November & December 2007

NEW STUDENTS

Six new students have joined the department effective in January 2008. If you see new faces in the hall, please say hello and introduce yourself. Our new students are: Ana Paula Da Silva (Major Advisor: Lidia Kos), Bryan Dewsbury (Major Advisor: Jim Fourqurean), Lorenzo Menzel (Major Advisor: Charles Bigger), Sushmita Mustafi (Major Advisor: Alejandro Barbieri), Dina Stanic (Major Advisor: Laurie Richardson), and Nicole Villaverde (Major Advisor: Alejandro Barbieri). Welcome to all new students!

DEPARTMENTAL SEMINARS

Laura May-Collado (Major Advisor: Doug Wartzok) presented her Dissertation Defense Seminar entitled “Phylogenetic and ecological significance in the evolution of cetacean tonal sounds” on 5 November 2007 at 10:30 am in WC 130.

John Geiger (Major Advisor: Suzanne Koptur) presented his Disseration Defense Seminar entitled “Conservation implications of the reproductive biology of the endangered vine Ipomoea microdactyla Griseb. (Convolvulaceae) on 9 November 2007 at 2:00 pm in WC 130.

Jamie Myers (Major Advisor: Laurie Richardson) presented her Master’s Thesis Defense Seminar entitled “Molecular identification and ecological significance of cyanobacteria associated with black band disease of corals” on 15 November 2006 at 11:00 am in WC 130.

Monica O’Chaney (Major Advisor: Suzanne Koptur) presented her Master’s Thesis Defense Seminar entitled “The effects of herbivory on battlebox species (Crotalaria spp., Fabaceae) by Bella moth (Utethhesia ornatrix L.) caterpillars at 2:00 pm on 19 November 2007 in WC 130.

AWARDS

Flavia Brito (Major Advisor: Lidia Kos) and Viekla Salazar (Major Advisor: Philip Stoddard) received Dissertation Year Fellowship awards for 2008! They will be fully supported as they write up their dissertations. Congratulations Flavia & Vielka!

PUBLICATIONS

Laura May-Collado (Major Advisor: Doug Wartzok) recently publsihed a co-authored paper: May-Collado, L.J., I. Agnarsson, and D. Wartzok. 2007. Phylogenetic reviw of tonal sound production in whales in relation to sociality. BMC Evolutionary Biology 20 pp. Congratulations Laura!

Vielka Salazar (Major Advisor: Philip Stoddard) recently learned that a co-authored paper with her former lab mate Dr. Susan Allee who graduated in Spring 2007 will be published online in January 2008: Allee, S.J., M.R. Markham, V.L. Salazar, and P.K. Stoddard. Opposing actions of 5HT1A and 5HT2-like serotonin receptors on modulations of the electric signal waveform in the electric fish Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus Hormones and Behavior in press. Congratulations Vicki & Susan!!

JOBS

Barbie Freeman (Major Advisor: Tim Collins) has recently accepted a new job beginning January 2008 as a Biological Science Laboratory Technician for the USDA. Congratulations Barbie!

CLUB ACTIVITIES

The MCB Club invited Dr. Joy Lincoln to present the departmental seminar entitled “Molecular Regulation of Heart Valve Development” on 6 November 2007. The MCB club also hosted a lunchtime meeting with Dr. Lincoln.

The MCB Club hosted the seminar presented by Dr. Jesus Valenzuela entitled “A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understand the Role of Vector Proteins in Pathogen Transmission” on 5 December 2007.

The MCB Club hosted a Game Night on 5 December 2007.

The FCELTER group hosted an ice-skating event at the Kendall Ice Arena on 6 December 2007.

The BGSA sponsored an end of semester mixer on 14 December 2007.

MOVING ON

John Geiger (Major Advisor: Suzanne Koptur) recently accepted a position with the USDA ARS (Agricultural Research Service) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as a Research Ecologist/Research Botanist. John will be working on management of Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) in Florida and will be the 'plant' person on the research team establishing a long-term demographic study to gauge the effect of the insect agents on the population dynamics of Brazilian pepper. Congratulations John!

FORMER STUDENTS

Alessandro Catenazzi (Major Advisor: Maureen Donnelly) recently published a co-authored paper from his doctoral dissertation: Catenazzi, A. and M.A. Donnelly. 2007. Role of supratidal invertebrates in the decomposition of beach-cast green algae (Ulva sp.). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 349:33-42.

Tiffany Troxler (Major Advisor: Dan Childers) recently published a paper: Troxler, T.G. 2007. Patterns of phosphorus, nitrogen and delta 15 N along a peat development gradient in a coastal mire, Panama. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23: 683-692.

Andrew Gottlieb (Major Advisor: Jennifer Richards) recently moved from PBS&J (Jacksonville) to the South Florida Water Management District (West Palm Beach).

Ralph Saporito (Major Advisor: Maureen Donnelly) recently published a co-authored paper: Saporito, R.A., R. Zuercher, M. Roberts, K.G. Gerow, and M.A. Donnelly. 2007 Experimental evidence for aposematism in the dendrobatid poison-frog Oophaga pumilio. Copeia 2007:1006-1011.

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