Resume

• 2012

  Rockland Community College

  Passaic County Community College

  Rockland Community College

  Fordham University

  Rockland Community College

  Passaic County Community College

  Alumni Dissertation Fellow

  Fordham University

  Clare Luce Boothe Fellow

  Graduate teaching/ research

  Fordham University

  Assistant Professor of Biology

  I teach General Biology

  Microbiology

  Topics in Environmental Science

  Ecology

  Research Experience in Biology

  etc. and mentor student research projects.

  Rockland Community College

• 2005

  SUNY Rockland Community College

  Fordham University

  Fordham University

  SUNY Rockland Community College

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  Biology

  Fordham University

• 2003

  English

  Spanish

  Master of Science (MS)

  Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

  Stony Brook University

• 2000

  Study Abroad

  Marine Biology

  James Cook University

  SCUBA

  open water

  PADI

• 1998

  Bachelor of Science (BS)

  Marine Biology

  University of Rhode Island

• Laboratory Skills

  Higher Education

  Environmental Science

  Curriculum Development

  Student Engagement

  Curriculum Design

  Microbiology

  Phytoplankton Identification and Enumeration

  Biology

  Public Speaking

  Scientific Writing

  Science

  Research

  Grant Writing

  Data Analysis

  Statistics

  Teaching

  Ecology

  University Teaching

  College Teaching

  Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage CrystalP

  Mycobacteriophage CrystalP is a newly isolated phage infecting Mycobacterium smegmatis strain mc2155. CrystalP has a 76

  483-bp genome and is predicted to contain 143 protein-coding and 2 tRNA genes

  including repressor and integrase genes consistent with a temperate lifestyle. CrystalP is related to the mycobacteriophages Toto and Kostya and to other Cluster E phages.

  Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium Phage CrystalP

  Dave Caron

  Christopher Gobler

  Darcy Lonsdale

  Toxic attributes of the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens affect the ability of benthic and protistan grazers to control blooms. Yet

  little is known regarding the effect of A. anophagefferens on a dominant component of the microzooplankton community

  copepod nauplii. This study describes the grazer–prey relationship between nauplii of the calanoid copepod Acartia tonsa and A. anophagefferens. Four laboratory experiments using varying proportions of A. anophagefferens (2–4 μm) and a control alga

  Isochrysis galbana (4–6 μm)

  were conducted to test the effects of A. anophagefferens isolate 1708 during exponential and stationary growth phases and A. anophagefferens isolate 1850 (exponential phase only) on naupliar grazing and development. A fifth experiment compared the effects of A. anophagefferens with an equal-sized control alga

  Micromonas pusilla (1–3 μm). Isolate 1708 (exponential or stationary) as a single food item did not suppress naupliar ingestion rates (ng C nauplius−1 day−1) when compared to I. galbana. No ingestion was detected on isolate 1850 when offered alone

  suggesting that this isolate may be more harmful to nauplii. Overall

  nauplii selectively grazed on I. galbana over A. anophagefferens in mixed diets

  but size-selection could not be ruled out as selective feeding was not apparent in mixtures with M. pusilla. Both isolates of A. anophagefferens delayed naupliar development. Our results indicate that Acartia tonsa nauplii can graze on A. anophagefferens

  and can potentially help suppress brown tides. However

  the efficacy of grazing control by copepods will vary with availability of alternate food sources and toxicity of the A. anophagefferens strain(s) comprising the population.\n\n\n

  Feeding behavior and development of Acartia tonsa nauplii on the brown tide alga Aureococcus anophagefferens

  The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) is a productive floodplain river with a complex lateral habitat array. Three habitats (main channel

  flow-through backwater

  and single-connection backwater (least connected)) in a typical UMR reach (Pool 8

  La Crosse

  WI) representing a connectivity gradient (distance to main channel) were studied. Four main goals of my research were to identify: (1) present (1999-2004) spatiotemporal patterns in phytoplankton species composition and related nutrient regimes in Pool 8

  (2) which nutrients control algal production across habitat and phytoplankton assemblage type

  (3) the effect of nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton composition

  and (4) how nutrient enrichment affects the ecological function (N2-fixation) of bloom-forming cyanobacteria. Results indicated that seasonal change and to a lesser extent habitat differences affected phytoplankton species composition and that phosphorus (P) was the nutrient that best explained compositional patterns. In situ nutrient addition bioassay experiments indicated that net phytoplankton production was often N-limited or co-limited by N and P but that P alone was important in the single-connection backwater. The flow-through backwater was limited most frequently and had the greatest degree of limitation overall. In general

  the strongest responses to nutrient enrichment by UMR phytoplankton occurred in response to NP-enrichment and resulted in greater species diversity. Often the addition of N alone or in combination with P resulted in lower cell densities and/or relative abundance of N2-fixing cyanobacteria

  while non-N2-fixing cyanobacteria and chlorophytes responded positively to N and NP enrichment. Iron was found to be a factor determining cyanobacterial species composition. N2-fixation was found to supplement cyanobacterial N-requirements in single-connection and main channel habitats and was controlled by P supply.

  Nutrient controls on phytoplankton composition and ecological function among hydrologically distinct habitats in the Upper Mississippi River

  William Richardson

  Jeffrey Houser

  The Upper Mississippi River (UMR) has a lateral expanse of contrasting aquatic areas. Identifying phytoplankton abundance patterns resulting from differences in environmental sensitivities and tolerances among phytoplankton is critical for understanding water quality properties

  nutrient cycling

  and ecosystem processes. This study aims to identify (1) spatial (main channel vs. contiguous backwater) and temporal (seasonal and annual) patterns in phytoplankton species abundance in the UMR near LaCrosse

  Wisconsin and (2) the environmental factors that explain these spatiotemporal patterns. Our study contained two components: (1) a spatiotemporal study that spanned 5 years (1999–2004)

  two seasons (spring and summer)

  and two contrasting aquatic areas (main channel and backwater) and (2) a time series of monthly mean environmental conditions and phytoplankton community structure in a single backwater that included the growing season of two consecutive years (2000–2001). Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) ordinations indicated that the largest differences in phytoplankton species composition were seasonal

  and associated with seasonal differences in river discharge. Spatial differences (main channel vs. backwater) also accounted for compositional differences but to a smaller degree. These differences were more pronounced in years when discharge was higher. Comparisons with historical phytoplankton data identified a long-term shift towards more eutraphentic species

  including bloom-forming cyanobacteria such as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae

  indicating that nutrients are important to phytoplankton dynamics in the UMR. Variation in TP and Si best explained spatiotemporal species abundance patterns

  while variation in TP alone best explained the periodicity of cyanobacterial abundance. Short-term changes (4-week intervals) in species composition in the backwater were best explained by variation in NH4+

  Si

  and Mg concentrations

  light

  and temperature.

  Spatiotemporal phytoplankton patterns in the Upper Mississippi River in response to seasonal variation in discharge and other environmental factors.

  Jillian K.

  Decker

  Fordham University