Don Yee, Ph.D., Principal Investigator (email: donald dot yee at usm dot edu)

Although my interests are broad, I consider myself a community ecologist who uses ecological theory to understand the structure of aquatic insect communities. My main focus is on understanding the ecology of medically important container mosquitoes, but this often spills over to other taxa in those systems. I have worked on a variety of projects, but am most interested in how interactions among species and their traits affect patterns of species diversity.  Specifically topics include feeding behavior, habitat selection, dispersal, and oviposition decisions, and how detritus provides energy for and explains the structure of these communities.  In the past few years I have also pursued questions on the ecology of predaceous diving beetles, which besides being really cool, are predators on mosquitoes in wetlands.

Click on the Research link to find out more.

Click here for my CV

Check me out on Research Gate or LinkedIN:

Fun fact: While doing my masters work in puerto Rico, I got to observe pythons catching bats in flight at the mouth of a cave.

Alisa Abuzeineh, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher (email:  alisa.abuzeineh at usm dot edu)

I am a community and ecosystem ecologist and in recent years have worked predominantly in aquatic ecosystems.  My research experience is diverse and currently involves aquatic community ecology (invertebrates and fish), biogeochemistry, stable isotope ecology, and microbial ecology.  My most recent research has focused on the examination basal carbon sources (terrestrial- or aquatic-derived) supporting aquatic food webs along climatic and terrestrial primary production gradients.  Additionally, I have examined the trends in organic matter and contaminant fluxes across aquatic-terrestrial interfaces. 

Click her for my CV

Education
2011: Ph.D. Aquatic Resources, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX

2006:  M.S. Biology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

2002: B.S. Wildlife Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

Selected Publications

Abuzeineh, AA, NE McIntyre, TS Holsomback, CW Dick and RD Owen. 2011.  Extreme population fluctuation of the northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori) in southeast Texas.  Therya 2:37-45.

Smith, A, AA Abuzeineh, MM Chumchal, TH Bonner, and WH Nowlin.  2010.  Mercury contamination of the Rio Grande fish community: spatial variation and influence of environmental gradients.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 29:1762-1772.
 
Holsomback, TS, NE McIntyre, RA Nisbett, RE Strauss, Y-K Chu, AA Abuzeineh, N de la Sancha, CW Dick, CB Jonsson, BEL Morris, and RD Owen.  2009.  Bayou virus detected in non-oryzomyine rodent hosts: an assessment of habitat composition, reservoir community structure, and marsh rice rat social dynamics.  Journal of Vector Ecology 34:9-21.

McIntyre, NE, Y-K Chu, RD Owen, AA Abuzeineh, N de la Sancha, CW Dick, T Holsomback, RA Nisbett, and CB Jonsson.  2005.  A longitudinal study of Bayou virus, hosts, and habitat.  American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 73:1043-1049.

I have 2 yellow labs so I like spending a lot of my free time going for walks, hikes, and swims with them. I also love watching movies and have started knitting…again…for the third time (I will finish that scarf!!).

Fun fact:  There is nothing fun about me…

Francis Ezeakacha, Ph.D. in progress

I am interested in the reproductive ecology of container mosquitoes. I am particularly interested in differences in the reproductive potential among species and how larval environmental parameters influence adult fitness and mating competitiveness under lab and field conditions. My interests are focused on generating a better understanding of the mechanisms of sexual selection in container mosquitoes.

Education

2006 – 2008: M.Phil: Entomology; African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.

2001 – 2005: B.S Parasitology and Entomology; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria.

Awards and Honors

2008: Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) Scholar

2008: African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) Scholar

2007: Prof. J.N. Ayertey’s Prize for the best student (Coursework) in Entomology for 2006/2007 academic year at University of Ghana, Legon.

In my leisure, I care for domestic animals, hang out with friends, visit new places, play the piano, and watch movies.

Fun fact: I have an ‘ecumenical’ stomach. Anything edible is fine with me!

Jeff Skiff, M.S. in progress

I am interested in in how invasive species compete with and affect the native species of a given area. I'm working on projects that investigate how behavioral attiributes of different mosquito species affect their ability to feed on different protozoan species.

Education
2006-2010 B.S. in Biology, Minor in English (mostly creative writing); Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Award and Honors
2010 Scholarship ($100) to present a poster at the Iowa Academy of Science Annual Meeting

2008-2010 Member of Sigma Alpha Lambda Honors Society

2006-2010 Academic scholarship ($500 per year)

In my free time, I like to play video games, watch television (mostly sports), watching movies (horror and action/adventure), listening to music (metal, soundtrack, and gospel rock), going to sporting events, and surfing on the internet.

Fun Fact: I'm a Chicago Bears fan but no one holds that against me (except Don). 

Stephen Flanagan, Ph.D. in progress

I am interested in studying questions related to population dynamics, predator-prey interactions, and energy flow through ecosystems. I have a diverse background as far as study organisms including insects, crustaceans, fish, waterfowl, and small mammals. In the future I plan to examine these questions in patch habitats using insects.
 
Education:
2009-2012 M.S. Biology. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington

2004-2008 B.S. Biology Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington

Awards and honors:
Graduate service appointment, Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University, biology department research mini-grant ($500)

My free time is usually devoted to hunting waterfowl or fishing.

Fun fact: While working as a salmon kreel sampler, a chocolate lab named max leaped from a 20 foot rock wall into the Pacific Ocean to protect me from a sea lion (no foolin').  

William (Chris) Glasgow, M.S. in progress

I am still brainstorming for research thesis ideas, but I am interested in predator-prey relationships involving predaceous diving beetles and the energy flow dynamics of the habitats in which these beetles exist. 

Education

2010-2011: B.S.in Biology; University Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

2009-2010: Associates in Arts and Science; Copiah Lincoln Community College, Wesson, Mississippi.

I try to see as much live music as I can in my free time, and I engage in many outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, kayaking, and camping.  I also enjoy working out and competing in triathlons.

Fun Fact: I once spent 87 straight nights in a tent. 

Ashton Reeves: Last fall was so fun he is back for more.

Brad Hopkins: After spending some time in my lab during 2010, and working for money this past fall, he is back for more this spring.

Elizabeth Himel, (B.S. USM). Elizabeth is looking for graduate opportunites in the fall after her big trip to Europe. She was a big part of the lab for many semesters.

Anne Winters, (B.S. Honors College, USM) M.Sc. at University of Exeter 2011; Working on her Ph.D. at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Anna Reiber: (B.S. USM) Anna worked in the lab for the summers of 2009 and 2010. She graduated from USM in 2011 and is currently writing a food blog.

Amanda Bonelli (B.S. USM): Amanda helped with sampling during 2009 and has since graduated from USM. Of all the work she did, she most often talks about her fond memories with worms and cotton.

Jennifer Grimes (B.S. USM): Jennifer also was part of the "dream crew" in 2009, sampling both mosquito containers and ponds. Jennifer now works for a chemistry lab and is also a mom.

Former Lab members

David Allgood, M.S. 2011, Thesis: Influence of detritus levels and organic pollution on interspecific resource competition, oviposition behavior, and larval survival of two tire-inhabiting mosquito species

David is on the job hunt while he puts in a few more hours in the lab.

Education

2005-2008: B.S. in Biology, Minor in Chemistry; University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Greensboro, North Carolina.

2002-2005:  Associates in Science; Virginia Highlands Community College. Abingdon, Virginia.

Kris Pitcher, M.S. 2011, Thesis: Interspecific coexistence and competition between two similar species of predacious diving beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) in temporary aquatic habitats

Kris is working on his Ph.D. at the University of South Dakota.

Education
2009-2011 M.S. in Biological Sciences, USM

2003 - 2007 B.S. in Biology, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA

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