In 2005-2006, GWIS awarded $35,500 in fellowship and travel awards.
On this page:
• SDE Fellowships
• Vessa Notchev Fellowships
• Eloise Gerry Fellowships
• Nell I. Mondy Fellowship
Adele Lewis Grant Fellowship–$3000
Carolyn
Mary Kurle
Santa Cruz, CA
Effects of an Introduced Species on Marine Intertidal Trophic Interactions and Ecosystems Structure in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
My research will determine how the introduction of rats onto many of Alaska's Aleutian Islands has impacted marine bird and marine intertidal communities. I propose that predation by introduced rats causes significant reductions in numbers of two predators of intertidal invertebrates, Glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) and Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani). This releases intertidal invertebrates from heavy predation pressure resulting in increased populations of intertidal herbivores and a consequent reduction in the amount of fleshy algae. The outcome is a dramatically altered ecosystem structure. Preliminary analyses of my field data support my hypotheses.
Hartley Corporation Fellowship–$3000
Mariana
Carriquiry
Falcon Heights, MN
Effects of Bovine Somatotropin and Dietary Fat with Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Hepatic mRNA for Regulatory Enzymes of Gluconeogenesis and Fatty Acids Oxidation in Dairy Cows.
My dissertation project was designed to determine effects of bovine somatotropin (bST) and dietary fat enriched with omega-3 fatty acids on hepatic gene expression and characteristics of lactation and reproductive performance of Holstein cows in early lactation. Hypothesis of the study was that administration of bST and consumption of dietary fat would alter hepatic function, increase milk yield, and ameliorate detrimental effects of negative energy balance in early lactation. Currently, we are trying to gain a greater assessment of alterations in and regulation of hepatic function and focus on effects of treatments on enzymes that regulate gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. Results will provide information for an improved understanding of molecular mechanisms that regulate hepatic adaptation to lactation.
SDE Fellowship–$3000
Tracy
Baynard
Syracuse, NY
Effects of Short-Term Training on Myocardial and Vascular Function.
Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome are increasingly prevalent around the globe and individuals with these health conditions are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and death compared to their age-matched peers. This study will investigate the effects of short-term training (10 d) on myocardial and vascular function, in both the fasted and postprandial state, in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Echocardiography will be used to assess myocardial function. Vascular measures include indices of endothelial function, central and peripheral arterial compliance, and hormonal markers of vasoconstriction and dilatation. All measures will be completed before and after a meal test, pre/post training.
Angela Lukowshi–$1000
Mpls, MN
Melanie Murphy–$500
Moscow, ID
Jean Sumner–$500
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
sumnerj@wsu.edu
Male rats were orchidectomized, and implanted with capsules containing testosterone (T) or nothing (blanks) 28 days later. After 7, 14, or 28 days' capsule exposure, rats were tested for reproductive and nociceptive behaviors. Percentage of rats showing reproductive behaviors was significantly greater in T- than in blank-treated rats at all treatment durations. T treatment did not affect basal nociception on the hotplate or tail withdrawal tests, but significantly increased morphine's antinociceptive potency on the tail withdrawal test. These findings suggest that in adult male rats, although T may modulate both male reproductive behaviors and opioid antinociceptive sensitivity, the time course of T's effects on these systems may differ.
Kerry
Franson–$500
W. Lafayette, IN
The role of physiology in determining the outcome of wildlife reintroductions has been largely ignored. Using Canada lynx, I propose to monitor the physiological response of known individuals to the reintroduction process. In Colorado, reintroduced lynx have been closely monitored post-release, providing a large database of ecological and behavioral information. I will augment this database by analyzing reproductive and "stress" hormone metabolites found in feces. By incorporating physiological monitoring with the existing database, I will obtain a clearer understanding of how individuals respond to the reintroduction process and thus how we can improve the success of other reintroductions.
Vessa Notchev Fellowship–$1000
One of 8 applicants was awarded at a 12% funding rate.
Laurie
Dizney
Portland State University
Portland, Or
dizney@pdx.edu
The Link between Diversity and Disease
Recently, there has been a surge of zoonotic diseases in human populations; diseases such as Ebola, West Nile Virus, SARS, and Hantavirus. As human populations expand and come into more frequent contact with wildlife, more such disease outbreaks will occur. Can such events be predicted or prevented? My research has found a strongly significant negative correlation between biodiversity and incidence of zoonotic disease (Hantavirus): that is, as site biodiversity increases, prevalence of Hantavirus in the host population decreases. This study suggests that managing natural areas to maximize biodiversity will minimize zoonotic diseases and their associated risks to humans.
Eloise Gerry Fellowships–$16,000
Six of 98 applications were awarded at a 6% funding
rate.
Alex
Caroline Gilman–$4000
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
alexgil@ucla.edu
Global Climate Change and Montane Tropical Forests: Consequences for the
Distribution and Abundance of Understory Plant Species.
Montane tropical forests are hotspots of biodiversity and endemism due to the compaction of climatic zones along elevational gradients. These climatic compression results in a highly heterogeneous environment making this system highly susceptible to global climate change. My objective has been to predict the consequences of a predicted increase of between 2°C and 5°C in temperature during this century on tropical montane forest communities, species, populations and individuals within a genus of understory plants by determining the physiological limitations of montane species, through the relationship between elevational range-size and extreme temperature tolerance, in order to predict their future distributions.
Nancy Barrickman–$4000
Duke University
Durham, NC
nlbs@duke.edu
Investigation of the Relationship between Brain Ontogeny,
Dental Development and Life History in Primates.
Silvana
Martén-Rodríguez–$2000
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
smartenr@umd.edu
Evolution of pollination systems of Caribbean Gesnerieae: phylogenetic and experimental approaches.
My research examines the role of pollinator specialization on the evolution of floral design in the tribe Gesnerieae, a monophyletic taxon that radiated in the Caribbean archipelago. My field work has revealed that the tribe contains species with specialized pollination systems (one pollinator guild, e.g. hummingbird pollination, bat pollination, bee pollination) and species with generalized systems (more than one pollinator guild; e.g. hummingbirds, bats and insects). Most specialized species have low visitation rates (< 1 visit/ flower/day) whereas generalized species have high visitation rates (> 4 visits/flower/ day). I am using an approach that combines phylogenetic reconstruction and field experiments to evaluate the following hypotheses: 1) floral designs in Gesnerieae (family Gesneriaceae) evolved several times independently as a result of specialization to similar pollinators, 2) low or unpredictable pollinator service favored the evolution of generalized pollination systems and self-pollination mechanisms. I am reconstructing the evolutionary relationships of the tribe Gesnerieae based on molecular and morphological data. I am also conducting pollinator observations and experiments to quantify pollination levels of different specialized and generalized Gesnerieae species. Island radiations are one of our most important model systems for the study of evolution. This research will add a novel system to the study of floral adaptation and plant diversification in island archipelagos, as well as provide information on the reproductive biology of rare plants in highly threatened insular ecosystems.
Line M. Touilloud–$2000
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
trouillo@msu.edu
Threat-Sensitive Behavior and its Ontogenetic Development in a Top Mammalian Carnivore.
Although top predators confront myriad threats in nature, including both competition and intraguild predation, their responses to these threats are poorly understood. I will conduct two studies focused on inter- and intraspecific variation in threat-sensitive behavior among top carnivores. The first study evaluates age-related variation in responses by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) to played-back sounds of lions, which concurrently represent the threat of danger and the availability of food. I will test hypotheses suggesting that hyena age, hyena state, and local prey abundance affect whether individuals will approach or avoid lions. The second study examines social learning by hyena cubs about sources of danger, and inquires whether they learn more effectively from their siblings than from unrelated peers. The proposed research will allow us to gain important insight into the processes by which mammalian predators deal with danger. In addition, I anticipate that this work will yield information useful in reducing conflicts between carnivores and livestock.
Mollie
Cashner–$2000
Tulane University New Orleans, LA mcashner@tulane.edu
Symbiotic Reproductive Behavior in Minnows: Explorations in Ecological Diversity
Symbiotic reproductive relationships are well known in terrestrial systems (i. e. avian nest parasitism), however, some of the most ecologically and evolutionarily fascinating occurrences are found in North American freshwater streams. Known as nest association, these relationships are displayed by approximately 34% of North American minnows (family Cyprinidae) and occur when one species uses the nest/guarded spawning substrate of another species for reproduction. Very little is known about the degree of specialization nest associates exhibit, although there is evidence they span an obligate/facultative continuum. I am currently conducting a study to investigate variations in obligateness among a related group of minnows (genus Notropis subgenus Hydrophlox) in order to gain a better understanding of the diversity of this behavior as well as the evolutionary and ecological basis for these variations. I will generate a two-marker molecular phylogeny to assess relationships within Hydrophlox, conduct field surveys to determine which species are associates as well as spawning preference within the nest structure, and experimentally expose nest associates to potential reproductive cues to assess levels of specialization to a particular host.
Carrie
Scheele–$2000
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
scheelec@msu.edu
The Effects of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) on the Growth Rate of Adult Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and Macrozooplankton Abundance and Species Composition in 60 Inland Michigan Lakes.
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), an exotic species
from Eastern Europe, have rapidly spread throughout freshwater systems
in the United States. Although the effects of zebra mussels have been
studied extensively in the Great Lakes, comprehensive research on zebra
mussel effects in inland lakes is lacking. Zebra mussels potentially affect
all trophic levels in inland lake ecosystems by reducing the abundance
of phytoplankton (algae), and zooplankton (animals that eat algae), and
ultimately affecting the abundance and growth rates of fish. Bluegill
sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), a main prey item of popular recreational
fish (i.e. pike and bass), may grow slowly and become stunted in the presence
of zebra mussels. Eventually, populations of stunted bluegill may negatively
affect recreational fisheries and infested lakes may require extensive
sport fishing management programs.
In 2002 and 2003, I conducted an intensive survey of 60 southern Michigan
inland lakes (30 invaded, 30 uninvaded) with similar morphometries and
nutrient concentrations, to examine the effects of zebra mussels on the
growth rates of adult bluegill sunfish and the abundance and species composition
of macrozooplankton. Preliminary results indicate that zebra mussels lowered
the algal food base of the lakes by 30% and significantly increased water
clarity. Daphnia pulicaria, the favorite prey of adult bluegill, were
less abundant in invaded lakes. Surprisingly, adult bluegill growth rates
were slightly higher in invaded lakes. However, pre-invasion bluegill
mean length at age (growth) data collected prior to zebra mussel establishment
in the US (1988) indicate that lakes invaded by zebra mussels contained
larger adult bluegill before invasion. In addition, anecdotal evidence
shows that these same lakes attracted more boat traffic because they had
a reputation for good fishing and therefore had a higher probability of
zebra mussel invasion. Using pre- and post-invasion mean length at age
comparisons, I show that adult bluegill were significantly smaller in
lakes after invasion, providing robust evidence that zebra mussels negatively
affect adult bluegill growth. Mechanisms causing the decrease in adult
bluegill mean length at age, such as diet shifts, are currently being
investigated through the use of stomach content and stable isotope analyses.
This study demonstrates that scientists must be careful in drawing conclusions
solely from large-scale comparative field studies conducted over short
time periods (space for time substitution studies), because long term
trends may provide more robust patterns.
Nell I. Mondy Fellowship–$3500
Kimberly
Epps–$3000
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
cayo@ufl.edu
Linking Species Richness, Chemical Diversity and Phosphorus Bioavailability in the Atlantic Forest, Southern Bahia.
Predictive mechanisms linking the "after-life effects" of aboveground species diversity on nutrient cycling remain elusive. This study seeks to show how the diversity of litters, described by the heterogeneity of chemical composition of litter assemblages, influences nutrient-delivery processes such as litter decomposition, mineralization and soil surface-solution interactions, with an emphasis on phosphorus (P). This work will introduce a new index of biodiversity-litter chemical diversity- and investigate the relationship between chemical diversity and species richness, as well as the effect of chemical diversity on the biotic and abiotic processes that determine P bioavailability. Results from this study may provide further insight to how high floristic diversity, characteristic of tropical rain forests, may contribute to maintaining productivity in P-limited soils.
Honorable Mention-Nell I Mondy Fellowship
Niyati Mehta–$500
Madison, Wi
Charli Long–$980
Philadelphia, PA
Joyce Riehl–$888
Davis, CA
Bengu Sezen–$500
New York, NY
Ida Stone–$632
Missoula, MT
Hania Wehbe, PhD–$500
Texas A&M
Waco, TX
