Research Highlights
Faculty publications, grants and presentations, 2009-2010
Names followed by * indicate student authors.
Publications
Dr. Jayna Ditty
with R.E. Parales. (2010). Chemotaxis. In K.N. Timmis (Ed.), Handbook of hydrocarbon and lipid microbiology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.with R.E. Parales. (2010). Substrate transport. In K.N. Timmis (Ed.), Handbook of hydrocarbon and lipid microbiology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
with N.N. Nichols and R.E. Parales. (2010). Measurement of hydrocarbon transport in bacteria. In K.N. Timmis (Ed.), Handbook of hydrocarbon and lipid microbiology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
with P.A. Rolnick. (2010). Keeping faith: Evolution and theology. Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture. St. Paul: University of St. Thomas
Dr. Simon Emms
with S.J. Mazer, L.S. Dudley, A.A. Hove, and A.S. Verhoeven. (2010). “Physiological performance in Clarkia sister taxa with contrasting mating systems: do early-flowering autogamous taxa avoid water stress relative to their pollinator-dependent counterparts?” International Journal of Plant Sciences.Dr. Kurt Illig
with D.A. Wilson. (2009). Olfactory cortex: Comparative neuroanatomy. In: J.H. Kaas [Ed.] Evolutionary Neuroscience. New York, Elsevier.Dr. Adam Kay
with T.B. Zumbusch*, J.L. Heinen*, T.C. Marsh, and D.A. Holway. (2010). “Nutrition and interference competition have interactive effects on the behavior and performance of Argentine ants.” Ecology 91: 57-64.with K. Schneider, W.F. Fagan. (2010). “Adaptation to a limiting environment: The phosphorus content of terrestrial cave arthropods.” Ecological Research
with A.L. González , J.M. Fariña, R. Pinto, P.A. Marquet. (2010.) “Exploring patterns and mechanisms of interspecific and intraspecific variation in body elemental composition of desert consumers.” Oecologia
Dr. Jill Manske
(2010). “First, Do No Harm: The Role of Sustainability in the Education of Health Professionals. Journal of Sustainability Education.Dr. Dalma Martinovic-Weigelt
with L.S. Blake, E.L. Gray Jr., V. Wilson, R. Regal, D.L. Villeneuve, and G.T. Ankley. (2010). “Characterization of the androgen-sensitive MDA-kb2 cell line for assessing complex environmental mixtures.” Environ Toxicol Chem. 6:1367-1376.with D.L. Villeneuve, N. Garcia-Reyero, J.E. Cavallin, N.D. Mueller, L.C. Wehmas, M.D. Kahl, A.L. Linnum, E.J. Perkins, and G.T. Ankley. (2010.) “Influence of ovarian stage on transcript profiles in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) ovary tissue.” Aquat Toxicol. 98:354-66
with D.L. Villeneuve, N. Garcia-Reyero, N.D. Mueller, J.E. Cavallin, E.J. Durhan, E.A. Makynen, K.M. Jensen, M.D. Kahl, L.S. Blake, E.J. Perkins, and G.T. Ankley. (2010). “Effects of a dopamine receptor antagonist on fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, reproduction.” Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 73:472-7.
with D.L. Villeneuve, N. Garcia-Reyero, N.D. Mueller, J.E. Cavallin, E.J. Durhan, E.A. Makynen, K.M. Jensen, M.D. Kahl, L.S. Blake, E.J. Perkins, and G.T. Ankley. (2010). “Effects of a dopamine receptor antagonist on fathead minnow dominance behavior and ovarian gene expression in the fathead minnow and zebrafish.” Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 73:478-85.
with G.T. Ankley, D.C. Bencic, J.E. Cavallin, K.M. Jensen, M.D. Kahl, E.A. Makynen N.D. Mueller, L.C. Wehmas, and D.L. Villeneuve. (2009). “Dynamic nature of alterations in the endocrine system of fathead minnows exposed to the fungicide prochloraz.” Toxicol Sci. 112:344-53.
Dr. Amy Verhoeven
with S.J. Mazer, L.S. Dudley, A.A. Hove, and S.K. Emms. (2010). “Physiological performance in Clarkia sister taxa with contrasting mating systems: do early-flowering autogamous taxa avoid water stress relative to their pollinator-dependent counterparts?” International Journal of Plant Sciences.with K. Hughes*, and A. Kokula. (2010). “Antioxidant Activity in Summer versus Winter in Three Species of Conifers.” Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science 73:14
with A. Ferry*. (2010). “Investigation of the Light Dependence of State Transitions in Pine in Summer Compared with Winter.” Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science 73:9
Dr. Kyle Zimmer
with B.R. Herwig*, M.A. Hanson, M.L. Konsti*, J.A. Younk, R.W. Wright, S.R. Vaughn, and M.D. Haustein*. (2010). “Factors influencing fish distributions in shallow lakes in prairie and prairie-parkland regions of Minnesota, USA.” Wetlands 30:600-619.with M.A. Hanson, B.R. Herwig*, and M.L. Konsti*. (2009). “Thresholds and stability of alternative regimes in shallow prairie-parkland lakes of central North America.” Ecosystems 12:843-852.
Grants
Dr. Jayna Ditty
with R. E. Parales “ Bacterial Chemotaxis to Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Related Compounds”. National Science Foundation Grant, ($60,000)with T. Marsh. “LI-COR Genomics Education” Analysis System Grant ($40,000)
Dr. Simon K. Emms
with S.J. Mazer, L.S. Dudley, A.A. Hove, and A.S. Verhoeven. “The evolution of life history, physiological, and floral traits in Clarkia: do genetic correlations affect mating system evolution?” National Science Foundation Supplemental Award, ($5994).Dr. Adam Kay
(2009). “Toward a stoichiometric theory of ant ecology--from colony performance to community composition”. National Science Foundation REU Supplement Grant, ($9,000)Dr. Dalma Martinovic-Weigelt
with K.E. Lee, R. Kiesling, L. Barber, J.Writer, H. Schoenfuss, M. Ferrey, A. Preimesberger. (2009). “Relative Contributions of Selected Endocrine Active Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals from Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent and Other Sources to Minnesota Surface Waters”. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, ($896,000).with H.L. Schoenfuss, (2009). "Quantifying Exposure & Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents Through Controlled Field Studies.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Grant,( $179,396).
Dr. Kyle Zimmer
with K. Theissen, J. Cotner, and M. Edlund. (2009). “Burial of organic carbon in temperate, shallow lakes”. National Science Foundation Collaborative Research Grant (RUI), ($1,212,103).
Presentations
Dr. Jayna Ditty
with B.A. Rhein*, K.L. Delaney, J.W. Dubis*. (2009). The effect of differing photoperiods on the output genes psbAI and purF of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. 69th North Central Branch American Society for Microbiology Meeting, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI.with B.A. Rhein*, K.L. Delaney, J.W. Dubis*. (2010). The effect of photoperiod on circadian gene expression in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942. 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, San Diego, CA.
Dr. Kurt Illig
(2009). “Teaching Neuroscience with Case Studies, 40th Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, IL.with T.K. Koeltzow. (2009) Internet2 and neuroscience: a multi-institutional approach to enhancing the student laboratory experience. 40th Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Dr. Adam Kay
with T.B. Zumbusch*, J.L. Heinen*, T.C. Marsh, and D.A. Holway. (2009). “Nutrition and interference competition have interactive effects on the behavior and performance of Argentine ants.” Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America. Albuquerque, NM.(2010). “Foraging behavior: the role of tradeoffs” University of Iowa – Iowa City, IA.
(2010). “Finding the right balance: the evolutionary ecology of nutrient balance.” St. Olaf University, Northfield, MN.
(2010). “The evolutionary ecology of nutrient balance in ants and other insects.” University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
(2010). “Using nutrition to integrate ecosystem and evolutionary biology.” Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Barro Colorado Island, Panama.
Dr. Dalma Martinovic-Weigelt
(2009). “Behavioral testing: an under-utilized tool in the field of environmental toxicology.” Annual Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington D.C.with D.R. Ekman, D.L. Villeneuve, L.S. Blake, K.M. Jensen, M.D. Kahl, Q. Teng, T.W. Collette, and G.T. Ankley. “Social status modulates gene expression and metabolite profiles in the fathead minnow males.” Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 30th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
with J.Marchuk*, J.Bagne*, M. Curtiss*, K. Delaney*, S. O’Brien*, L.Tran*, K. Bloodsworth*, K. Brunshidle*, J. Albers*, A. Mathison*, B. Millmann*, and A. Sobolewski*. (2009). “Effects of non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, Ibuprofen, on prostaglandin synthesis and reproductive behavior in zebrafish.” Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 30th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
Dr. Glenn K. Sherer
with A. Meyer* (2010). “On the Developmental Origin of Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelium: Confirmation of Angiocirculatory Vasculogenesis”, Minnesota Academy of Science, Saint Paul, MN.with A. Meyer* .(2010). “On the Developmental Origin of Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelium: Confirmation of Angiocirculatory Vasculogenesis”. American Association of Anatomists (AAA), Anaheim, CA.
Dr. Kyle Zimmer
with J.B. Cotner, K.M. Theissen, and LM. Domine. (2009). “Organic carbon burial and dynamics in Prairie Pothole lakes.” Joint meeting of the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and North American Benthological Society, Santa Fe, NM.with L.M. Domine and J. B. Cotner. (2010). “Potential effects of climate change on carbon burial in prairie pothole wetlands.” Joint Meeting of the Minnesota Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Society for Conservation Biology, Society of American Foresters, and The Wildlife Society.
with B.R. Herwig, L.W. Schroeder*, M.A. Hanson, D.F. Staples, R.W. Wright, and J.A. Younk. (2010).”Factors influencing amphibian occurrence and abundance patterns in permanent wetlands in prairie and parkland landscapes of Minnesota.” Joint Meeting of the Minnesota Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, Society for Conservation Biology, Society of American Foresters, and The Wildlife Society.
with K.M. Theissen, J.B. Cotner, L.M. Domine, and S. Sugita. (2010). “Historical carbon burial in shallow lakes of the prairie pothole region.” Geological Society of America North Central Meeting.
Student Research News Sept 2009 to Aug 2010
With Dr. Kerri Carlson:
Rob White, a sophomore in September 2010, will be working with Dr. Carlson at the University of Minnesota on the genetic regulation of eye development using zebrafish as a model system.
Dr. Jennifer Klein (sabbatical replacement for Dr. Jennifer Cruise)
One of my Biol 462 students, Morgan Lillehei, was selected for the Lillehei Heart Institute's Summer Research Scholar's Program at the University of Minnesota. She will be working on a project involving oxidative stress and muscle protein function.
http://www.med.umn.edu/lhi/Education/SummerScholars/home
Evan Smith has been a research assistant in a muscle biophysics lab at the University of Minnesota since last summer when he started volunteering. His project has involved creating myosin and muscle regulatory protein mutants to be used in biochemistry and spectroscopy experiments. The manuscript to which he contributed will be submitted to Biophysical Journal this summer.
Yusuf Adam received a STEM fellowship to carry out J-term research in molecular biology at the University of Minnesota.
With Dr. Kurt Illig:
There will be five students working in Dr. Illig's lab this summer: Nick Hafften (St. Thomas Young Scholar Grant recipient), Meghan Hurley, Leah Streitman (St. Thomas Young Scholar Grant recipient), Chad Weigelt, Anna Zimmerman (St. Thomas Young Scholar Grant recipient)
With Dr. Martinovic-Weigelt:
In summer 2009, Jascha Marchuk received Young Scholars Award to conduct research at University of St. Thomas in collaboration with Dr. Martinovic-Weigelt. He also received travel award grants from the University of St. Thomas and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) to present results of his research, which examined the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandin synthesis and reproductive behavior, at the SETAC’s National Meeting in New Orleans.
With Dr. Glenn Sherer:
Anna Meyer, a current junior majoring in biology, started working with me in the research lab the summer after her freshman year (2008). Working on the developmental origins of the liver’s sinusoidal capillaries, she has demonstrated that many of the cells that make these structures (vascular endothelial cells and/or their precursors, angioblasts) are derived from circulating blood. This spring Anna presented her work at the annual meetings of the Minnesota Academy of Science (April 23, at UST)) and the American Association of Anatomists (April 26, Anaheim, CA), both of them under the title, “On the developmental origin of hepatic sinusoidal endothelium: confirmation of angiocirculatory vasculogenesis.” She also presented her work at a departmental seminar entitled, “Hepatic Vasculogenesis: Growing with the Flow” (March 19). In the spring of 2009 Anna was awarded a Young Scholars Grant which supported her work the following summer. This summer Anna will extend her work to include a host of other organs and the application of additional, endothelium-specific functional markers.
Nine students will be working with me this summer. Five of them are returning students: Clare Conemac, Mohamed Hussein, Laura Kula, and Anna Meyer, all juniors, and Rachel Goldenstein, a sophomore. Our four new recruits are Katelyn Bojan, another sophomore, Elizabeth (Libby) Meyers and Emily Pohl, both freshmen, and Rachel Palermo, a student at Totino-Grace High School.
With Dr. Amy Verhoeven:
Kim Hughes and Angela Ferry both presented posters at the Minnesota Academy of Science Winchell Undergraduate Symposium (April, 2010, Saint Paul, MN). Their presentation titles are as follows:
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN SUMMER VERSUS WINTER IN THREE SPECIES OF CONIFERS - Kimberly Hughes, Alex Kokula, and Dr. Amy Verhoeven (Advisor)
INVESTIGATION OF THE LIGHT DEPENDENCE OF STATE TRANSITIONS IN PINE IN SUMMER COMPARED WITH WINTER - Angela Ferry and Amy Verhoeven (advisor)
Kim Hughes is presenting her research at the 2010 meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Pittsburgh, PA in August of 2010. Her abstract was accepted and the title is:
Antioxidant response of overwintering conifers suggest species specific
strategies for coping with excess excitation energy.
Kimberly C. Hughes, Alex M. Kokula and Amy S. Verhoeven, Biology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN
Working in the Verhoeven plan physiology lab this summer are: Kim Hughes, Christine Buelt, Albert Kertho, and Andy Moy
Working with both Dr. Verhoeven and Dr. Simon Emms on their NSF grant are: Jerald R. Mackey, Ben Schneider, and Phi Lai (REU in California)
With Dr. Kyle Zimmer and Dr. Leah Domine:
Thirteen students keep the aquatic biology lab humming this summer:
McHale, Elisabeth K.
Potter, Dustin C.
Goetting, Jordan M.
Bruchu, Charles W.
Floeder, Vincent I.
Goding, Ann T.
Probst, Dan T.
Ginger, Luke J.
Nolby, Luke E.
Langer, Tom A.
Johannsen, Adam M.
Rockwell, Rachel E.
Gittens, Ariel (from Concordia, former McNair Scholar)
