VWC Biology Faculty Members

Bartol  |  Gonsalves-Jackson  |  Resslar  |  Rock  |  Schaus  |  Townsend  |  Publications   |  Grants  |  Presentations  |  Research

Dr. Soraya Bartol - Asst. Professor of Biology (Marine Biology) sbartol@vwc.edu

Dr. Bartol received her doctoral degree from Virginia Institute of Marine Science, just up the road from VWC in Gloucester Point, Va. She has taught courses at UCLA and worked on postdoctoral research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass. Bartol's research has focused on sensory physiology of sea turtles and marine fishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dierdre Gonsalves-Jackson - Asst. Professor of Biology (Invertebrate Biology, Systematics and Development) dgonsalvesjackson@vwc.edu

Dr. Gonsalves-Jackson received her Ph.D. from the Florida Institute of Technology. A predoctoral fellow studying Panama Mollusks, she worked at Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Va., where she attended as an undergraduate. She teaches introductory biology labs, invertebrate zoology, developmental biology, and oceanography.

Dr. Paul Resslar - Professor of Biology (Botany) presslar@vwc.edu 

Dr. Resslar teaches general botany, plant taxonomy, plant morphology, evolution and introductory biology courses, and has developed extensive web resources for the general botany course. His research focuses on plant breeding, reproductive biology, and tissue culture of aroids and cycads.

Dr. Philip Rock - Assoc. Professor of Biology (Microbiology) prock@vwc.edu 

Dr. Rock teaches courses in microbiology, genetics, cell biology and introductory biology. His research involving undergraduates focuses on the function of the annexin gene in Neuropsora as well as work on acanthocephalan parasites and fungi derived from Caribbean termites.

Dr. Maynard Schaus - Assoc. Professor of Biology (Ecology) mschaus@vwc.edu 

Dr. Schaus teaches courses in ecology, environmental biology, marine biology, general zoology (lecture), field studies and environmental writings. His research focuses on the role of consumer-mediated (turtles and fish) nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems, food web interactions in aquatic systems, and impacts of urbanization on bird and arthropod communities.

Dr. Victor Townsend - Asoc. Professor of Biology (Morphology and Invertebrate Biology) vtownsend@vwc.edu 

Dr. Townsend teaches courses in general zoology, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, comparative anatomy, histology, human anatomy and physiology. He actively sponsors student research on the functional morphology and evolution of squamate reptiles and population and community ecology of terrestrial and aquatic arthropods.

 

Selected Publications (2002-2007)

Burns, J. A., Hunter, R. K., and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Tree use by harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) in the rainforests of Trinidad, W.I. Caribbean Journal of Science 43 (1).


Hunter, R. K., Proud, D. N., Burns, J. A.,Tibbetts, J. A., and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Parental care in the neotropical harvestman Phareicranaus calcariferus (Opiliones, Laniatores, Cranaidae). Journal of Arachnology (in press).


Resslar, P. M. Observing Caladiums in the Northern Range of Trinidad. Selbyana 27 (1): 93-95.


Townsend, V. R. Jr., Mulholland, K. A., Bradford, J. O., Proud, D. N., and K. M. Parent. 2006. Seasonal variation in parasitism by erythraeid mites (Leptus sp.) upon the harvestman Leiobunum formosum (Opiliones, Sclerosomatidae). Journal of Arachnology 34 (2) 492-494.

Gordon, M.S. and S. M. Bartol, eds. 2004. Experimental Approaches to Conservation Biology. University of California Press, Berkley.

Bartol, S.M., R.L Mellgren and J.A. Musick. 2003. Visual Acuity of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta): A Behavioral Approach. International Journal of Comparative Psychology 16:143-155.

Fuller, C.A., Rock, P., and T. J. Philips. 2003. Behavior, Color Changes and Predation Risk Induced by Acanthocephalan Parasitism in the Caribbean Termite Nasutitermes acajutlae, Caribbean Journal of Science 39: (1):128-135.


Rubbo, M. J., Townsend, V. R. Jr., Smyers, S. D., and R. G. Jaeger. 2003. An experimental assessment of invertebrate/vertebrate predation: The interaction between wolf spiders (Gladicosa pulchra) and terrestrial salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). Journal of Zoology 261: 1-5.


Moore, M. K., and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2003. Intraspecific variation in cranial ossification in the tailed frog, Ascaphus truei. Journal of Herpetology 37(4): 714-717.

VanZandt, P. A., Townsend, V. R. Jr., Carlton, C. E., Blackwell, M., and S. Mopper. 2003. Loberus impressus LeConte (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) fungal associations and presence in the seed capsules of Iris hexagona. Coleopterists Bulletin 57(3): 281-288.


Smyers, S. D., Rubbo, M. J.,Townsend, V. R. Jr., and C. C. Swart. 2002. Intra- and interspecific characterizations of burrow use and defense by juvenile ambystomatid salamanders. Herpetologica 58 (4): 422-429.


Bartol, S.M., J.A. Musick and A.L. Ochs. 2002. Visual Acuity Thresholds of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea turtles (Caretta caretta): An Electrophysiological Approach. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 187:953-960.

Hazelton, S. R., Townsend, V. R. Jr., Felgenhauer, B. E., and J. H. Spring. 2002. Membrane dynamics in the Malpighian tubules of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. Journal of Membrane Biology 185 (1): 43-56.


Hazelton, S. R., Townsend, V. R. Jr., Richter, C., Ritter, M., Felgenhauer, B. E., and J. H. Spring. 2002. Morphology and ultrastructure of the Malpighian tubules of the common Chilean tarantula, (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Journal of Morphology 251 (1): 73-82.


Schaus, M. H., M. J. Vanni, and T. E. Wissing. 2002. Biomass-dependent diet shifts in omnivorous gizzard shad: Implications for growth, food web, and ecosystem effects. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 131:40-54.

 

Grants (2004-2008)

Bartol, S., and I. K. Bartol 2007. Hearing Capabilities of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) throughout Ontogeny: An Integrative Approach involving Behavioral and Electrophysiological Techniques. International Consortium of Oil and Gas $ 357,091 (VWC $162,173).

Rudiger B., E. E. Strong, P. Mikkelsen, S. J. Chicone, R. Ross, G. Giribet, and D. Gonsalves-Jackson, D. 2007. Phylogeny on the half-shell—Assembling the Bivalve Tree of Life. National Science Foundation (AToL) grant. (VWC $ 17,772 est.).


Townsend. 2005. Examination of mites inhabiting phytotelemata from the rainforests of the Northern Range of Trinidad. Virginia Academy of Sciences Small Projects Grant. $ 1,000.

Reese, M., E. Malcolm, and M. Schaus 2005. Moving Towards a Sustainable Campus: Design of A GreenRoof Monitoring Experiment. U.S. E.P.A. – P3 Program. (July 2005-May 2006). $10,000.


Schaus, M. H. 2004-2008. Effects of Gizzard Shad Feeding on Lake Water Quality. St. Johns River Water Management District. $167,000 total.

 

Recent Conference Presentations (2006-2007)

Bartol, S. 2007. A review of auditory structure of sea turtles. The International Conference on the "Effects of Sound on Aquatic Organisms", Nyborg, Denmark.


Dardis, D., S. Lazarowitz, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Mark-recapture study of harvestmen occupying tree trunks in a rainforest in Trinidad, W.I. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.


Gonsalves-Jackson, D. 2007. Opisthobranch mollusks from the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia). The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.


Heltsley, L. P., D. N. Proud, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Behavioral interactions between Neotropical harvestmen and potential predators. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.


Lazarowitz, S., D. Dardis, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Field study of leaf litter activity by sclerosomatid and cosmetid harvestmen along the Northern Coast of Trinidad, W.I. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.


Porter, S., T. Redding, B. Miller, M. Rowe, M Schaus, and B. Donaldson. 2007. Use of a designed highway undercrossing by wildlife. Association of Southeastern Biologists, 68th Annual Meeting, Columbia, South Carolina.


Proud, D. N., P. Rock, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2007. Investigation of parental care and relationships between individuals within nests of cranaid harvestmen of Trinidad, W.I. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.


Schaus, M., E. Malcolm, and M. Reese. 2007. Use of green roof research in science and statistics courses. Association of Southeastern Biologists, 68th Annual Meeting, Columbia, South Carolina.


Townsend, V. R. Jr., and D. N. Proud. 2007. Additions to the harvestmen fauna (Arachnida, Opiliones) of Trinidad, W.I. The 68th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologist, Columbia, South Carolina.

Brynildsen, V., K. Dodds, I. Ozmon, S. Porter, M. Rowe, T. Redding, E. Malcolm, M. Reese, and M. Schaus. 2006. Moving Towards a Sustainable Campus: Design of a Green Roof Monitoring Experiment. 2nd Annual P3 Conference, Washington, DC.


Burns, J. A., V. R. Townsend, Jr., D. N. Proud, J. A. Tibbetts, R. K. Hunter, and M. K. Moore. 2006. Observations of parental care in the neotropical harvestman Phareicranaus calcariferus (Opiliones, Laniatores, Cranaidae) from Trinidad, W.I. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Godwin, W.F., M.H. Schaus, L.E. Battoe, M.F. Coveney, E.F. Lowe, R.P. Roth, B.R. Sparks. 2006. Manipulation of Omnivorous Fish Stocks as a Restoration Component for Ocklawaha Basin Lakes. Florida Lake Management Society’s Annual Meeting.


Hunter, R. K., D. N. Proud, J. A. Tibbetts, J. A. Burns, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2006. Field observations of the natural history of the harvestmen of Trinidad. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Lawrence, S. G. and D. Gonsalves-Jackson, 2006. Systematics of Opisthobranch Mollusks from the Eastern Shore of Virginia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia), Virginia Academy of Science Meeting, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.


Morris, W., M. Schaus, K.Smith, and T.Cooper. 2006. Impact of Nest Box Design and Placement on Brood Parasitism and Usage by the Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). The 60th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Norfolk, Virginia.

Nix, A. E., M. K. Moore, V. R. Townsend, Jr., B. Kimbrell, and B. Kimbrell. 2006. Animal diversity and community structure in phytotelmata of Heliconia aurea from Trinidad, W. I. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Porter, S., B. Miller, M. Rowe, M. Schaus, and B. Donaldson. 2006. Use of a Designed Highway Undercrossing by Large Mammals. The 60th Annual Conference of the Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Norfolk, Virginia.


Proud, D. N. Comparative Study of the Manaosbiidae from Trinidad, W. I. The 84th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Sciences, Blacksburg, Virginia.


Proud, D. N. 2006. Examination of paternity and sibling relationships in the nests of a tropical harvestman from Trinidad, W. I. Virginia Academy of Sciences Fall Undergraduate Research Competition, Richmond, Virginia.


Proud, D. N., and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2006. Use of logs, palm fronds, and bromeliads by arachnids and myriapods in montane rainforest. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Proud, D. N., V. R. Townsend, Jr., M. K. Moore, and P. M. Resslar. 2006. A potential new species of harvestman (Opiliones, Manaosbiidae) from Morne Bleu Ridge in the Northern Range of Trinidad, W.I.. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Malcolm, E., Reese, M., Schaus, M., Ozmon, I. 2006. Do Living Green Roofs Reduce Total Mercury in Stormwater Runoff? The 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant, Madison Wisconsin.


Schaus, M., W. Godwin, L. Battoe, M. Coveney, E. Lowe, R. Roth, C. Selecky, M. Vindigni, C. Weinberg, and A. Zimmerman. 2006. Impact of an Intensive Fish Removal on Nutrient Cycles of Lake Apopka. The 60th Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Norfolk, Virginia.


Schaus, M., W. Godwin, L. Battoe, M. Coveney, E. Lowe, R. Roth, C. Selecky, M. Vindigni, C. Weinberg, and A. Zimmerman. 2006. Impact of Gizzard Shad Removal on Nutrient Cycles in Lake Apopka, Florida". The 17th Annual Conference of the Florida Lake Management Society, St. Augustine, Florida.


Tibbetts, J. A., and R. K. Hunter. 2005. Examination of erythraeid mites infecting tropical species of harvestmen (Arachnida, Laniatores) in Trinidad, W. I. Southeastern Regional Meeting of Beta Beta Beta, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.


Tibbetts, J. A., D. N. Proud, and V. R. Townsend, Jr. 2006. Use of logs by arthropods in the rainforests of the Northern Range of Trinidad, W.I. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Townsend, V. R. Jr., and M. K. Moore. 2006. The harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) of Trinidad, W.I., with comments on new locality records. The 67th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

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