Curriculum Vitae - Thomas C. McElroy

 

Assistant Professor

Kennesaw State University

Department of Biological and Physical Sciences

1000 Chastain Rd. #1202

Science and Mathematics Building #12 Rm. 319

Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591

Phone: (770) 423-6162; Fax: (770) 423-6625

tmcelro@kennesaw.edu

 

Education:

Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS                      Ph.D.               1999     Biological Sciences

Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS                      M.S.                 1995     Biological Sciences

Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA             B.S.                  1991     Biological Sciences

 

M.S. Thesis Title: Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase genotype-fitness relationships throughout ontogeny in Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta). 1995. Mississippi State University.

 

Dissertation Title: Genetic mechanisms of heterosis in two closely related species of earthworm (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei): A comparison of quantitative trait and allozyme markers. 1999. Mississippi State University.  Graduate Advisor: Dr. Walter J. Diehl

 

Professional Experience:

 

Research

2002- 2004                    Post-doctoral Associate, Mississippi State University, “Development of a molecular data base for select wood decay fungi.”

1999- 2002                    Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Florida International University, “Studies on population structure and delineation of consumer communities in the Everglades National Park.”

1993 - 1995                   Research Assistant, Mississippi State University, “Effect of environmental stress and inbreeding on multilocus-heterozygosity - fitness relationships”

1992 (summer)              Research Assistant, USDA-ARS, Oxford, MS, “Tillage and soil structure”

Teaching

2004 - present               Professor, Interdisciplinary Science, Evolution, Conservation Genetics, Introduction to Biology, Kennesaw State University

1998                             Lecturer, Human Biology, Mississippi State University

1992 - 1999                   Teaching Assistant, Mississippi State University

1989 - 1992                   Field Instructor, Quest Outdoor Adventure Program, Bloomsburg University

 

Publications:

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC; Kandl, KL. 2006. Temporal dynamics of population genetic structure reveal colonization dynamics of eastern mosquitofish in a dynamic aquatic landscape. Submitted to Molecular Ecology (2006)

 

M. Lynn Prewitt, Susan V. Diehl, Thomas C. McElroy and Walter J. Diehl. 2006.  Creation of a RFLP database of wood decay fungi. Submitted to International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation (2006)

McElroy, TC; Diehl WJ.  2005. Ontogenetic changes in relative performance of allozyme gentotypes influences detection of heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia andrei.  Heredity 94: 258-263.

 

McElroy, TC; Kandl, KL; Garcia, J; Trexler, JC.  2003. Extinction-colonization dynamics structure genetic variation of spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) in the Florida Everglades.  Molecular Ecology 12: 355-368.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  2001.  Heterosis in two closely related species of earthworm (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei).  Heredity 87: 598-608.

 

McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1999.  Genotypes of multiple allozyme loci interact with an experimental environment to affect survivorship in earthworms (Eisenia andrei).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 123A: 241-247.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1997.  Genotypes of multiple allozyme loci interact with an experimental environment to affect growth in juvenile earthworms (Eisenia fetida andrei).  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 118B(2): 437-446.

 

Presley, ML; McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1996.  Soil moisture and temperature interact to affect growth, survivorship, fecundity, and fitness in the earthworm Eisenia fetida.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 114A: 319-326.

 

Reports, Book Chapters and Proceedings

Diehl, SV; McElroy, TC; Prewitt, L. 2004.  Development and implementation of a DNA-RFLP database for wood decay and wood associated fungi.  Proceedings of the 35th Annual Meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG). Ljubljana, Slovenia.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, SV, Prewitt, L. 2003. A comparison of fatty acid and molecular profiles for identification of wood colonizing Basidiomycota.  Proceedings of the 34th Annual meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

 

Trexler, JC; Loftus, WF; Jordan, F; Chick, JH, Kandl, KL; McElroy, TC; and Bass, OR.  Ecological scale and its implications for freshwater fishes in the Florida Everglades.  2001.  In J. W. Porter and K. G. Porter (eds.) The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An Ecosystem Sourcebook. CRC.  New York.  153-181.

 

Trexler, JC; McElroy, TC.  2000, 2001, 2002, 2005.  Population structure and delineation of consumer communities in the Everglades National Park.  Annual Report.  USGS Cooperative No. CA 1445-CA09-95-0112, Subagreement No. 1. http://sofia.usgs.gov/projects/consume_comm/

 

Papers in Preparation:

McElroy, TC; Prewitt, ML; Diehl, SV; Nicholas, D  Molecular evaluation of microbial community diversity involved in wood colonization and decay.

 

SV Diehl, TC McElroy, ML Prewitt. Application of molecular-based methods to detect and quantify microbial community patterns during decay.

 

Professional Grants & Honors:

- 2005 NSF/ Ecosystem Cluster.  P Jackson (PI), TC McElroy, JL Andrade.  Differences in source water use of woody vegetation of Dzibilchatun in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. $300,000   

- 2005 Mentor Protégé Grant. College of Science and Mathematics, Kennesaw State University. TC McElroy.  Genetic structure and parentage analysis of marble salamander, Ambystoma opacum in Marshall Forest. $2000

- 2005 Mentor Protégé Grant. College of Science and Mathematics, Kennesaw State University. TC McElroy. Microbial Diversity among Cypiredium acaule Communities. $2000

- 2004 USDA/ Wood Utilization Research Grant. ML Prewitt, TC McElroy, DD Nicholas, SV Diehl Microbial populations associated with the accelerated soil contact decay test.

- 2003 USDA/ Wood Utilization Research Grant.  SV Diehl, TC McElroy, L Prewitt. “Application of molecular-based methods to detect and quantify microbial community patterns during decay.” $60,000

- 2002  USDA-Forest Cooperative Grant # SRS 02-CA-11330126-251.  SV Diehl, L Prewitt, TC  McElroy.  “PCR-based detection of Phytophthora ramorum from Live Oak samples.” $43,750

- 1999  Student Teacher Award, Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University

- 1997  Sigma Xi, Grant-in-Aid of Research Award

 

GenBank Submissions          

- 2003 McElroy TC, SV Diehl, ML Prewitt. “Development of a molecular database for select wood decay fungi”

            Trametes hirsuta                      ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2             # AY494980

            Trametes versicolor                 ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2             # AY504663

            Phanerochaete sanguinea       ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2

            Gloeophyllum sepiarium          ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2             # AY497555

            Gloeophyllum trabeum             ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2

            Arthrographis cuboidea                      ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2             # AY557369

 

- 2004 McElroy TC, SV Diehl, ML Prewitt. “Molecular identification of potential bio-control fungi

 for the Formosan termite”

            Beauveria bassiana                 ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2             # AY510068

            Exophiala jeanselmi                ITS1, 5.8S rRNA, ITS2

 

Teaching  Experience:

Professor of Record for Environmental Science, Evolution, Conservation Genetics, DNA Forensic Analysis & Introduction to Biology, Kennesaw State University, 2004- Present.  Responsible for preparation of lectures, preparation of syllabi, test construction, grade assessment and instruction of material.

 

Supervision of Senior Thesis, Janette Garcia, Florida International University, Spring 2001.  “Population genetic structure of spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) in the Florida Everglades as revealed by DNA microsatellite analysis.”

 

Instructor of Record for Animal Biology, Mississippi State University, Fall 1998.  Responsible for preparation of lectures, preparation of syllabi, test construction, grade assessment and instruction of material (about 120 students).

 

Lab Instructor for General Zoology, Invertebrate Biology and Vertebrate Biology, Mississippi State University (1993 - 1999).  Responsible for test construction, grading and independent supervision of these laboratories.

 

Guest Lecturer, Mississippi State University (1998 - 1999) for a variety of classes including, Evolutionary Biology (Survival and Extinction (2 lectures)), Cell Biology (The Cytoskeleton), Human Anatomy (Anatomy of Muscle Tissue), Human Physiology (The Endocrine System and the Immune System (2 lectures)) and General Zoology (Human Reproduction and Development, The History of DNA, Mendelian Genetics (3 lectures)).

 

Field Instructor, Bloomsburg University, Quest Outdoor Experiential Education Program, 1988-1992.  Responsible for organizing and leading expeditions (1 day to 1 month), instructing techniques for rock climbing, caving, rafting, canoeing, orienteering/backpacking and supervision of equipment and safety.

 

Community and University Service

-Co-organizer of Regional High School Science Bowl (A Jeopardy like science quiz competition) (2005, 2006)

-Member of the “Novel Experiences in Work and Training for Undergraduates (NEWT)” committee, committee reviews proposals for undergraduate research. 2004 – present, 

-International Student Organization and World Neighbors Association Volunteer (2002-2004)

-Homeless Assistance Center Food Service Volunteer (2001, 2002)

-Habitat for Humanity Volunteer (2001, 2002)

 

Invited Seminars:

McElroy, TC.  2003.  Aquatic ecology and restoration of the Florida Everglades.  Invited Seminar, University of South Carolina, Spartanburg.

 

McElroy, TC.  2001.  Aquatic ecology of the Florida Everglades.  Invited Seminar, Shorter College, Rome, GA.

 

Published Abstracts:

 

Renteria, Robin, Riccardo Fiorillo, Kody Chase and Thomas McElroy. 2006. Genetic structure and parentage analysis of the marble salamander, Ambystoma opacum, in Marshal Forest, Rome, GA. Association of Southeastern Biologists “Southeastern Biology” 52(2): 275.

 

Mundell, Amy, Heather Sutton and Thomas McElroy.  2006. Soil fungal diversity among Cypripedium acaule communities. Association of Southeastern Biologists “Southeastern Biology” 52(2): 284.

 

Diehl, Susan1, Lynn Prewitt, and Thomas McElroy.   2006. Phylogeny of select wood decay fungi. Association of Southeastern Biologists “Southeastern Biology” 52(2): 283.

 

Long, Savoun, Paula Jackson and Thomas McElroy. 2006. DNA sequence library of the trnL intron of several tree species from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Association of Southeastern Biologists “Southeastern Biology” 52(2): 294.

 

Steely, Chelsea, William Ensign and Thomas McElroy. 2006. Genetic characterization of the stone roller (Campostoma oligolepis) in the Euharlee creek system.  Association of Southeastern Biologists “Southeastern Biology” 52(2): 277.

 

M.L. Prewitt, S.V.Diehl, W.J.Diehl, and T. McElroy. 2006.  Development of a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Database of Wood Decay Fungi.  Annual Meeting of the South Central Branch of the American Society of Microbiology, March 3-4, 2006

 

McElroy, T.C. 1; Prewitt, M.L. 2; Diehl, S.V. 2.  2006. Molecular evaluation of microbial community diversity involved in wood colonization and decay State of the Art in Biology (SOTAB).

Joel C. Trexler, Tom McElroy, and Carl Ruetz.  2005. Extinction, recolonization, and metacommunity structure in Everglades wetlands: Spatial dynamics of aquatic communities driven by recurrent disturbance. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America

 

Trexler, Joel, Douglas Creer, and Thomas McElroy. 2005. Effects of local extinction and recolonization on temporal and spatial population-genetic structure of fish. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, SV; Prewitt, L.  2004. Molecular evaluation of microbial community diversity involved in wood colonization and decay. 35th  Annual meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG), Ljubljana, Slovenia        

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, SV, Prewitt, L. 2003. A comparison of fatty acid and molecular profiles for identification of wood colonizing Basidiomycota.  34th Annual meeting of the International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 

 

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC. 2003.  Extinction-Colonization Dynamics Structure Genetic Diversity of Aquatic Species in the Florida Everglades.  Joint Conference on the Science and Restoration of the Greater Everglades and Florida Bay Ecosystem. Palm Harbor, FL. (Meeting Abstract Book p. 366).

 

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC.  2002.  Population structure of spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) in the Florida Everglades as revealed by allozyme and microsatellite analyses.  American Society of Naturalists meeting, Banff, Canada.

 

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC.  2001.  Gene flow patterns in Gambusia holbrooki from the Florida Everglades: A comparison of Fst and coalescence-based maximum-likelihood estimates. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (title, no abstract).

 

Garcia, J; McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC.  2001.  Population genetic structure of spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) from the Florida Everglades as revealed by DNA microsatellite analysis.  Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC.  2000.  The effects of physical structures and hydrologic cycles on population genetic structure of Gambusia holbrooki in the Florida Everglades.  Greater Everglades Ecological Restoration meeting, Naples, FL (Meeting Abstract Book p. 122).

 

McElroy, TC; Trexler, JC.  2000.  Population genetic structure of Gambusia holbrooki during a severe drought in the Florida Everglades.  Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Indiana Univ. Bloomington, IN (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1999.  Allozyme heterozygosity and growth of inter-population versus inter-specific hybrids in the earthworm Eisenia sp.  Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Univ. Wisconsin, Madison, WI (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1999.  Genotypes of multiple allozyme loci interact with an experimental environment to affect survivorship in earthworms (Eisenia andrei).  Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 46: 166.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1998.  Heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia sp.: A comparison of intra-and inter-specific hybrids.  Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1998.  Heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei: Interactive effects of ontogeny and the environment.  Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 45: 59.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1998.  Heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei: Interactive effects of ontogeny and the environment.  American Zoologist 37(5): 151A.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl WJ.  1997.  Heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei: Effects of coarse- grained environmental heterogeneity.  Annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution, Univ. Colorado, Boulder, CO (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1997.  Coarse-grained spatial environmental heterogeneity, allozyme heterozygosity, and growth in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei.  Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 44: 114-115.

 

McElroy, TC; Diehl, WJ.  1996.  Heterotic allozyme genotype x environmental interactions in the earthworm Eisenia fetida andrei.  Heterosis Symposium, Bodega Bay Marine Research Laboratory, CA (Title, no abstract).

 

McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1996.  Lack of genotype-specific concordance between growth early in ontogeny and indices of fitness in the earthworm Eisenia fetida.  Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 43: 133.

 

Diehl, WJ; McElroy, TC; Presley, ML.  1996.  An allozyme-locus genotype X environment interaction affecting growth in the earthworm Eisenia fetida.  Association of Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 43: 133.

 

McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1995.  Genotypes at seven polymorphic allozyme loci interact with the environment to affect growth rate in juvenile earthworms (Eisenia fetida).  American Zoologist 35 (5): 39A.

 

Chow, MN; McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1995.  Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genotypes have different effects on growth and survivorship but not fecundity in the earthworm Eisenia fetida.  Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 40: 89.

 

Nabors, YD; McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1995.  Genetic characteristics of a laboratory population of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) between 1987 and 1993.  Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 40: 88.

 

McElroy, TC; Presley, ML; Diehl, WJ.  1994.  Effect of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genotype on growth, survivorship and fecundity in the earthworm Eisenia fetida.  American Zoologist 34: 30A.

 

Directed Study Student Projects at Kennesaw State University

(Students are indicated in Bold)

 

1.  Renteria, Robin, Riccardo Fiorillo, Kody Chase and Thomas McElroy. Genetic structure and parentage analysis of the marble salamander, Ambystoma opacum, in Marshal Forest, Rome, GA. Fall 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Kennesaw State University Scholars Symposium, and the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

2. Mundell, Amy, Heather Sutton and Thomas McElroy.  Soil fungal diversity among Cypripedium acaule communities.  Fall 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Kennesaw State University Scholars Symposium, and the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

3. Long, Savoun, Paula Jackson and Thomas McElroy. DNA sequence library of the trnL intron of several tree species from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.  Fall 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Kennesaw State University Scholars Symposium, and the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

4.  Steely, Chelsea, William Ensign and Thomas McElroy. Genetic characterization of the stone roller (Campostoma oligolepis) in the           Euharlee creek system.  .  Fall 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Kennesaw State University Scholars Symposium, and the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

5.   Eubanks, Ellen, Paula Jackson; Thomas McElroy.  Constructing a DNA Library for Twelve Tree Species of a Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.  Spring 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

            6.   Nwanko, Ada, Don McGarey and Thomas McElroy. Identification of 16 Strains of Lipase-producing Bacteria Employed in the Degradation of Grease Traps. Summer 2006 (completed)

            This research was presented the Kennesaw State University Department of Biological and Physical Sciences student research symposium.

 

7.  Grey, Nicole, Riccardo Fiorillo, Kody Chase, Thomas McElroy.  Genetic Structure and Parentage       Analysis of the Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum). Summer 2006 (in progress)

 

8.  Staley, Wes, William Ensign; Thomas McElroy. Genetic characterization of the stone roller     (Campostoma oligolepis) in the Etowah river system. Summer 2006 (in progress)

 

9.  Smith, Ariel, Paula Jackson; Thomas McElroy. Analysis of Fungal Community Diversity Associated   with Dominant Tree Species Collected from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Fall 2006.(in progress)

10. Strand, Des, Thomas McElroy.  Project title pending.  Spring 2007 (in progress)

 

Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Interests

 

 

            Teaching demands an interaction of teacher and student that advances the academic and social education of the student.  I feel it is important to get undergraduate students directly involved in research projects because education is incomplete when students are little more than spectators in a classroom.  I have taught in a variety of different situations over the past 12 years, including outdoor experiential education, laboratory assistant, and classroom lecturer. 

            Academic education has two important components, memorization and critical thinking. Both of these components must be satisfied in order for academic education to be successful.  Memorization is important because it provides the raw material or language for thought in a particular subject.  A teacher should build the students’ vocabulary and stimulate the students to use that vocabulary to understand and construct concepts.  Social education is accomplished when learning is a process in which students and teachers are partners.  A college should be a learning community that challenges and encourages students to continually evaluate their goals and direction, and to develop a sense of ethical responsibility. 

            There are many student research projects that can be done for relatively low cost and can be completed in a short time.  Ideally, the student should be responsible for the development, execution, analysis and written summary of the project.  I consider myself first as a teacher, but research activities can be of great value in prompting students to break away from the routine practice of repeating memorized facts and ideas.  In my experience, undergraduates that have been involved in independent research projects become more self-confident people and are often better able to communicate, think, and work independently.

            One rewarding teaching experience was the supervision of an undergraduate senior thesis for Janette Garcia, a recent graduate of Florida International University, in the spring of 2001. The project was presented by Ms. Garcia at the 2001 Evolution meetings at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.  I was the Instructor-of-Record for Animal Biology (120 students) at Mississippi State University in the fall of 1998, and I was a laboratory instructor for a variety of different courses.  I am currently supervising four undergraduate student projects which will be presented at the 2006 Association of Southeastern Biologist meeting in Gatlinburg.  I enjoy teaching and feel that I have been quite effective in presenting material in both a clear and challenging manner. 

            I have had productive partnerships with students.  I have received very good reviews of my teaching performance from student evaluations administered by Mississippi State University and at Kennesaw State University.  Because of this I was awarded the Mississippi State University, Department of Biological Sciences “Student Teacher of the Year” in 1999.  I have a very broad-based education in the Biological Sciences, and am prepared to teach a wide spectrum of courses.  I am confident that I can establish an energetic and challenging program that will promote academic excellence and foster the growth of the student.  I have extensive teaching experience and am dedicated to research and education. 

 

 

Summary of Research Interests

 

            My research interests are in molecular ecology.  In particular, I am interested in collaborative and continuing research that will increase our understanding of how ecological factors structure genetic variation within and among natural populations and communities.  I use descriptive field work to generate hypotheses that can be tested through field and laboratory experimentation.  My most recent research addresses issues relevant to the management of natural resources.  Connecting my research activities to natural resource management provides insight into patterns of population and community genetic structure observed in field conditions, and it better prepares students for the professional environment.

            My research focuses on two types of questions that are important to ecology and evolutionary biology.  The first involves population structure and migration.  My masters and doctoral work focused on the consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding within and between structured populations.  The results of these studies emphasized the importance of understanding the interaction between ecology and genetics.  In my post-doctoral research I have asked: How do local ecological dynamics (source-sink population dynamics and the role of migration) influence population genetic structure and evolutionary dynamics?  The emphasis of this work is to understand how water management practices have influenced the population genetics of aquatic animals that inhabit the Florida Everglades. 

            I am currently analyzing the data from this project, and to date, we have published a portion of the data from this research in Molecular Ecology, “Extinction-colonization dynamics structure genetic variation of spotted sunfish (Lepomis punctatus) in the Florida Everglades”.  Joel Trexler and I have initiated cooperative work with Florida State University’s School of Computational Science.  This collaboration is an effort to analyze gene flow between populations in the Everglades using Beerli and Felsenstein’s (1999) program “Migrate”.  The method makes a maximum likelihood estimate of population parameters by integrating over all possible genealogies and migration events between populations.  These computations are computer intensive and require parallel computing processes.  The results of this project are being used to inform water management decisions for the ecological restoration of the Florida Everglades.

            The second focus of my research involves understanding those factors that influence species distribution and community structure.  This research asked: What factors (biotic and abiotic) influence colonization of habitat by wood decay fungi?  Fungi represent an important link in the global carbon and nitrogen cycles, yet the ecology of fungal populations and communities is not well understood.  I have developed molecular tools including a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) library and an ITS sequence library in order to identify and study the ecological community dynamics of important wood decay fungi. 

            Most importantly I am applying the tools of molecular ecology and evolutionary biology to environmental problems. Since joining the faculty at Kennesaw State University in August 2004, I have initiated two research projects:

1.  Collaborative research with Dr. Paula Jackson at KSU.  “Differences in source water use of woody vegetation of Dzibilchatun in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.”  Through the integration of several levels of organization, from molecules to ecology, this research will link aboveground and belowground community structure to identify potential driving forces behind community arrangements.  The understanding of the water relations of dominant tree species will inform reforesting and conservation efforts by identifying species best suited to withstand water shortages.

            2.  Collaborative research with Dr. Ricky Fiorillo at University of Louisiana Monroe. This project will analyze parentage of emergent marble salamanders in Marshall Forest (Rome, GA).  Natural and anthropogenic factors are contributing to an unprecedented worldwide decline of amphibian populations, and habitat loss and degradation have been identified as one of many potential factors contributing to this decline.  Because of permeable skin and a biphasic life-cycle amphibians are sensitive to environmental disturbance and stressors, and therefore are good indicator species for assessing environmental quality.  Surveying and monitoring potential breeding sites is an excellent method for determining overall amphibian diversity and population health, and these data may be used to enhance or initiate amphibian conservation programs.

            I believe that connecting my research to applied problems strengthens my research program, both by keeping me focused on processes that are observed in field conditions and in preparing students for the professional environment.  Population and community ecology provide a powerful basis for solving problems confronted by environmental management.  Through my education and professional experience I have worked in both the field and the laboratory.  I believe my diverse research background has provided a strong foundation on which I have begun to build my scientific career and will allow me to pursue my research interests while providing research opportunities for students that will enhance their education. 

 

LIST OF REFERENCES:

 

Dr. Joel C. Trexler

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and

Director of the Graduate Program in Biological Sciences

Florida International University

Miami, Fl 33199

(305) 348-1966

trexlerj@fiu.edu

 

 

Dr. Susan V. Diehl

Associate Professor of Forest Products

Forest Products Laboratory

P.O. Box 9820

MS State, MS 39762-9820

(662) 325-3101

sdiehl@cfr.msstat.edu

 

 

Dr. William E. Ensign
Associate Professor of Biology

Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
1000 Chastain Rd. #1202

Science & Mathematics Bldg #12

Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA  30144
(770)499-3505
bensign@kennesaw.edu