Dr. Caryn Vaughn is conducting several related projects examining the functional role of mussels (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in rivers. An NSF-funded comparative field study involves exploring the relationships between mussels and other stream organisms (fishes, benthic invertebrates, and meiofauna) in rivers throughout the Ouachita Mountains of eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Dr. Vaughn and her students are also conducting a series of laboratory and field experiments to determine the ecosystem processes performed by mussels, and how these processes are affected by overall mussel biomass and potential functional redundancy among species.
Dr. Edie Marsh-Matthews and her students are investigating life history variation in livebearing fishes. Experiments examining effects of resource variation on maternal investment in offspring are underway in mesocosm units housed in the greenhouse facility on the Norman campus.
Dr. Han Wang studies molecular genetics of zebrafish, circadian behaviors, and evolution and environmental regulation of development.
Dr. Larry Weider and his lab group are conducting a number of studies that bridge the fields of population genetics and evolutionary ecology. One long-standing project has been investigating levels of bio(genetic) diversity in arctic populations of the freshwater microcrustacean, Daphnia pulex, as part of an international effort to characterize biodiversity in the arctic. A second on-going NSF-sponsored project with research groups at Arizona State U., U. of Arizona, U. of Minnesota, and U. of Washington has been delving into the relationships between elemental composition (i.e. biological stoichiometry-C:N:P ratios), rDNA structure, growth rates, and artificial selection, using Daphnia as a model organism. The aim is to understand how elemental composition of organisms can transcend levels of (biological) organization, and thus influence population, community, and ecosystem processes.
Dr. William Shelton is engaged in research on management of fish reproduction as applied to aquaculture. Fish are artificially propagated using hormone injections. His studies include several native (acipenserid) and exotic (cyprinid and cichlid) species of economic importance. Investigations are highly collaborative with both national and international colleagues. |
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