BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Professor of Biology
Program Director of Biology
Director of the Allegheny
Institute of Natural History
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences
University of Chicago
M.A. in Botany with a minor in Zoology
University of South Dakota
B.A. in Zoology with minors in Chemistry, German, &
Philosophy
University of South Dakota
My Ph.D. dissertation was entitled "Comparisons of vegetative growth patterns and gemmae and gemma cup production in Marchantia polymorpha L. under controlled conditions," and dealt with factors affecting vegetative growth and development in a thalloid liverwort.
My M. A. thesis was on the ecology of epiphytic bryophytes and entitled, "An ecological study of epiphytic bryophytes on Pseudotsuga menziesii, Douglas fir, on the Olympic Peninsula, WA."
Prior to joining the Pitt-Bradford faculty in 1998, I taught at the University of San Diego and served as Chair of Biology for many years. I have also been a teaching and research associate at the University of South Dakota, an instructor of biology at YMCA Community College in Chicago, and a literature chemist for Velsicol Chemical Co. in Chicago.
I am an active member of the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership (PBP) and serve as an alternate board member, a member of its Biodiversity Conservation Plan team, and member of the Bioinformatics and Education Task Forces. I am also a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences, American Botanical Society, and the American Bryological and Lichenological Society.
Just before coming to Pitt-Bradford I originated, owned and operated The Paradox Caffe', a coffee house and art gallery, in an old Victorian home in IN.
I enjoy nature, gardening, traveling, reading, and painting. I specialize in watercolors and have been accepted into juried shows, am a signature member of the Watercolor Society of Indiana, and have won several awards.
AINH / Biology / UPB / Environmental Studies
I am interested in activities concerning the conservation of biodiversity and have been specializing in conservation of Pennsylvania's biota.
Therefore, I am actively involved in assessing the state of biodiversity conservation in the Commonwealth and served on the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership's (PBP's) Biodiversity Conservation Plan team that outlined the state of biodiversity conservation in PA and provided the consultant's report on the directory of biodiversity databases for "Snapshot 2002: Biodiversity in Pennsylvania" by PBP
As a member of the Biodiversity Conservation Plan team, we are currently working on the development of a biodiversity conservation plan for Pennsylvania.
In addition to my activities with PBP, I helped originate and am involved in developing the Allegheny Institute of Natural History here at Pitt-Bradford. Part of my responsibilities include overseeing student researchers involved in long-term monitoring of salamanders in northern mixed deciduous hardwood forest habitats that are either invaded or non-invaded by hay-scented fern. This project has resulted in several presentations at regional meetings:
Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings:
2002:
A three-year summary of the relationship between an invasive fern and
salamander populations in the Allegheny National Forest. Gretchen Sterba*,
Hope Dotter*, John Skinner, Dessie Severson, and Thomas Pauley, Allegheny
Institute of Natural History, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford,
PA 16701. Poster Presentation.
2001:
An Investigation of the Relationship Between Invasive Plants and Salamander
Populations in the Allegheny National Forest. Tracy Guenther*, Star Dunham,
Dessie Severson, and Thomas Pauley, Allegheny Institute of Natural History,
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA 16701. Oral presentation.
2000:
Salamander populations in the Allegheny National Forest: the role of bryophytes.
Tracy Guenther* and Dessie Severson, Allegheny Institute of Natural History,
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA 16701. Oral presentation.
Salamander populations in the Allegheny National Forest: the role of invasive
plants by Eileen Burley, Mariah Peterman*, Lisa Van Gorden, Dessie Severson,
and Thomas Pauley, Allegheny Institute of Natural History, University
of Pittsburgh- Bradford, Bradford, PA 16701. Oral presentation.
Penn State-Behrend / Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research Conference in 2000:
Salamander populations in the Allegheny National Forest: the role of bryophytes,
by Tracy Guenther* and Dessie Severson, Allegheny Institute of Natural
History, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA 16701. Oral presentation.
Oral presentation.
Penn-York Undergraduate Research Conference in 2002:
A three-year summary of the relationship between an invasive fern and
salamander populations in the Allegheny National Forest, by Hope Dotter*,
John Skinner, Dessie Severson, and Thomas Pauley, Allegheny Institute
of Natural History, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, Bradford, PA 16701.
Poster presentation.
The Allegheny Institute of Natural History co-sponsors the yearly "Perspectives on the Environment" series at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. The series was originated in 2000 by Dr. Stephen Robar, Assistant Professor of Political Science and an Environmental Policy specialist, and is free and open to the public. I was the science representative on the panel, "Approaches to Environmental Challenges: Science, Religion, Management, Economics and the Law" in April 2002, and have also served as moderator.
In addition to the above activities, I have also been involved in curriculum development. I spearheaded the revision of the Biology Curriculum, helped devise the multi-disciplinary Environmental Studies major, and have developed an interdisciplinary freshman seminar, "Sense of Place," with a University of Pittsburgh Innovations in Education grant.
AINH / Biology / UPB / Environmental Studies
I currently teach BIOL 0101 Introduction to Organismal & Population Biology, BIOL 0104 Ecology & Environmental Biology, BIOL 1308 Field Botany, and FS0102 Sense of Place: A Splash in the Creek / A Walk in the Woods. I post all courses on Blackboard 5, which can be viewed by students enrolled in class.
BIOL 0101
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL & POPULATION BIOLOGY
abbreviated outline of a semester-long course:
Required Textbook: Solomon, Eldra et al. 2002. Biology, 6th ed. Brooks/Cole/Thomson Learning
Required Lab Manual: Vodopich, Darrell & Randy Moore. 2002. Biology Laboratory Manual, 6th ed. McGraw-Hill.
Course Description: An evolutionary survey of organisms including an introduction to structure and function of various organ-systems. Basic concepts of ecology, the interaction of organisms in their environment, will be covered. Three hours of lecture and three hours of lab every week. Fall every year. 4 credits.
ECOLOGY
AUG 26 Class Orientation
AUG 28 Introduction to Biology
AUG 30 Population Ecology
SEP 02 NO CLASS Labor Day Holiday
SEP 04 Community Ecology
SEP 06 Ecosystem Ecology
SEP 09 Biomes & Conservation Biology
SEP 11 Classification Scheme
Viruses
PROKARYOTES
SEP 13 DOMAIN BACTERIA
Kingdom Eubacteria, the true Bacteria
(bacteria, cyanobacteria, and mycoplasms)
DOMAIN ARCHAEA
Kingdom Archaebacteria, the Archaebacteria
(methanogens and extremophiles)
EXAM #1 -- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 -- 100 POINTS
EUKARYOTES
DOMAIN EUKARYA
SEP 18KINGDOM PROTISTA, the Protists:
Evolution of eukaryotic cells
Animal-Like Protists, the PROTOZOA
(Phyla Rhizopoda, Foraminifera, Actinopoda, Zoomastigina, Ciliophora,
& Apicomplexa)
SEP 20 KINGDOM PROTISTA: Plant-Like Protists, the ALGAE
(Phyla Euglenophyta, Dinoflagellata, Bacillariophyta, Phaeophyta, Chlorophyta,
& Rhodophyta)
SEP 23 KINGDOM PROTISTA: FUNGAL-LIKE PROTISTS
(Phyla Myxomycota, Acrasiomycota, Oomycota)
SEP 25 KINGDOM FUNGI & Lichens
(Phyla Zygomycota, Ascomycota, & Basidiomycota) and Lichens
KINGDOM PLANTAE, the Plants (all are embryophytes)
SEP 27 Evolution of Terrestrial Plants
SEP 30 Seedless Non-Vascular Plants: MOSSES & LIVERWORTS
(Phyla Bryophyta & Hepaticophyta)
OCT 02 Seedless Vascular Plants:
WHISK FERNS, CLUB MOSSES, HORSETAILS & FERNS
(Phyla Psilotophyta, Lycophyta, Sphenophyta, & Pterophyta)
EXAM #2 -- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 04 -- 100 POINTS
KINGDOM PLANTAE, continued
OCT 07 Seed Plants: GYMNOSPERMS
(Phyla Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Coniferophyta, & Gnetophyta)
OCT 09 Seed Plants: ANGIOSPERMS/Flowering Plants
(Phyla Anthophyta)
OCT 11 Angiosperm Reproduction
OCT 14 Angiosperm Plant Growth & Development
OCT 16 Angiosperm Leaves
OCT 18 Angiosperm Stems
OCT 21 Angiosperm Roots
OCT 23 Angiosperm Tropisms & Hormones
EXAM #3 -- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 -- 100 POINTS
KINGDOM ANIMALIA, the Animals
OCT 28 Introduction to Animal Classification
OCT 30 SPONGES & RADIATES (Phyla Porifera & Cnidaria
NOV 01 Acoelomate FLATWORMS (Phyla Platyhelminthes)
NOV 04 Pseudocoelomate ROUNDWORMS (Phylum Nematoda)
Coelomate Protostomes
NOV 06 MOLLUSKS (Phyla Mollusca)
NOV 08 Segmented Worms (Phyla Annelida)
NOV 11 Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
Sub-Phyla Chelicerata & Crustacea
NOV 13 Arthropods, continued
(Phylum Arthropoda) Sub-Phylum Uniramia
EXAM #4 -- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 -- 100 POINTS
KINGDOM ANIMALIA, continued
Coelomate Deuterostomes
NOV 18 ECHINODERMS
NOV 20 CHORDATES (Phylum Chordata)
(Sub-Phyla Urochordata, Cephalochordata, Vertebrata)
Tunicates and Cephalochordates
NOV 22 Introduction to Vertebrates
NOV 25 VERTEBRATES (Phylum Chordata)Sub-Phylum Vertebrata
Classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves,
& Mammalia
Fishes & Amphibians
(Classes Agnatha, Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes, & Amphibia)
NOV 27 THANKSGIVING VACATION-NO CLASS
NOV 29 THANKSGIVING VACATION-NO CLASS
(Enjoy the turkey. Check out the coelom before you carve!)
DEC 02 Amniotes (Classes Reptilia & Aves)
DEC 04 Mammals (Class Mammalia)
EXAM #5 -- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 06 -- 100 POINTS
FINAL EXAM DECEMBER 11--100 POINTS
BIOL 0104
ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY
abbreviated outline for 6 week long summer course:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
BIOL 0104 ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY 4 credits
Designed for the non-major. Basic principles of ecology are introduced
along with a discussion of the complexity of environmental problems and
their solutions. Laboratory will include field trips to various habitats
in our region and analyses of environmental parameters. Three hours of
lecture and three hours of lab per week. GE: Life Sciences.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
Ricklefs, Robert E. 2001. The Economy of Nature, 5th edition. W.H. Freeman
& Co., NY
LECTURE:
4-29 Introduction LIFE & THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
4-29 The Physical Environment
4-30 Adaptation to Aquatic & Terrestrial Environments
4-30 Variations in the Physical Environment
5-02 Biological Communities: The Biome Concept
ECOSYSTEMS
5-06 Energy in the Ecosystem
5-07 Pathways of Elements in the Ecosystem
5-09 Nutrient Regeneration in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems
ORGANISMS
5-13 Adaptations to Life in Varying Environments
5-14 Life Histories and Evolutionary Fitness
5-14 Sex and Evolution
5-16 Family, Society, and Evolution
POPULATIONS
5-20 Population Structure
5-20 Population Growth and Regulation
5-21 Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Populations
5-23 Population Genetics and Evolution
5-27 NO CLASS-MEMORIAL DAY-HAVE A PICNIC!!!!
SPECIES INTERACTIONS
5-28 Predation and Herbivory
5-28 Dynamics of Predation
5-30 Competition
6-03 Coevolution and Mutualism
COMMUNITIES
6-04 Community Structure
6-04 Community Development
6-06 Biodiversity
6-10 History and Biogeography
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
6-11 Extinction and Conservation
6-11 Economic Development and Global Ecology
6-13 Oral Presentations of Regional Environmental Issues
LABORATORY:
4-29 Tour the Tuna-Our Living Lab. Group Dynamics.
4-30- Twenty Questions. #1 Collaborative Group. Present your questions.
5-02 Design an Experiment and Collect your Data
5-06 Analyze your Data and Present your Findings
5-07 #2 Collaborative Group. Tuna Water Quality-lentic and lotic
5-09 Beaver Pond Water Quality. Present Comparative Oral Report.
5-13 #3 Collaborative Group. Soil Sampling. Present Findings.
5-14 Allegany State Park Wetlands and Plant and Animal Identification
5-16 Tree Identification in Our Living Lab. Begin collecting tree and
shrub leaves.
5-20 To Little Rock City and more Plant and Animal ID
5-21 Finish up Plant Collections and Hand In
5-23 #4 Collaborative Group. Off to the Cemetery to Collect Demography
Data
5-27 Pick a scenic spot, enjoy the beauty of nature, picnic with friends
and/or family.
5-28 #5 Collaborative Group. Estimating Population Size.
5-30 Look for examples of Plant-Animal Interactions in our Living Lab
and give a report
6-03 #6 Collaborative Group. Estimating Biodiversity. Present Findings.
6-04 Viewing Disturbed Habitats and Ecological Succession in Allegany
State Park
6-06 Twenty Questions. #7 Collaborative Group. Present Questions and Pick
One.
6-10 Design an Experiment and Collect Data
6-11 Analyze Data and Present findings.
6-13 No Lab or Field Trip. Present Regional Environmental Issues.
BIOL 1308 FIELD BOTANY
abbreviated course outline for 6 week summer course:
Required Textbooks:
1. Newcomb, Lawrence. 1989. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little Brown &
Co.
2. Harrington, H.D. & L.W. Durrell. 1997. How To Identify Plants.
Ohio Univ. Press
3. Petrides, George. 1998. Eastern Trees. Houghton Mifflin Co.
4. Hallowell, A.E. & B. Hallowell. 1981. Fern Finder. Nature Study
Guide
5. Watts, M.T. 1963. Tree Finder. Nature Study Guide
Reference Books:
1. Fike, Jean. 1999. Terrestrial and Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania.
PNDI & DCNR
2. Gleason, Henry & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants
of Northeastern US & Adjacent Canada. NY Botanical Garden
3. Grimm, William. 1993. The Illustrated Book of Wildflowers and Shrubs.
Stackpole
4. Grimm, William. 1983. The Illustrated Book of Trees. Stackpole
5. Hitchcock, A. S. 1971. Manual of the Grasses of the US. Volumes I &
II. Dover
6. Rhoads, Ann & T. Block. 2000. Plants of Pennsylvania. University
of Pennsylvania Press
Course Description:
An introduction to vascular plant taxonomy, identification, and classification,
with particular emphasis on learning characteristics of plant families,
field identification, and recognizing indicator species of various plant
habitats.
May 2 Introduction to Plant Taxonomy and Plant Descriptive
Terminology
May 9 Plant Descriptive Terminology, Field Identification
May 16 Plant Families, Field Identification
May 23 Plant Families, Field Identification
May 30 Plant Families, Field Identification
June 6 No Class-Work on Projects
June 13 Final Exam 100 points "Sight identification" of trees,
shrubs, common herbaceous plants, and plant
families using both common and scientific names; keying out unknown plants;
developing a dichotomous key.
AINH / Biology / UPB / Environmental Studies