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Evolutionary genetics of energetic performanceMontooth Lab |
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Research interests
Evolutionary ecology, evolutionary physiology, phenotypic plasticity. To date, my research has used physiological tools and classical genetics to gain a better understanding of the complexity of stress resistant phenotypes. I seek to understand how organisms cope with environmental stress and what factors will limit the ability of species to cope with rising global temperatures. My current project asks: 1) Is there an adaptive metabolic rate?, 2) What are the limits of the plastic response to temperature?, 3) How do complex physiologies evolve?
Education
M.S. Biology, College of William and Mary, 2010 (Expected).
Research Advisor: Dr. George Gilchrist B.S. Biology, University of Iowa, 2005. Research Advisor: Dr. Bryant McAllister Previous research experienceResearch assistantFriday Harbor Laboratories April-June 2008 Designed and implemented a research project to describe the behavior, physiology and neuroanatomy of the marine invertebrate Leptosynapta clarki. The results provide some of the first evidence of classical neural structures in an adult echinoderm nervous system and present a unique opportunity to connect echinoderm form to function. Research assistantUniversity of Iowa 2002-2005 Investigated climatic factors that contribute to the maintenance of a latitudinally distributed chromosomal polymorphism in clinal populations of \emph{Drosophila americana}. Performed various physiological assays to associate variation in cold tolerance with alternative chromosomal forms. Research assistantUniversity of Iowa Summer 2005 Participated in a pioneering effort to sample flora and fauna biodiversity in rare hill prairies bordering the Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa. Used GIS to locate hill prairies and scout potential sample sites. Helped to setup plots in the field using laser distance measurement and surveyed insects with sweep-netting. Teaching experienceGuest Lecturer, Evolution and Biodiversity, Indiana University, Fall 2008 Teaching Assistant, Evolution and Biodiversity, Indiana University, Fall 2008 Guest Lecturer, Principles of Biology: Organisms, Ecology, and Evolution, College of William and Mary, Fall 2007 Teaching Assistant, Principles of Biology: Organisms, Ecology, and Evolution, College of William and Mary, Fall 2007 Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Ecology and Environmental Science, College of William and Mary, Spring 2007 Teaching Assistant, Zoology, College of William and Mary, Fall 2006 Teaching Assistant, Principles of Biology: Molecular Cell and Development, College of William and Mary, Spring 2006 PublicationsFolk, D. G., L. A. Hoekstra, and G. W. Gilchrist. 2007. Critical thermal maxima in knockdown-selected Drosophila: are thermal endpoints correlated? J. Exp. Biol. 210, 2649-2656. [PDF]
Publications in prepHoekstra, L.A. and Gilchrist, G.W. Metabolic and locomotor performance during acute heat stress
Folk, D.G. and L.A. Hoekstra. Wasting breath on a dry death: desiccation resistant Drosophila lack a metabolic response to dessication stress. PresentationsThe significance of energetic constraints on the evolution of inducible physiologies. Poster presentation. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Conference. Seattle, WA. January 4th, 2010. The significance of energetic constraints on the evolution of inducible physiologies. Midwest Drosophila Conference. Allerton, IL. October 3rd, 2009. The energetic cost of increased thermotolerance in Drosophila melanogaster. Poster presentation. European Society for Evolutionary Biology Conference. Turin, Italy, August 25th, 2009. The energetic cost of increased knockdown temperature in Drosophila melanogaster. Poster presentation. Drosophila Research Conference. Chicago, IL. March 5th, 2009. A new perspective on the echinoderm nervous system. Society for Integrative and Comparative
Hot flies run fast: selection on thermotolerance affects locomotor performance. Society for the Study of Evolutionary Biology Conference. Minneapolis, Minnesota. June 23, 2008. Energetics of an adaptive heat stress response in Drosophila melanogaster. Poster presentation. European Society for Evolutionary Biology Conference. Uppsala, Sweden, August 21st, 2007. [PDF] Funding
Indiana Metabolomics and Cytomics fellowship, 2010
NSF IGERT fellowship, Indiana University, 2009-2010 Graduate Research Grant, College of William and Mary, $300, Fall 2007 Graduate Research Grant, College of William and Mary, $300, Spring 2007 Graduate Research Grant, College of William and Mary, $300, 2006 Undergraduate Scholarship Assistance Program, University of Iowa, $1250, 2004 ServiceGraduate recruiting weekend committe member. Spring 2010. IGERT symposium organizational committee. Fall 2009. Graduate recruiting weekend committe member and host. Spring 2009. Graduate committee for departmental website design. Fall 2008. Montooth lab webmaster. 2008-2010. Graduate student representative for Committe on Integrative Response to Climate Change. College of William & Mary, 2007 Graduate search committee for a molecular biologist. College of William & Mary, 2006 Membership in professional societiesSociety for the Study of Evolution References
Dr. Kristi Montooth
Dr. George Gilchrist Dr. Donna Folk Dr. Bryant McAllister |
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