Ecology of stream invertebrates and algae, stream disturbance ecology, aquatic conservation biology

I study how organisms survive and recover from disturbance and am currently looking at how algae in protective refuges subsidize grazer production and algal recovery from floods in streams. I also work on the distribution, ecology, and conservation biology of the fauna of springs.

Neuronal mechanisms of behavioral choice and movement control

I conduct electrophysiological, neuroanatomical, and pharmacological experiments on the turtle spinal cord control of swimming and scratching, to address how the nervous system selects and generates an appropriate behavior for each circumstance an animal faces.

Molecular evolution, phylogenetics, population genetics, comparative genomics

My reasearch employs evolutionary patterns in DNA sequence data to investigate processes that generate and maintain biological diversity. This includes fundamental questions related to population divergence and adaptation, patterns of phylogenetic relationships, and the evolution of genomes in fishes.

Amazonian amphibian diversity; Brazilian cerrado amphibian diversity; amphibian ecology and behavior; biology of dendrobatid frogs

My research encompasses studies of amphibian and reptile biodiversity in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest and cerrado regions. I am interested in the use of comparative methods to interpret the evolution of life history and behavioral traits in anurans, especially in dendrobatid frogs. Recent dendrobatid phylogenies have revealed multiple transitions from crypsis to aposematism, providing opportunities for studying evolution of many novel traits in reproduction, predator-avoidance behavior, and diet specialization in these frogs.

Biochemistry, Physiology and Genetics of Sulfate-Reducers. Anaerobic hydrocarbon metabolism. Microbial ecology of hydrocarbon-impacted environments

The biochemistry and genetics of aerobic hydrocarbon biodegradation have been explored for more than seven decades. However, very little is known regarding the comparable activities and processes in anaerobic bacteria, which are difficult to isolate and characterize. Through the use of genomics, proteomics, metabolite profiling, and molecular tools, my research focuses on elucidating the novel biochemical reactions governing the anaerobic biodegradation of alkanes, paraffins (long-chain alkanes), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These studies ultimately serve as a platform for field investigations aimed toward characterizing microbial communities associated with contaminant degradation.

Atmospheric physics, radar remote sensing, precipitation studies

There exists obvious links between weather and the environment. To better facilitate our understanding of these links and the ensuing interactions, it is sometimes necessary to remotely probe the atmosphere at small spatial and temporal scales. A common theme in my research has been the development and application of new sensor technologies in order to probe the atmosphere at such scales. The focus of my studies has been on the use of clear-air and weather radars as remote sensing tools. Recently, however, I have also been exploring the use of various in-situ instruments and numerical models in my research.

Natural products, plant, marine, and microbial natural product chemistry, fungi, myxomycetes

Research focuses on defining the chemical nature of the secondary metabolites produced by living organisms.  These highly bioactive compounds serve a variety of essential functions as defensive toxins, venoms, potent chemical messengers, allelopathogenic agents, and many others.

Cognitive adaptations, foraging, caching

Identifying and characterizing a priori knowledge animals possess about their environment and use to make better foraging decisions. Research is carried out with ground-dwelling sciurids in the field and laboratory.

microbial community diversity, microbial ecology of chemically impacted soil, microbial evolution: population structure, gene transfer and genetic variation, modes of speciation, Bacillus species

My research is centered on gaining a greater understanding of how microbial diversity is structured at several different levels; that is, how genetic and ecological factors affect communities, species, and populations, and how they respond as environments change. I have studied the effects of changing environments using manmade disturbances such as contamination by petroleum and salt water. Another main branch of my research focuses on gene transfer, genetic variation, and speciation in the genus Bacillus.

Plant Systematics & Evolution, Biogeography, Taxonomy, Floristics

My research interests are at the interface of systematics, evolutionary biology, and biogeography with a special emphasis in the lineage formerly identified as the family 'Scrophulariaceae'. I utilize a broad range of experimental protocols to investigate phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships, biogeographic pattern, and modes of evolution among plant lineages. A special emphasis is placed on combining field, laboratory, and herbarium investigations.

Behavioral and evolutionary ecology

Using insect models, I investigate how intra- and interspecific interactions at the level of larvae and adults drive the evolution of reproductive behavior. Current projects include female specific polymorphisms, learned mate recognition, and consequences of forest fragmentation on neotropical insect populations.

plant reproductive biology, population genetics and mating system analysis, seed dispersal and germination

I am interested in the interaction between plant life history and population genetic diversity and structure. The primary focus of this research is to understand how unique reproductive strategies shape the levels and structuring of diversity within and among populations of species with highly fragmented distributions.

Coming soon...

Limnology and zooplankton ecology

My research is centered on the roles of consumers, particularly fish and zooplankton, in regulating freshwater community dynamics. Students currently in my lab work on a variety of research topics, including zooplankton grazing and nutrient remineralization, mercury accumulation in fishes, and zooplankton feeding behavior.

Entomology; behavior and ecology of insects, forest ecology, insect biodiversity, chemical ecology
 
I am interested in understanding the causes and ecological consequences of insect behavior. I use scolytid bark beetles in California, New Zealand and Oklahoma as a model system to examine how proximal causes, such as insect host selection decisions, can produce ultimate effects, such as bark beetle outbreaks that may kill mature trees across large forest areas.

Mycology, biology education

I have expertise in plant pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi. I am also a general biology textbook author, and I am interested in classroom computer technology.

Community ecology, macroecology, scaling, ants, litter, brown food web, tropics

Our lab addresses the basic question, "how and why do properties of ecological communities vary as you move from place to place?".  We also are particularly fond of ants, and use them as model organisms to ask a variety of questions, from their physiological ecology to their impact on ecosystem function.

Conservation biology, terrestrial fauna of Oklahoma, avian ecology

I study (1) the ecology and conservation of birds and (2) current and historic distributions of vertebrates in Oklahoma. I welcome inquiries from students interested in pursuing a broad range of graduate research projects as well as those that share my current research interests, which include the application of stable isotope techniques to understand the migratory ecology of songbirds and riparian zone ecology and management, particularly the impact of riparian vegetation structure on animal communities.

Behavioral endocrinology, behavioral ecology, physiological ecology

My research is aimed at understanding the endocrine and other physiological mechanisms underlying variation in reproductive behavior. Currently my work is focused on understanding how hormones and energetic considerations influence the development and adult expression of alternative male reproductive phenotypes and male parental behavior in several species of fish.

Genetics of sulfate reducing bacteria, Microbial Ecology of a Sulfur spring, Bioremediation of Radionuclides in anoxic aquifers

Research focuses on physiology and ecology of sulfate reducing and other anaerobic bacteria. We are attempting to understand mechanisms for the natural geochemical processes carried out by anaerobic bacteria and their communities.

Population Genetics; Peopling of South America; Evolution of Disease Associated Genetic Variation; Anthropological Genetics

My labs address questions concerning the distribution and evolution of human genetic variation. To address these questions, I have collected and/or analyzed ancient DNA, genetic data from hypervariable mitochondrial regions, from autosomal functional regions, and a genome-wide survey of Short Tandem Repeats. Research topics include human population history, the evolution of disease associated genetic variation, and the relationship between cultural, environmental and genetic variation.

Ecosystems Ecology, Ecological Modeling, Global Change Biology

The major issues my lab is addressing are: (1) how global environmental change alters function and structure of terrestrial ecosystems and (2) how terrestrial ecosystems regulate chemical compositions (such as carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere and climate change.

Paleobotany, palynology, paleoecology, macroevolutionary patterns, terrestrial ecosystem change

I am interested in the patterns and underlying processes responsible for the dramatic revolution in terrestrial ecosystems during the Cretaceous. Begining in the Early Cretaceous, and continuing today, flowering plants (angiosperms) and "higher" ferns exploded across the global landscape, accumulating both taxonmic (species) and morphologic (form) diversity. Flowering plants in particular gained ecological dominance in many habitats surpassing all then existing clades. Along with graduate students and collaborators, I investigate quantitiative paleoecological patterns and morphological evolution of flowering plants and ferns.

Environmental policy analysis, science and technology policy, global environmental change, corporate environmental management

Mark Meo is Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and a Research Fellow in Science and Public Policy at the University of Oklahoma. His research interests include environmental policy innovation, technological innovation of energy systems, watershed management and decision making, and sustainable development.

Ecosystem biogeochemistry, wetlands science, ecological engineering

Bob Nairn has conducted research on created wetland structure and function, riparian restoration, wetland functional and biological assessment, rural and urban surface water quality, and bio-monitoring techniques. His current research focuses on ecosystem biogeochemistry and ecological engineering, with specific emphases on the coupled understanding of water quality improvement performance and ecological function, development of sustainable treatment designs, and materials recycling.

South American mammals, biogeography, deserts, conservation, ecology, and museology

I study the evolution of desert mammal communities, the taxonomy and systematics of South American mammals, and the ecology, conservation, and biogeography of mammals, with emphasis in South America.

Life history evolution and ecology, community ecology

My current research examines maternal provisioning tactics in fishes (with a focus on mother-to-embryo transfer of nutrients in livebearers), effects of drought on stream fish communities, and long-term variation in structure in fish assemblages

Fish Ecology, Ichthyology

My work focuses on stream fish community ecology, with emphasis on long-term change due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors; on the role of fish in stream ecosystems; on distributional ecology and zoogeography of freshwater fishes; and on reservoir fish ecology.

David McCauley, Assistant Professor
Zoology
dwmccauley at ou.edu

Comparative developmental biology

Research in my lab is focused on the evolution of vertebrate-specific neural crest cells. We use embryology, genetics and molecular biology tools to investigate the evolution of neural crest development. Our work focuses primarily on how the neural crest develops in a basal jawless vertebrate, the sea lamprey, and in zebrafish, a model organism that has become a critical tool in developmental biology. We are investigating how molecular mechanisms have evolved that have led to differentiation of the neural crest into derivatives such as cartilage, pigment, and much of the peripheral nervous system.

Behavioral ecology

I am interested in many kinds of evolutionary conflicts-of-interest, especially those concerning close kin and/or simple family structure. Some favorite topics include sibling rivalry (siblicide, begging), sexual conflict, and parent-offspring conflicts.

Evolutionary ecology, biogeography, conservation biology

My interests are varied, but I am, in essence, an evolutionary ecologist with a bent toward quantitative ecology and biogeography. The principal driving force behind my work and a common thread in most of my publications is an abiding interest in how things work. I seek to uncover ecological mechanisms of how things came to be or why they are the way they are, whether behavioral differences in recently diverged taxa, geographic distributions of vertebrate taxa, relative influences of bottom-up and top-down effects in ecosystem control, or extrinsic factors that affect life-history evolution and persistence of populations of declining species. That said, my research interests revolve around two key fields: (a) the behavioral ecology of speciation and (b) habitat fragmentation and ecosystem control.

Evolution, origin of complexity

I am interested in how the process of evolution generates novelty and complexity. I am using artificial evolving systems to explore the process.

Stability of gynogenetic mating systems; Evolution and maintenance of sexual reproduction; Sexual selection; Population biology of amphibians and fishes with a focus on conservation biology; Evolution of cave fish.

Research interests: My primary interest is to understand the maintenance of sexual reproduction. To address this I study a mating system in which an asexual fish and a sexual fish coexist in the same habitat. The asexual fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) reproduces via gynogenesis, which means the need sperm to trigger embryogenesis. Sperm is provided by males of two other species, the Sailfin molly (P. latipinna) and the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana), but the male genes are not used. This leads to interesting questions about male mating behavior and the stability of such gynogenetic mating systems. In addition to this I have a general interest in sexual selection. Another area of interest is the population biology fishes including conservation biology. I conducted a long term study on European Common toads (Bufo bufo). Finally, I am interested in the evolution of cave animals using a cave fish (Poecilia mexicana) as a model system.

Coming soon....

Vertebrate Behavioral Ecology

My general interests are in how phenotypic traits of one sex shape the optimum behavior/traits of the opposite sex. I am currently doing collaborative work which focuses on the relationships between male participation in parental care and sexual selection in a locally abundant passerine.

Fisheries, Reproductive Manipulation, Aquaculture

Fish Culture: Management of fish reproduction through artificial propagation, hormone induced sex reversal, and ploidy manipulations. The applications have been to aquaculture and control of unwanted reproduction in exotic fishes. Fishery Biology: Ecological studies have been conducted principally in large rivers and large reservoirs. The primary emphasis has been on reproductive biology, growth predator/prey interactions and recruitment in relation to population biology. Evaluation of sampling methodology has been a focal element.

Microbial ecology, adaptation to low-oxygen environments, cultivation and study of novel microbes

My research involves the use of both traditional and cultivation-independent molecular approaches to study the diversity of microbial communities, focusing on the "uncultivated majority" of microorganisms in global nutrient cycling. As a result of this work, we are now studying several novel strains of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicobria, two bacterial phyla that are prevalent in many environments but have few cultured representatives. Another focus of my research is on the ecology and evolution of bacteria that are adapted to environments with low oxygen fluxes. The prevelance of low oxygen flux in terrestrial and aquatic environments, the diverse, largely uncultured microbial populations adapted to these conditions, and their potential roles in these ecosystems offer great potential for discovery.

Clostridia, acetogens, wastewater

Current research interests include water/wastewater microbiology (identification of two new indicator bacteria), and novel anaerobes (clostridia and SRB) in bioremediation and industrial microbiology.

Stream ecology, conservation biology

My students and I are pursuing a variety of basic and applied ecological questions using stream benthic organisms as models. My current work uses the freshwater mussel guild as a model system to study species functional roles in ecosystems and how roles vary with environmental context.

Historical ecology, community ecology, reptile biology

My research centers on the biology of reptiles, especially squamates. Altthough I dabble in behavioral ecology, functional morphology, life history evolution, and ecophysiology, my primary interests at the moment are in untangling historically derived ecological traits (historical ecology) from more recently derived ecological traits (community ecology) in an attempt to understand why communities have the structure that we observe.

Evolutionary ecology, ecological genetics, aquatic ecology

My research interests center on studying the mechanisms (e.g. selection, migration) that influence the maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations, using the freshwater zooplankter, Daphnia, as my primary model organism. I use a variety of molecular (e.g. DNA sequencing) and ecological (e.g. life-table, selection experiments) techniques to address questions in evolutionary ecology.

Ecology, evolution, and behavior

My research examines the evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral mechanisms that generate and maintain biological diversity. My current work evaluates these processes in a species complex of freshwater.

Ecosystems ecology, remote sensing, global change biology

My research interest includes global-scale land use and land cove change, biogeochemical cycles, agriculture, and ecology and epidemiology of infectious diseases. A variety of research tools are employed in our studies, including satellite remote sensing and modeling.

Temporal GIS, geographic representation, spatiotemporal analysis and modeling

My research centers on integration of space and time across multiple scales to identify environmental factors and driving forces to geographic processes and discern geographic relationships and interactions.