I am interested in the relationship between ecological communities and the ecosystem processes.  Organisms perform important ecosystem processes, such as nutrient recycling or the production of biomass.  But how does the structure of communities (i.e. the presence of certain species or trophic levels, the diversity of species or functional groups within trophic levels) influence ecosystem processes? Given the losses of species from extinctions and extirpations, the addition of species from introduction of nonnative species, and species dominance shifts within communities due to habitat alteration and climate change; it is important to understand how changes in ecological communities are influencing ecosystems as a whole.  In my dissertation research, I am currently using stream communities as a model system to investigate how community structure influence ecosystem processes.  I am currently conducting comparative field studies and mesocosm experiments to investigate the relationship between the diversity and structure of freshwater mussel communities (Bivalvia: Unionidae) and the ecosystem processes they perform.

Carla Atkinson carlalatkinson at gmail.com

I I received my BS in biology with honors at Missouri State University in 2006. Following this, I completed my MS in ecology at the University of Georgia working under the direction of Dr. Alan Covich. I am an aquatic ecologist primarily interested in community and ecosystem ecology in the context of food webs. Food webs link ecosystems through the movement of nutrients and energy. Understanding the functional roles species play through the coupling of energy and nutrient movement is imperative to ecosystems. This information allows us to better understand how changes in ecological communities are influencing ecosystems as a whole. Freshwater mussels are an interesting group to study within freshwater habitats due to their role of coupling benthic and pelagic areas of aquatic systems. For my PhD, I am working under Dr. Caryn Vaughn, studying the functional roles freshwater mussels and other aquatic invertebrates under variable environmental conditions in stream habitat

My webpage: http://carlalatkinson.googlepages.com/home

Lab webpage: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/V/Caryn.C.Vaughn-1

Natalie Clay naclay at ou.edu

I received a B.A. in Biology and Art at Colby College, Waterville, Maine  where I started usings ants as a model system to answer questions in ecology and behavior.  Most of my previous research has been in tropical ecosystems and I am currently pursuing a PhD with Dr. Michael Kaspari. I am interested in the effects of different abiotic constraints on trophic behavior.

Claire Curry cmcurry at ou.edu

I received my B.S. in Biology with honors from the University of North Texas in 2007.  My undergraduate thesis focused on how interspecific behavior differences affect aggressive interactions in the dragonfly Plathemis lydia (Odonata: Libellulidae).  My research interests include behavioral ecology, community ecology (especially competition), biogeography, and natural history of birds and insects, with a focus on prairie environments.  I am working with Dr. Michael Patten and I plan to study the behavioral, genetic, and vocal dynamics of hybridizing Black-crested and Tufted Titmice in southwestern Oklahoma.

Heather Drilling hdrilling1@ou.edu

I graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BS in Biology. Currently I am working on my PhD with Dr. Bradley Stevenson and Dr. Paul Lawson. My research interests are broadly defined by environmental microbiology and microbial ecology. For my graduate research I am using both molecular methods and traditional cultivation techniques to study the diversity and distribution of microorganisms found in oil production facilities. I am specifically interested in the communities that participate in corrosion.

I achieved a Licenciatura degree in Biological Sciences in Quito, Ecuador. My past research included studies on morphological variability of vampire bats skulls and a small taxonomic review in the ant genus Leptanilloides. I am pursuing a Ph.D. degree under Dr. Michael Kaspari. My current research interests aim to clarify the input of ants in natural communities and I am working on a taxonomic review of the ant genus Tatuidris using morphological and molecular data.

My name is Chao Gao. I did my undergraduate study in Yunnan University in China and it’s about plant and botany. Now, I am in Dr. Yiqi Luo’s lab for my PhD degree. My current research focuses on the ecosystem impact of global changing. I will try to make suitable models to predict the future of different ecology systems.

Shenfeng Fei feishenfeng at ou.edu

I got my bachelor degree in Fudan University, Shanghai, China where I did the research in population biology, studying the invasive affects of alien species. I am now pursuing my PhD degree in Dr. Yiqi Luo's lab. I conduct field experimental approaches in Kessler Farm Field Laboratory and use modeling methods to analyze the impacts of global change on the ecosystem dynamics.

Pascal Irmscher Pascal.Irmscher-1 at ou.edu Website

I discovered my fascination for unionid mussels during my MS research at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where I investigated hydraulic parameters influencing the spatial distribution of freshwater mussels in the Upper Mississippi. As a member of Dr. Caryn Vaughn's lab, my present research focuses on juvenile dispersal strategies as part of the complex unionid reproductive cycle. After a parasitic larval stage, the juvenile mussel detaches from its fish host and sinks to the channel bottom whilst drifting downstream, to colonize existing mussel beds as well as new, suitable habitats. For my Ph.D. research, I plan to address (amongst others) the following two questions: (1) What mechanisms and processes are important for the dispersal and subsequent spatial distribution of juvenile mussels? (2) After accounting for hydraulic, morphological and behavioral factors, how does the spatial distribution of host fishes within a stream reach affect mussel dispersal and distribution? I will investigate these questions by conducting studies in the field, as well as by using experimental approaches in the laboratory. Besides promoting scientific knowledge, my findings will support management strategies that aim for detecting and protecting suitable freshwater mussel habitat worldwide.

My name is Jackie Paritte. I am originally from New Jersey and did my undergraduate work at Cook College at Rutgers University. For my Ph.D. with Dr. Jeff Kelly, I use stable isotope analysis to research the effects of vegetation change on the foraging specialization of birds in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico. I have worked a number of places, including Acadia and Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks. I also enjoy knitting and long walks on the beach.

Ruediger Riesch ruedigerriesch at ou.edu

I studied Biology at the University of Hamburg, Germany (1996-2005) and graduated with a diploma in biology (major: zoology; minors: microbiology & applied botany) in August, 2003. The past four years I have worked on killer whale (Orcinus orca) acoustics, studying the resident killer whale populations of British Columbia, BC, Canada. For my PhD program, I am working with Dr. Ingo Schlupp on the life history of the amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) and the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna). I will further try to investigate how life history traits relate to the maintenance of the stable coexistence in the P. latipinna/ P. formosa–mating complex

Jonathan Shik jshik at ou.edu

I study the evolution, ecology, and natural history of ants. My research combines field experiments in a Panamanian rainforest, respirometry studies of Oklahoma grassland ants, and comparative life history studies. I am a PhD candidate in the lab of Mike Kaspari.

Stephanie Strickler stephanie-strickler at ou.edu

I have a B.S. and M.S. in biology from The University of Tulsa, where I studied the costs and benefits of colonial living in the cliff swallow and later turned to examining the winter ecology of a virus transmitted to cliff swallows by the swallow bug, a blood sucking parasite. For my Ph.D. with Dr. Doug Mock, I am studying mechanisms and evolution of parent-offspring recognition. Specifically, I am using the colonial cave swallow to examine visual and vocal recognition between parents and young. Vocal recognition is known for many swallows, but the facial patterns of nestlings (i.e. white feathers) may provide a genetically-based and therefore more reliable signal, allowing parents to discriminate against unrelated young..

Mingzi Xu xumingzi at ou.edu

I graduated from Fudan University, China with B.S. degree in 2007. My past work had been concentrated on the local bird extinction in Sheshan area, Shanghai. I am now a Ph.D. student with Dr. Ola Fincke. My research interests include evolution, ecology and behavior of sexual signaling. My current researches focus on the female color polymorphism of damselflies in temperate region and UV reflectance of the giant damselfly in the tropics.

My research interests include most aspects of limnology and community ecology. I graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma. Following this I completed my M.S. in forest resources (with a focus on fish ecology) under Gary Grossman at the Univ. of Georgia. This research focused on the effects of turbidity on fish foraging. For my Ph.D. with Dr. David Hambright, I am researching the susceptibility of lake communities to golden algae (Prymnesium parvum). I am also interested the potential for self-toxicity within and between strains of golden algae.  I also enjoy anything to do with Sooner football.

I am an aquatic ecologist, currently investigating the manner in which context of habitat patches affects secondary consumers via trophic pathways. With this work, I am taking theory from the field of landscape ecology, and applying it in an aquatic setting. In addition to this primary focus, I am also involved in projects studying homogenization of fish assemblages, and the effects of fishes on ecosystem processes. My study organisms are fishes and aquatic macroinvertebrates, and I have conducted studies in lakes, rivers, streams and experimental mesocosms
Update: Dave teaches at Austin College.

My research attempts to understand the mechanisms that generate and maintain genotypic diversity as well as phenotypic plasticity in major life-history traits. This task requires integrating information from diverse realms within biology (e.g., genetic attributes such as transcription to ecosystem attributes such as nutrient cycling). In the process, I also help refine the framework of ecological stoichiometry that may enable such integration.
Update: Puni is an assistant professor at Oklahoma State.

My name is Xiaowen Wu, from China. My English name is Annie. I am studying for a Ph.D degree in Dr.Yiqi Luo’s lab. My interest is Ecosystem Ecology. During my master studies, I focused on the impacts on ecosystem C and N cycles by invasive species, Spartina alterniflora. In the future, my research topic is mainly about simulating and predicting ecosystem’s response to the greenhouse effect.
Update: Xiaowen took a Masters degree and is in private industry in Houston.

Master degree in Ecology at Fudan Univ., Shanghai, China in 2005, where I studied the invasive behavior of Solidago canadensis . I am now pursuing the ph D degree in Department of botany and microbiology. My current research will focused on the ecosystem level impact of global change, such as warming and elevated C02, through inversion modeling approaches. My goal is to predict the consequence more accurately for the future impact of the global change. My advisor is Yiqi Luo.
Update: Jianzhong took a Masters degree and is in private industry in Houston.

Gabriel Costa costagc at ou.edu Website

I did my undergraduate and Masters in Ecology at the University of Brasilia, Brazil. I am now a PhD student with Dr. Laurie Vitt.. My research interests include: Macroecology, distribution modeling, biogeography, natural history and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. My current research focuses on large-scale patterns of species richness, endemism, and the influence of abiotic/biotic factors in determining species distribution range limits.

Update: Gabriel now holds a faculty position in Brasil.