Welcome to the WilsonLab at Auburn University!

My approach to research is multidimensional.  First, I use large-scale observational studies and meta-analysis of existing data from the literature to discover patterns in nature.  Then, I identify mechanisms mediating these patterns through laboratory and field-based experimentation.

As an ecologist, I am interested in aquatic plant-herbivore interactions and identifying the ecological and evolutionary consequences of intraspecific genetic and phenotypic variation on aquatic communities.  My current research, in part, focuses on the ecology of cyanobacterial blooms with an emphasis on understanding how biotic and abiotic factors influence cyanobacterial bloom formation.  We are also developing projects aimed at understanding how toxic algal blooms influence human health.

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News

August 2010

• We finally had time to create our algal and cyanobacterial bloom forecasting website.  Folks can use it to predict blooms of phytoplankton and toxic cyanobacteria in freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.  Check it out here!  Note that you will have to use MS Internet Explorer to make the website run correctly.  Sorry.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded a Major Research Instrumentation RAPID grant that Tony Moss (PI), Ken Halanych, Mark Liles, and I submitted to purchase an awesome portable, plankton counter.  Thank you NSF!

• Michael Chislock was just awarded an AU Graduate Travel Award ($300) associated with his trip to Pittsburgh, PA, to present some of his thesis research at the Ecological Society of America's annual meeting.  Good job, Michael!

• Reni Kaul and I just found out that we will be presenting papers at the UNC-Chapel Hill Water and Health conference in late October.  We are looking forward to returning to Chapel Hill!!

June 2010

• Two National Science Foundation (NSF) REU students and one NSF RAHSS student have joined the lab for the summer.  Welcome to Auburn, Kiunte, Kristin, and Patricia (pictured below with me and Michael)! 

• Joe Montoya and I just learned that we will be organizing a session at ASLO's 2011 winter meeting in Puerto Rico on eutrophication (read more about the session here).  Planned speakers include David Schindler, Hans Paerl, Bob Howarth, Karl Havens, Val Smith, Bob Hecky, Peter Dillon, and Andy Turner. 

• Ace Sarnelle and I were also notified that our ASLO 2011 winter meeting session aimed at understanding the importance of intraspecific variation for harmful algal bloom development was accepted.  Learn more about the session here.

April 2010

• Michael Chislock and Andy Turner (Clarion University) just got a paper accepted in Ecological Applications titled "Blinded by the stink: Nutrient enrichment impairs the perception of predation risk by freshwater snails." (PDF)

March 2010

• The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program has just awarded us an REU Site in warm-water aquatic ecology that will include 10 faculty mentors from two AU departments: Fisheries and Biological Sciences.  More info can be found here -  http://wilsonlab.com/reu/.  We are also on Facebook.  We expect to begin recruiting our first cohort of students later this Fall.  Stay tuned!

January 2010

• Reni Kaul is the recipient of the 2009 Alabama Fisheries Association's David Bayne Scholarship and is being recognized for her exciting research on phytoplankton dynamics in hyper-eutrophic, aquaculture ponds.  Way to go, Reni!

December 2009

• Reni Kaul, Ace Sarnelle, and I have a new paper in PLoS ONE titled "Growth rate consequences of coloniality in a harmful phytoplankter." (PDF)

November 2009

• Reni Kaul has a new paper in Water Research titled "Citizen monitoring: Testing hypotheses about the interactive influences of eutrophication and mussel invasion on a cyanobacterial toxin in lakes." (PDF)

October 2009

• Michael Chislock and Reni Kaul were just awarded Auburn University Awards for Thesis Research.  Congrats, team!

June 2009

• NSF has graciously provided my lab additional support to train Kiunte Dowdell, a 10th grader from Camp Hill, Alabama, for the next two summers.

February 2009

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted a little blurb about the lab's research.

December 2008

• The Ecological Biology cluster of NSF has just recommended a collaborative research proposal that Ace Sarnelle and I submitted for funding!!  This project will elucidate the consequences of herbivore adaptations on food-web structure. 

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Recent papers

• Wilson, A. E., R. B. Kaul, and O. Sarnelle. 2010. Growth rate consequences of coloniality in a harmful phytoplankter. PLoS ONE 5(1):e8679. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008679 (PDF)

• Sarnelle, O. and A. E. Wilson. 2008 Type III functional response in Daphnia. Ecology 89(6):1723-1732. (PDF)

• Wilson, A. E., D. C. Gossiaux, T. O. Höök, J. P. Berry, P. F. Landrum, J. Dyble, and S. J. Guildford. 2008. Evaluation of the human health threat associated with the hepatotoxin, microcystin, in the muscle and liver tissues of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65(7):1487-1497. (PDF)

• Knoll, L. B., O. Sarnelle, S. K. Hamilton, C. E. H. Kissman, A. E. Wilson, J. B. Rose, and M. R. Morgan. 2008. Invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) increase cyanobacterial toxin concentrations in low-nutrient lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65(3):448-455. (PDF)

• Tillmanns, A. R., A. E. Wilson, F. R. Pick, and O. Sarnelle. 2008. Meta-analysis of cyanobacterial effects on zooplankton population growth rate: species-specific responses. Fundamental and Applied Limnology 171(4):285-295. (PDF)

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Links

• Algal and cyanobacterial bloom forecasting models

• CyanoPros

• Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures at Auburn University

• Ecology group at Auburn University

• College of Agriculture at Auburn University

• Auburn University

• Ecological Society of America

• American Society of Limnology and Oceanography

• archive.org (great site for free, downloadable concerts)

• eigenfactor.org (terrific tool for comparing journal quality and value)