Research in Biology
The Department of Biology supports and encourages undergraduates to engage in research. Faculty advisors work with students to develop, fund, and execute original research projects. Often students present their research at regional or national professional meetings and it is common for students to publish their work with faculty co-authors. Below we have highlighted some recent student-centered research projects and publications. If you are interested in conducting research with a faculty member, you are encouraged to review the faculty research interests page and contact that individual directly.
Recent publications by faculty in the department, including those involving students (in bold):
Hernandez, A.D., Li Y., Carr R., Major S. 2023. Intestinal roundworm infection in organic and alternative swine farms in the USA. Veterinary Parasitology 314: 109856
Hernandez, A.D., Kantner B., Santos E., Major S., Carr R., Li Y. 2023. The number of Oesophagostomum spp. larvae recovered in coprocultures varies with media used. Journal of Helminthology 97: e55.
Li, Y., Hernandez, A.D., Major, S., Carr, R. 2022. Occurrence of intestinal parasites and its impact on growth performance and carcass traits of pigs raised under near-organic conditions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 9: 911561
Rodriguez-Peña, R., Mounadi, K.E., Garcia-Ruiz, H. 2021. Changes in Subcellular Localization of Host Proteins Induced by Plant Viruses. Viruses, 13: 677
Keller, S. M., Setliff, G. P., Waldien, D. L., Lal, S. & Sakiti-Waqa, H. 2021. Xixuthrus heros. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T203285527A203285529. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T203285527A203285529.en
Waldien, D. L., Setliff, G. P., Lal, S. & Sakiti-Waqa, H. 2021. Xixuthrus ganglbaueri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T203285540A203285542. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T203285540A203285542.en
Setliff, G. P., Waldien, D. L., Sakiti-Waqa, H. & Lal, S. 2021. Xixuthrus terribilis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T203284907A203284909. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T203284907A203284909.en
Setliff, G. P., L. Pancini, and A. Bramanti. 2021. Review of Eudyasmus, with descriptions of a new species from Waigeo Island, Indonesia, and a closely related new genus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Molytinae, Eudyasmini). Fragmenta entomologica, 53(2), 377–390. DOI: 10.13133/2284-4880/542
El-Mounadi K., Morales-Floriano M.L., Garcia-Ruiz H. 2020. Principles, applications, and biosafety of plant genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9. Front. Plant Sci., 11: 56
Lisa, F, J. Anisman, J.M. Chacon, R.H. Heineman, W.R. Harcombe. 2020. Lytic bacteriophage have diverse indirect effects in a synthetic cross-feeding community. The ISME Journal. 14. doi.org/10.1038/s41396-019-0511-z
Mapes, C. C., G. P. Setliff, R. S. Courtney, and K. Bothur. 2020. Range Expansion and Dispersal of the Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) in the Mid-Atlantic States. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 146(3), 503–519. https://doi.org/10.3157/061.146.0304
Murman, K., G. P. Setliff, C. V. Pugh, M. J. Toolan, I. Canlas, S. Cannon, L. Abreu, M. Fetchen, L. Zhang, M. L. Warden, M. Wallace, J. Wickham, S. Spichiger, E. Swackhamer, D. Carrillo, A. Cornell, N. T. Derstine, L. Barringer, M. F. Cooperband. 2020. Distribution, Survival, and Development of Spotted Lanternfly on Host Plants Found in North America, Environmental Entomology, 49(6), 1270–1281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvaa126
Johnson, C. B., G. K. Lahr, T. J. Underwood, and L. J. Goodrich. 2020. Forty-five years of fall banding at Little Gap Raptor Banding Station, Danielsville, PA: summary of captures and morphological characters of raptors. North American Bird Bander 45:1-18
Habeck, C.W., Figueras, M.P., Deo, J.E. and Burke, R.L., 2019. A Surfeit of Studies: What Have We Learned from All the Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina and T. ornata) Home Range Studies? Diversity 11: https://doi.org/10.3390/d11050068
Mapes, Carol C., J.P. Ruoss, and K. Tessier. 2019. The Relationship Between Gall Size and Sizes of Selected Inhabitants of the Ball Gall of Eurosta solidaginis on Solidago altissima. Formosan Entomologist. 38, pp. 79-87
Halteman, D.M. and W.L. Ryan. 2019. The Effect of Group Composition on the Social Behaviors of Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in an Artificial Environment. Aquatic Mammals, 45(3), 303-310, DOI 10.1578/AM.45.3.2019.303
Reel, J. J., and T. J. Underwood. 2019. Egg rejection behavior does not explain the lack of cowbird parasitism on an eastern North American population of Red-winged Blackbirds. Avian Research 10:47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0186-1
Gable, C. L., T. J. Underwood, and G. P. Setliff. 2019. Do House Wrens add spider egg cases to their nest for heterospecific cleaning? Canadian Journal of Zoology 97:50-56
Feliciano, L. M., T. J. Underwood, and D. F. Aruscavage. 2018. The effectiveness of bird feeder cleaning methods with and without seed debris. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130:313-320
Heineman, R.H. 2018. Songs about cancer, gene expression, and the biochemistry of photosynthesis. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 46(1), doi: 10.1002/bmb.21085
Hernandez A.D., Boag B., Neilson R., Forrester N.D. 2018. Variable changes in nematode infection prevalence and intensity after Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus emerged in wild rabbits in Scotland and New Zealand. International Journal for Parasitology – Parasites and Wildlife 7: 187-195
Mapes, Carol C., and D. Brown. 2018. Expansion of the Northeastern Range of Selected North American Gall Forming Midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae: Celticecis spp.) on Hackberries (Cannabaceae: Celtis spp.), Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 144: 1, pp 179-196
Kaur J, Fellers J., Adholeya A., Velivelli S., El Mounadi K., Nersesian N., Clemente T., and Shah DM. 2017. Expression of apoplast-targeted plant defensin MtDef4.2 confers resistance to leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina but does not affect mycorrhizal symbiosis in transgenic wheat. Transgenic Research. 26(1): 37–49
Islam KT., Shah DM., and El Mounadi K. 2017. Live-cell imaging of fungal cells to investigate modes of entry and subcellular localization of antifungal plant defensins. Journal of Visual Experiments (JoVE). 130. doi: 10.3791/55995
Moorhead, L.C., Souza, L., Habeck, C.W., Lindroth, R.L. and Classen, A.T. 2017. Small mammal activity alters plant community composition and microbial activity in an old‐field ecosystem. Ecosphere 8: p.e01777
Heineman, R.H. 2017. Teaching genetic linkage and multiple crossovers with sets of cards as chromosomes. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 18(3). doi:10.1128/jmbe.v18i3.1366
Heineman, R.H. 2017. Kinesthetically exploring chromosomes from cell division and meiosis to Mendelian genetics. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 18(3). doi:10.1128/jmbe.v18i3.1357
Heineman, R.H. 2017. Engaging college students by singing the science. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 18(1). doi:10.1128/jmbe.v18i1.1206
Weidman, T. and W. Ryan. 2017. The Effect of Abrupt Salinity Change on Oxygen Consumption in Crab Megalopae of Chincoteague Bay, USA. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development, DOI 10.1080/07924259.2017.1395369