sand bed, prairie river. 57^th Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society. Grand Rapids, MI.

Recent Awards:

• 2009. EEB Summer Research Funding, $1000
• 2007. Kansas Academy of Science Student Research Grant. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Response to Hydrogeomorphic Fluctuations in a Sand Bed Prairie, $1000.

Email: hannah-o@ku.edu

Advisor: Ed O. Wiley

Education: Current Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology; M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology from KU, 2008; B.S. in biology from KU, 2006.

Hometown: Downers Grove, IL

Research Interests: Ichthyology, climate change, niche modeling, phylogeography, parasitology

Recent Presentations:

• Owens, H. L. 2010. Searching for Living Fossils: GIS and Niche Modeling. University of Kansas 9th Annual GIS Day, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Owens, H. L. 2010. Predicting the distributions of the coelacanths Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis. University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute Graduate Student Organization Annual Retreat, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Owens, H. L. 2010. Predicting the distributions of the coelacanths Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis. Annual Meeting of the Great Plains-Rocky Mountain Division of the Association of American Geographers, Lawrence, Kansas.Poster.
• Owens, H.L. 2010. Predicting the distributions of the coelacanths Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis; Annual Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Providence, RI, July.
• Owens, H.L. 2010. Predicting the distributions of the coelacanths Latimeria chalumnae and Latimeria menadoensis; Annual Graduate Student Research Competition, University of Kansas Department of Graduate Studies, Lawrence, KS, March. (Poster)
• Owens, H. L. 2009. The Mongolian Vertebrate Parasite Project: A Bird’s Eye View. University of Kansas Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization Annual Retreat, Lawrence, Kansas. October.
• Owens, H.L. 2008. Multiple species of Phoreiobothrium from the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, from the Gulf of Mexico. Oral Presentation. American Society of Parasitology. Arlington, Texas. June.
• Owens, H.L. 2008. Multiple species of Phoreiobothrium from the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, from the Gulf of Mexico. Oral Presentation. Southwest Association of Parasitologists. Lake Texoma, Oklahoma. April.
• Owens, H. L. 2007. Species of Phoreiobothrium (Cestoda: Onchobothriidae) in the Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) from the Gulf of Mexico and their potential applications as biological tags. University of Kansas Natural History Museum Graduate Student Organization Annual Retreat, Lawrence, Kansas. October. 
• Owens, H.L. 2006. New species of Phoreiobothrium (Cestoda: Onchobothriidae) from carcharhinid sharks from the Gulf of Mexico. Poster presentation. Southwestern Association of Parasitologists. Lake Texoma, Oklahoma. April.

 

Recent Awards:

• 2010.  University of Kansas, 9^th Annual GIS Day, Third Place Presentation.
• 2010.  University of Kansas, Biodiversity Institute Graduate Student Organization Retreat. First Place Presentation. 
• 2010. Michael S. Gaines Award for Excellence in Teaching, Principles of Biology Laboratory.
• 2009–present, NSF Climate Change IGERT Fellowship
• 2008, Marc Dresden Student Travel Grant
• 2006, J. Michael Young Opportunity Award
• 2002–2006, University of Kansas National Merit Scholar
• 2002–2006, University of Kansas Dean's List