University of North Carolina Wilmington Spring 2006

BiologyBiology Notes from the Chair: MarineMarine BiologyBiology

It is hard to believe another academic year Molecules, Cells, Muscles and Movement has ended! The Long and Winding Road Last fall we had one our largest by Stephen Kinsey, Ph.D., associate professor undergraduate classes for the past 10 years, with over 600 biology and marine Most of what we know about biochemistry that is available in molecules like carbohydrates biology majors and pre-majors. Following and cell function is derived from a century of and lipids into mechanical energy that causes our emphasis on involvement with research, carefully controlled laboratory experiments the muscle cells to shorten. Multiple cells over the past academic year we had 14 students complete and defend honors conducted using solutions in test tubes. This shortening in concert induces the muscle as a projects, 112 students participate in directed approach revolutionized much of biology and whole to contract, which leads to higher level independent study or internship projects, medicine and provided an understanding of responses such as an arm extension or a heart and many other students work as laboratory many metabolic diseases. Ultimately, however, beat. One of our goals is to characterize how research assistants or volunteers with various we wish to understand cell function in living events inside living muscle cells (biochemical projects. Students graduating after finishing organisms. In essence, this is an effort to level) influence activities such as locomotion honors research included: Jessi Ellenburg, reassemble the organism from the detailed (whole-animal level). Rebecca Hamner, Danelle Lekan, Anne data that exists on the individual biological Markwith, Jennifer Miller, Kristin Morrison, components. My students and I study both Molecules React, But They Move Andrew Ostrowski, Jeffrey Overton, Benjamin marine and terrestrial organisms in order Around, Too Parrott, Kyle Rommel, Devin Rosenthal, to better understand how processes at the One of the differences between the biochemical Lisa Pasqualetti, Matthew Weissenbach, biochemical, cellular, tissue and whole animal processes that occur in a test tube and those in and Nicole Zane. Among the students a living cell is that cells are highly organized and recognized at graduation, Danelle Lekan and level interact to affect animal function. structured. For instance, metabolic pathways are Anne Markwith received the Marine Biology Muscle Is a Metabolic Machine Achievement Award, Kristin Morrison received nearly always depicted as a series of molecules the Biology Achievement Award, Andrew Muscle is an unusual tissue in that you can connected with arrows, where the arrows Ostrowski received the Department of Biology voluntarily increase its metabolic rate simply represent the conversion of one molecule to and Marine Biology James F. Merritt Service by moving (by more than 100 fold if you are the next. This view of metabolism describes Award, and Devin Rosenthal, Rebecca working hard). In fact, the goal of many exercise biochemistry in a test tube very well. However, Hamner and Sarah Braly were recognized for regimes is to activate the muscle metabolic in living cells the arrows may also represent the outstanding undergraduate research. furnace so that you can burn off the excess movement of the molecules from place to place This year marked a milestone with the sugars and fats. For our purposes, muscle is a within the cell. Molecular movement occurs by a graduation of our first Ph.D. candidate. David particularly interesting tissue for study because process known as diffusion, which is analogous Meyer walked at graduation this spring, its function is integrated over many levels of to a person walking through a forest in the dark, representing the first of many doctorates we biological hierarchy. At the biochemical level, and randomly changing direction every time expect to come through our program. muscle cells transduce the chemical energy – continued on page 5 — continued on page 2 Newsletter Notes, continued from page 1

In addition to Dave, we also saw 14 of our M.S. colleagues graduate. Our though he is helping Jennifer Abernathy with the transition as she takes graduate program had 47 M.S. biology and marine biology students and on that responsibility. Monica McGee left the laboratory coordinator nine Ph.D. students enrolled this past year. position after many years of making sure the introductory labs run smoothly, with that hefty responsibility being taken on by one of our One of the factors contributing to the extensive involvement of students former M.S. graduates, Leslie Moore. This past year we also conducted in research is an ongoing, strong research program. Our faculty searches for three new faculty positions in the areas of biological continue to work in diverse areas of biology, recognized at regional, oceanography, cell biology and vertebrate biology. national and international levels. Last academic year biology and marine biology faculty had over 85 new or continuing grants totaling Among the major challenges facing us next year will be the renovation of more than $8,500,000. Additionally, five biology faculty were involved Friday Hall. We are currently scheduled to completely move out of that with the Coastal Ocean Research and Monitoring Program (CORMP), building by early July — this means every piece of glassware, chair, or which was funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric specimen accumulated over four decades of use. During next year we Administration at more than $2.3 million. Research resulted in publication will be compressed into two large trailers, hopefully moving back into a of 85 national/international level papers (42 with student co-authors), renovated building for fall 2007. It will be a difficult process for all, but four books, more than 15 reports, and 158 scientific presentations (66 the renovation promises to provide a major upgrade with floor plan and with student authors). These numbers tell only part of the story, with infrastructure improvements that will help future classes and research labs. examples of faculty professional involvement including chair of the In addition to the work on Friday Hall, Dobo Hall is scheduled for HVAC N.C. Coastal Resources Commission; membership on N.C. Marine upgrades, the old Center for Marine Science building near Wrightsville Fisheries Crustacean, Habitat, Shellfish, Southeastern Regional, and Beach is tentatively on track to be sold and vacated this year, and Scallop Management Plan Advisory Committees; membership on construction for a new building wing is planned for the new CMS building advisory boards for the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, N.C. at Myrtle Grove this summer. It will be a busy year of building! Wildlife Resources Commission, and National Marine Fisheries Service; As I finish my second year of chair, I continue to be impressed by the participation on editorial boards of 12 journals; as well as participation success and enthusiasm of our students, the hard work of our faculty and on numerous other panels, review boards and other professional groups. staff, and the support of our alumni. Despite tight budgets, we continue Among other noteworthy happenings in our department last year, Dr. to maintain nationally recognized undergraduate and M.S. programs, are David Webster received the Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award, Dr. developing a growing Ph.D. program, and are conducting research and Richard Dillaman received the 2005 UNCW Faculty Scholarship Award, service activities with a national and international scope. Our efforts have Dr. Linda Potts was nominated for the Lecturer Excellence in Teaching been aided significantly over the past year by the receipt of several gifts Award, and several of our graduate students were recognized for their from alumni that will help in the establishment of new student scholarships teaching excellence. Dr. Scott Quackenbush left UNCW in December to as well as support of our teaching and research facilities. I hope all our take an associate dean position at Humboldt State University. We will alumni and friends will keep in contact with us and I appreciate your greatly miss him and wish him the best at his new position. Drs. Fritz continued support our efforts. Please visit our department Web site (www. Kapraun and Ned Hadley began their first year in phased retirement uncw.edu/bio) on a regular basis to see what’s happening. while Drs. David Padgett and James Merritt will begin their phased retirement next fall. Dr. Joe Pawlik returned to the department in Best Wishes, August after a three year stint as an associate program director for the National Science Foundation. Dr. Webster will begin a three year term as associate dean of the UNCW College of Arts and Sciences in July. Dr. Amanda Southwood joined our faculty in fall 2005 (see her biography Martin Posey Posey sketch in this newsletter). Bob York left us as greenhouse manager, professor and chair

Webster Named Associate Dean

Dr. William David Webster, professor in responsibilities are new to this position and Dr. Webster joined the faculty of the the department of biology and marine reflect the rapid growth and development in Department of Biology and Marine Biology biology, has been named the new associate graduate education and research initiatives in 1983 and earned the rank of professor dean of graduate programs, research, and that the college is experiencing. He will also in 1993. Highly respected on campus, infrastructure in the College of Arts and oversee issues related to the physical domain Webster is a superlative teacher, a recipient Sciences. Webster’s full-time appointment will of the college, including technology, facilities, of the Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence begin on July 1, 2006; until then he will serve construction, and renovation, also rapidly Award in 2005, and an active researcher as as associate dean on a part-time basis. expanding due to growth and advancement. well. He has mentored many graduate and As associate dean, Dr. Webster will work In this capacity, he will serve as a liaison undergraduate students in their research. Dr. with the dean, the department chairs, and the between the college and other campus offices Webster’s mammalogy and ecology courses dean of the Graduate School and Research to including Academic Affairs, ITSD, Business are a highlight for many biology students. The coordinate and support the college’s graduate Affairs, Office of Facilities, and Physical Plant. College is fortunate to have such an outstanding programs and research activities. These new dean for this newly designed position. ealthy fish populations processes and calculating their effects on are a vital component red drum population abundance. Several of coastal communities in UNCW students have participated in red HNorth Carolina. According to the North drum research including Christopher Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Stewart and Jason Lanier, who each the combined activities of recreational recently completed Master of Science and commercial fishing for state-managed degrees in marine biology, and Charles species have an economic impact of more Foster, a UNCW honors student who than $100 million annually. In order to went on to attend graduate school at the maintain prosperous commercial fisheries and University of Texas. provide abundant opportunities for recreational anglers, the division must set catch limits that Another large project in the lab is aimed minimize the impact to local fish stocks. Fishery at estimating harvest levels of southern management strategies must continually adapt flounder in the commercial gillnet fishery. to changes in the behavior of anglers and natural Management changes were initiated last year variation in the abundance of the fish, adjusting to reduce catch rates statewide for this popular catch regulations periodically to maintain high and species that has been overfished in recent years. consistent yield from the fishery. Timely data on fish Dr. Scharf’s lab is conducting a tag-return study population vital rates such as growth, mortality, and in one of the heavily fished estuarine systems reproduction are critical to make appropriate adjustments and along the coast to estimate the fraction of southern achieve sound management. flounder that are caught in the fishery each season. The project requires a cooperative effort with many The Fisheries Ecology Lab at UNCW, under the direction of Dr. of the commercial fishers in the region to ensure that Frederick Scharf, assistant professor of biology and marine biology, has captured fish are reported accurately. Presently, this project been studying the population dynamics of several local marine fishes to supports William Smith, a master’s student in marine biology, provide this important data. Research has been underway since 2003 to and also contributed to the honors research of Kyle Rommel, who recently understand the ecology of red drum (the state fish of North Carolina) graduated. A separate project on the early life history of southern flounder during their first year of life. As juveniles, red drum inhabit shallow waters provided the data for an honors thesis by recent graduate Andrew of our local estuaries and grow rapidly, often reaching the minimum legal Ostrowski, who is continuing the work this summer to investigate the size (18 inches) early in their second year of life. Environmental processes effects of body size and early growth on post-settlement flounder survival. that impact growth and mortality of young red drum often vary from year Andy is planning to begin graduate school at the University of Maryland’s to year and may determine the number of fish that survive to adulthood. Chesapeake Biological Lab in the fall. The research in Dr. Scharf’s lab is focused on identifying these important Additional research in the fisheries ecology lab includes the work of current marine biology master’s student Stephanie McInerny, who is estimating age and growth of red snapper in the South Atlantic, and a project to examine the age structure and diet of spotted seatrout in Students at UNCW’s southeastern North Carolina, which is being undertaken by Bradley Fisheries Ecology Lab study Tayloe, a recent Marine Biology graduate. This fall, Dr. Scharf will be the population dynamics of taking on new students that will be studying the fish communities that juvenile red drum (above) and spotted grey sea trout (left). occupy artificial reefs in the nearshore ocean and continuing research on The data they gather helps the red drum juvenile ecology. In future studies, Dr. Scharf hopes to continue recreational and commercial to provide important ecological and biological data that can be used to fishing industry in the Cape Fear region. promote a better understanding of marine fish population dynamics and sound management of our coastal resources. 3 Seasonal Occurrence of North Atlantic Right Whales meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in faculty highlights along the US Mid-Atlantic Coast.” Atlanta. The poster was coauthored by his postdoc- toral mentor, B. Ward of Princeton University. At the Troy Alphin was cited in a National Geographic News William McLellan received $12,080 from Woods same meeting Ronald Sizemore and his graduate article about North Carolina’s oyster shell recycling Hole Oceanographic Institution to fund “Right Whale student, Chris Thornburg, presented a poster titled program. Stranding Investigation.” He was also part of a “Increased Survival of Vibrio spp. Associated with radio segment, “Dolphin Necropsies,” that aired on Daniel Baden and Elena Perrineau were funded Algal Blooms of Gyrodinium instriatum.” $27,220 from the National Institute of Health for their National Public Radio and won a 2005 Science Jour- project, “Minority Predoctoral Fellowship Program.” nalism Award from the American Association for the Ann Stapleton, Ronald Vetter, Clayton Ferner, Baden, along with Jeffrey Wright and Carmelo Advancement of Science (AAAS). Jeffrey Brown, and Ned Martin were funded $281,937 from UNC-OP for their project, “Fostering Tomas received $450,908 from the National Insti- Joseph Pawlik received $2,000 from NOAA to fund Undergraduate Research Partnerships through a tutes of Health for “Diverse Chemical Libraries from “Barrel Sponges on Florida Reefs: Reproduction, Graphical User Environment for the NC Computing Photosynthetic Marine Microalgae.” Mortality and Bleaching.” Pawlik is also a contributing Grid.” Stapleton also serves as a panel manager for editor for Marine Ecology Progress Series. Craig Bailey has been elected secretary of the NRI Applied Plant Genomics and is on the review Phycological Society of America (2006-2009). He is David Padgett, with Terry Johnson and Rolan panel for the 2006 USDA Plant Responses to the also an executive committee member for the Phyco- Seymor, co-authored the book Biology and System- Environment Program. logical Society of America and is associate editor for atics of the Saprolegniaceae. Along with Craig Alina Szmant received $169,971 from the University the Journal of Phycology and the European Journal of Bailey, he received $149,816 from the National of California, Merced to fund “Collaborative Proposal: Phycology. Science Foundation for their project, “Momographic Coral Reef Genomics: A genome wide approach and Phylogenetic Research on the Saprolegniales Timothy Ballard and Martin Posey were funded to the study of coral symbiosis.” Szmant currently (watermolds).” $48,000 from Cape Fear Memorial Foundation for serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the their project, “Teaching Kits for Physiology Labora- James Merritt received $10,000 from the NC DENR/ University of the Virgin Islands’ EPSCOR program. tories.” DCM to fund “DCM Research Support Services.” Carmelo Tomas received $144,304 from the NC With Michael Mallin, Merritt was funded $38,000 Lawrence Cahoon was funded $24,400 from Department of Health and Human Services, Division from USACE for “Research and Education Program the North Carolina Sea Grant for “Effects of Sedi- of Public Health for “Development of Monitoring for the New River Estuary.” Merritt, Mallin, Troy ment Phosphorus Concentration on Fecal Pathogen Methodologies for Toxin-producing Estuarine Algae.” Indicators in Estuarine Sediments.” He also received Alphin and Martin Posey received $60,000 from New $11,455 in additional funds from the Sea Grant for Hanover County to fund “Environmental Research in David Webster was the recipient of the Chancellor’s the project. Cahoon also serves as an editor for The the New Hanover County Tidal Creek System.” Teaching Excellence Award for 2005-06. Webster currently serves on the Board of Directors for the NC Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Sciences. Martin Posey and Troy Alphin received $22,045 from Coastal Land Trust. Richard Dillaman was a recipient of the UNCW North Carolina State University for “Effects of Erosion Award for Faculty Scholarship for 2004-05. Control Structures on Adjacent Benthic and Nektonic Ami Wilbur was funded $39,383 from the Florida Communities.” They also were funded $5,232 from Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for “Bay Michael Durako was funded $29,709 from NOAA the North Carolina Sea Grant for “Monitoring and Scallop (Argopecten irradians) Population Restoration for “Experimental Investigation of Hurricane-related Evaluation of Settlement and Subsequent Community on the West Coast of Florida.” Wilbur also serves Changes in Water Quality on the Photobiology of Development on Oyster Sanctuaries.” In addition, as a member of the NC Oyster Hatchery Planning Halophilia Johnsonii” as well as $89,855 from NOAA Alphin received $9,905 from North Carolina Sea Grant Committee and the Bay Scallop FMP Advisory for “Effects of Hurricanes on the Distribution of Halo- for “Gear comparison study—Mini Grant Program.” Committee. philia Johnsonii.” Posey is also a member of the North Carolina Division Steven Emslie received $20,000 from the Bureau of Marine Fisheries Crustacean Advisory Committee of Land Management to fund “Paleoecology of the and the NC Division of Coastal Management Estua- Umcompahgre Plateau, Colorado.” rine Processes Workgroup. new faculty Steven Brewer, assistant professor, was a post- Heather Koopman and Andrew Westgate were Richard Satterlie will have his debut novel published doctoral fellow at the Museum National d’Histoire funded $66,422 by the Office of Naval Research for in July 2006 by Whiskey Creek Press. Phoenix is a Naturelle, France from 2001-02. He received his “Nitrogen Gas Dynamics in Adipose Tissues of Diving historical novel, set in the late 1800s in the American Ph.D. in plant biology in 2000 from the University of Mammals: Do Lipid Composition and Low and Mid- West. In addition, his short story, The Stick, will also California, Davis. His research interests are focused frequency Sound Affect N2 Solubility?” be published by Whiskey Creek Press in October. on linking recruitment dynamics of plants at multiple Four of his poems were recently published in Thomas Lankford received $72,205 from Rutgers scales and phytogeography. He is interested in how Andwerve Literary Journal, an online publication. University for “Coastal Patterns of Juvenile Bluefish variation in animal foraging behavior affects the Recruitment in the Mid and South Atlantic Bight: NC.” Frederick Scharf serves as Southern Division transition probabilities for recruitment of seedlings. Representative to the Marine Fisheries Sections of Additional topics in ecology that he finds intriguing Michael Mallin serves on the board of directors for the American Fisheries Society and on the Southeast are deflected succession following natural and the Estuarine Research Federation and as President Region Advisory Panel for the North Carolina Division anthropogenic disturbances, vegetation description of the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society. of Marine Fisheries. and classification, and phylogeography. Brewer Joel Mintzes is co-editor of the Handbook of College teaches ecology, advanced ecology, and plant Bongkeun Song received $49,000 from the National Science Teaching. community ecology Science Foundation for “Molecular Detection of Ann Pabst and William McLellan received $98,587 Diverse Arsenic Transforming Prokaryotes and Their Gregory T. Chandler, assistant professor, Chandler from NOAA for “Enhanced Tissue Collection and Activities in Anaerobic Estuarine Sediments.” He also received his Ph.D. from the Australian National Health Monitoring of Stranded Marine Mammals presented a poster titled “Molecular Cloning and University in 2001, and received his B.Sc. and B.Sc. in NC and VA.” They were also funded $393,764 Characterization of High Affinity Nitrate Transporter (Hons.) at the same institution. Chandler is a plant from NOAA for their project, “Data Collection on the Genes (hnat) in Marine Phytoplankton” at the annual taxonomist, and uses both traditional

— continued on page 6 4 continued from page 1 they bump into a tree. In this analogy, examine reaction-diffusion processes in the person is the diffusing molecule, mice, which are the most well studied the trees are structures inside the animals in biomedical research. Here, cell, and individual steps occur at we take advantage of a genetic model near the speed of light. A complete of exercise performance developed understanding of metabolism in living by Dr. R. Dale McCall of the UNCW cells therefore must include both the Department of Anthropology. Dr. chemical conversion (reaction), as McCall discovered that in certain strains well as the movement of molecules of mice, only two genes were principally to and from the reaction sites responsible for dramatic differences (diffusion). Accounting for both of in the capacity for endurance exercise. these processes is known as a reaction- Further, these studies were conducted diffusion analysis. We apply a variety under conditions of simulated high- of methods, some of which allow us altitude, where the oxygen availability to peer inside living cells and measure is drastically reduced. We have been molecular motion without disrupting investigating the biochemical and cellular architecture. Examples of these Blue crab locomotor muscles have interesting properties that make them physiological basis for the differences techniques include laser scanning useful for study. Blue crabs undergo a large increase in body mass during in exercise capacity. In this case, we development (part of that range is shown above). The backfin muscles confocal microscopy and nuclear control the paddle-like swimming legs, and in small blue crabs these muscle are interested in the transport and magnetic resonance (NMR), which cells have normal dimensions. The cells of the adults are giant, however, utilization of oxygen, and we apply our constitute a family of approaches such which makes them of interest for study. reaction-diffusion approach to examine as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). how oxygen gets from the atmosphere to the inside of the muscle cells where it is used. Since poor oxygen supply is Muscle Diversity in Marine Animals associated with many disease states, including heart disease, this research is To understand how properties of living cells, such as molecular motion, potentially broadly applicable. impact cell and organism function, we need to know the rules that govern cellular design. That is, why are cells built in the way that they are, and Putting it All Together how do environmental factors or disease states alter cellular design and I often tell my students (as I was told) that you only understand something function? Fortunately, marine organisms offer a tremendous diversity of fully if you can explain it simply. The implication is that even the most muscle form, which is clearly in evidence at any sushi bar. Since one area complex topics can be distilled into a few basic principles, but only if of interest to us is molecular movement, it makes sense to first examine you have a complete mastery of the underlying complexities. For our cells where the movement of molecules is expected to be an important reaction-diffusion analyses, the underlying complexities consist of the component of metabolism. many types of experimental measurements that we make, the relevant metabolic pathways, and the physical theories that govern molecular Here, we turn to a locomotor muscle group that is familiar to many behavior. To explain the behavior of our systems simply, we need to people, the backfin muscle in blue crabs. This muscle group controls the put these components together in a single model. Here, we turn to Dr. paddle-like legs that power sideways swimming in crabs, and while it is Bruce Locke of Florida State University’s Department of Chemical and most famous in culinary circles, it also possesses qualities that make it Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Locke and his students work with us to interesting for study. The most important feature to us is the extremely develop mathematical simulation models of the muscle cells that we large size that is attained by individual backfin muscle cells. In an adult study, allowing us to compare our measured data to the mathematically blue crab, the backfin muscle cells can exceed1 ⁄32" in diameter and predicted behavior. If the experiments agree with the predictions, then more than 1" in length. That may not sound big, but it means that for that probably means we have a good understanding of the metabolic molecules to move across a cell in blue crab muscle they must diffuse process of interest. about 10 times further than they do in human muscle. In contrast, juvenile blue crabs have cells that are about the same size as those Our conceptual understanding of how metabolism works in living cells in humans. Thus, we have a natural experiment. Monitoring muscle has grown considerably since we began this work, and often times we metabolic and contractile properties as the animals grow (and cellular have been surprised by our findings. While this has caused us to discard distances get larger), we can more easily see how cell design and function some of our more dearly held hypotheses, it is ultimately the surprises are impacted by molecular motion. that keep us excited and lead to the greatest advances in the field. However, it is likely that our greatest contributions will come not in the Biomedical Applications form of data, but in the future contributions of the growing number of While blue crabs and other marine organisms can tell us a great deal about highly trained undergraduate and graduate students that have formed some of the basic rules that govern cell design, our ultimate goal is to apply the backbone of this research. those rules to human physiology and health. To help bridge this gap we also 5 new faculty, continued Richard Satterlie, professor, is Frank Hawkins Kenan Bongkeun Song, assistant professor, is a molecular Professor of Marine Biology. He earned a B.S. from microbial ecologist who joined the faculty of the morphological molecular and methods, with current Sonoma State University (1973), a Ph.D. from the UC Department of Biological Sciences in fall 2004. He research foci on polyploid evolution in Antennaria Santa Barbara (1978), and completed post-doctoral received his M.S. and Ph.D. from Rutgers University (Asteraceae), Fabaceae (legumes), and Apiales training at the University of Alberta. He taught at and a B.A. from Dongkook University at Seoul, Korea. (carrots and relatives). An additional focus added at Arizona State University from 1980-2004 where he He had postdoctoral training at the Department UNCW is a study of Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve, was awarded five teaching awards, including the of Geosciences at Princeton University and also which involves traditional field assessments of the Parents Association Professorship (1994-96), the received a NSF Microbiology Postdoctoral Fellowship flora as well as various plant ecology methods for Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and selection at the same institution. Song is interested in func- determining the success of longleaf pine restora- to the Teaching Academy of ASU. He was a Fulbright tional dynamics of microbial communities in marine tion efforts by the Nature Conservancy. Chandler’s Scholar at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, environments. In addition, he works on bioremedia- courses include plant biology, plant taxonomy and in 1994, and a Guggenheim Fellow in 2002-03. His tion projects to monitor and determine the removal conservation biology. research area is neurobiology, with a specialization in of toxic chemicals and metals from the environment. Heather Koopman, assistant professor, is a neural control of locomotion. Dr. Satterlie’s courses Song teaches cell biology and microbiology. physiologist with research interests in the role and include human physiology and neurobiology. Amanda Southwood, assistant professor, received importance of marine lipids, and how the biochemical Frederick S. Scharf, assistant professor, received a B.S. in marine biology from Auburn University characteristics of these molecules fit into functional his Ph.D. in 2001 from University of Massachusetts, (1993) then headed north to attend graduate school and evolutionary contexts in various groups of marine Amherst; M.S. in 1997 from University of Massachu- in the Zoology Department at the University of British organisms. Her laboratory uses a combination of setts, Amherst; and B.S. in 1994 from State University Columbia (Ph. D. 2002). Her dissertation was an methods, including anatomical, histological, and of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Scharf is also the exploration of the effects of seasonal changes in biochemical techniques, to examine three facets of recipient of the 2001-2003 National Research Council temperature on the physiology and behavior of green the physiology of marine animals: metabolism/health, Postdoctoral Fellow, NMFS, James J. Howard Marine sea turtles at Heron Island, Australia. Southwood specialized adaptations, and phylogenetic lineage. Sciences Laboratory. Scharf has taught at the Univer- accepted a joint post-doctoral position with the Her other particular interest are endogenously synthe- sity of Massachusetts, served as Fisheries Biologist University of Hawaii and NOAA Fisheries focusing on sized lipids, which can be essential components of for the Coastal Fisheries Division, Texas Parks and the sensory biology of sea turtles and the potential specialized adipose tissues and are often unique to Wildlife, and was an invited lecturer at Harvard for using sensory deterrents to prevent sea turtles certain groups of animals. Koopman courses include University. Scharf’s courses include animal biology from interacting with commercial fishing gear. She animal biology and animal physiology. and fisheries biology. plans to continue her research on sea turtle biology and conservation. Southwood’s courses include cell biology and animal physiology.

UNCW’s 1st Ph.D. Awarded of Auckland. While there, she will use molecular student news David L. Meyer is the first ever student to be genetic techniques to investigate issues related to the awarded the doctoral degree in marine biology from conservation of Hector’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus UNCW. He defended his dissertation research this hectori) and a recently recognized subspecies known spring, entitled “A comparison of nekton utilization as Maui’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui). of smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) marsh “I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of a based on marsh size and degree of isolation from like Fulbright and cannot wait to begin my work on habitat: Do size and site location matter?” Meyer’s Hector’s dolphins while exploring and experiencing research examined how marsh size and marsh isola- the culture of New Zealand,” Hamner said. “This is an tion influence the use of these critical nursery habitats amazing opportunity for me to work with an expert by various fish species. His work indicates that in my chosen career field and build international both of these factors can have dramatic impacts on connections for future collaborations.” marsh function and must be considered in plans for Undergraduate Internships/Fellowships David L. Meyer received the first doctoral degree in restoration or when assessing the influence of human marine biology from UNCW. disturbances on marsh systems. Meyer earned his Janie McGregor, a current marine biology major, bachelor’s degree in marine biology in 1982 and received a NOAA Hollings Scholarship. The scholar- his master’s degree in coastal biology in 1988, both ship not only entails a financial award but also a 10- from UNCW. Since 1989 Meyer has been a Research week paid internship. McGregor’s internship will take Fishery Biologist with the NOAA Center for Coastal place at the NOAA lab in Hawaii. She will spend this Fisheries and Habitat Research in Beaufort, NC. summer diving, generating a database of information on local fish, and creating maps of locations of rare Hamner Receives Fulbright Scholarship fish. Rebecca Hamner of Greensboro is this year’s Erin Siltamaki was awarded a summer fellowship recipient of the Fulbright Scholar Program at UNCW. at the San Diego Zoo’s Department of Conservation She graduated summa cum laude this May with and Research for Endangered Species. This fellow- degrees in marine biology and psychology, a minor in ship program was established by the late JoAnn B. chemistry and was recognized for achieving university Weedon, mother of Robert Weedon, local veterinarian honors in marine biology. A Fulbright scholaship will allow recipient Rebecca and adjunct faculty member at UNCW. Siltamaki’s Hamner to travel and study in New Zealand. Hamner’s Fulbright award period will begin in work this summer will enhance her pursuit of a BS February 2007, when she will travel to Auckland, New degree in biology as well as her goals to attend veteri- Zealand to work with Scott Baker at the University nary school. 6 alumni news Richard Dana McAtee (BA BIO 1970) has been Craig Burnworth (BA BIO 1995) earned his M.D. Evan Folds (BS BIO 2001) began his own gardening employed by GE Nuclear Fuel Services as a lab from UNC Chapel Hill and has been quite busy store, Progressive Gardens, in the fall of 2002. analyst for the past 34 years. He has three children: since then. He completed his residency at Palmetto Progressive Gardens is a retail gardening store in Meredith is married and has one child, Will; Marissa is Richland Family Practice in Columbia, SC. After three Wilmington specializing in hydroponic and organic also married and works with Electrolux as a marketing years there he left for the Air Force, stationed at Eglin gardening techniques. Their goal is to help people executive; Michael attends Cape Fear Community AFB in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. Craig has served in integrate sustainable practice in their lives via simple College and is a Christian musician and active in his Suriname, Peru, Kuwait and Southwest Asia. Craig and accessible means such as bathhouses, rain church. and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for four barrels, composting, hydroponics, natural lawn care years and are the parents of a daughter, Nina Joy, and pest management, indoor/outdoor gardening, Harding Winslow Rogers III (BS BIO 1989) received who is 18 months old. Craig will finish his service and more. Folds also started an R&D unit called his D.D.S. degree from UNC Chapel Hill in 1993. obligations this summer and is interviewing for sports Progress Earth aimed at wholesaling products under He went on to earn a M.S. from the University of medicine fellowships. patent review and development. Alabama and completed a fellowship in prosthodon- tics and maxillofacial prosthetics at Indiana University Jennifer Lynn Jackson (BS BIO1996) has estab- Carolina Priester (BS MBY 2001 & MS BIO 2003) in 1999. Rogers is in private practice as a prosthodo- lished a career within the pharmaceutical/biotech was married last summer. She has been working nist in Rocky Mount, N.C., specializing in crowns, industry, currently a director of business develop- in the lab of Julian Keith in UNCW’s department of bridges, implants, dentures and partials. He writes, ment. She continues to reside in San Diego and was psychology since October of 2003. She received “My lovely wife, Laura, is a general dentist and we married to Collin Valentine in September of 2005. first place in the biological sciences category for her have a 3.5 year old daughter, Vivian.” poster presented to the “Microscopy and Micro- Jessica Lerch (BS BIO 1998) is a Ph.D. student at analysis 2003 Conference” as well as the Microscopy Beth Cook-Renn (BA BIO 1991 & MED MAD 1996) Case Western Reserve. She was recently invited to Society of America’s Traveling Poster Exhibit Award in and Bryan Renn were married in December of 2004. present a talk at National Institute of Mental Health’s the fall of 2003. Beth taught high school for five years and is currently Predoctoral Research Festival. Jessica’s talk was the principal of G. C. Hawley Middle School in Creed- titled: Pet-1/FEV Dosage Differentially Impacts Julie C. Sullivan (BS BIO 2001) graduated from North moor, NC. She sends special thanks to Dr. Webster Expression Level of Postnatal Serotonergic Traits. Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medi- for a great education! cine in May of 2005. Julie is currently working as a Ronald Dale Tyler Jr. (BS BIO 1998) married Carla mixed animal practitioner at Apex Veterinary Hospital Donna Uguccioni (BS MBY 1991 & MS MBY 1994) Gutierrez (BS BIO 1999) in May of 1999. Ron gradu- in Apex, N.C. was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame for ated from Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary 2005. The WDHOF is an international organization Medical School in 2004 and is now an associate Kelly Hodges Merricks (BS BIO 2002) married that seeks to recognize and honor women whose veterinarian at the Marina Animal Clinic. Carla began Steven Merricks in October of 2004. She will receive achievements have enriched the world-wide diving her graduate work pursuing a MS in Biomedical her MED with a biology specialization from Averett community. There are currently only around 130 Sciences in August, 2005. Carla and Ron have a University this August and is currently employed with women who have received this honor. wonderful five year old daughter, Irene. They miss the Pittsylvania County, Va., school system teaching Wilmington! secondary science classes. Brian Dzwonek (BA BIO 1992) is the director of the 29-90 Distance Learning Consortium, a group Joel Gwyn Anderson (BS BIO 1999) is a graduate Tiffany Nicole Lewis (BS BIO 2003) attended Wake of ten K-12 school districts located in southeast student at UNC Greensboro. After working for five Forest University Baptist Medical Center (Bowman South Dakota (featured in the October 18, 2004 years in cancer research at Wake Forest University Gray) after graduating from UNCW to study medical U.S. News and World Report: www.usnews.com/ School of Medicine, Joel is now a doctoral student technology. She received her degree in July of 2004 usnews/edu/elearning/articles/04rural.htm). The in the nutrition department at UNCG. His research and is now working at New Hanover Regional Medical consortium member schools send and receive high focuses on the neurotoxicological effects of dietary Center. school level distance learning courses, professional manganese and iron. Melissa Dawn Garganta (BS BIO 2004) is attending development and community based educational Mary Lou Klein (BS BIO 1999) was married to Scott medical school at the University of South Carolina. programs, primarily via videoconference. Brian is also Schweizer in November of 2002. Mary Lou and Scott completing a D.Ed. degree (administration). He lives Melissa Meadows (BS MBY 2004) is a Ph.D. student now live in Pittsburgh, Pa. in Sioux Falls with wife, Teresa, and two daughters, at Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences Morgan (31 months) and Isabel (11 months). Justin David Brown (BS BIO 2000) graduated from and the recent recipient of a National Science Foun- veterinary school at Virginia Tech in 2004. He is dation graduate fellowship. Melissa studies the role Franz Gruswitz (BS BIO 1993) worked as a chemist currently pursuing a Ph.D. in wildlife diseases and of color in birds in shaping behavioral interactions in and biochemist in RTP for six years. Franz decided veterinary pathology at the University of Georgia social signaling and sexual selection. Melissa is also to attend graduate school and was admitted into the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Southeastern active in Graduate Partners in Science Education, Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology Program Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study. where she mentors under-represented middle school at the University of Rochester in 1999. His graduate students from Phoenix Preparatory Academy in thesis entailed research on the folding of beta-sheet science discovery. peptides and structural studies of a key chemo- therapy target for the purpose of drug redesign. He Kathryn Mueller (BS MBY 2005) is employed by earned his Ph.D. and has now begun a post doctoral Progress Energy as an Environmental Chemistry research position at the University of California San Technician. She monitors the amount of radiation Francisco. Franz works in the lab of Robert Stroud, emitted by the plant. Kathryn enjoys her job and plans who is one of the foremost authorities on x-ray crys- to continue her education while working. She has also tallography of membrane proteins. recently adopted a dog and become engaged!

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