Welcome to the WilsonLab!

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

March 2010

• The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program has just recommended that our National Science Foundation REU Site proposal be funded.  The theme for this project will be warm-water aquatic ecology and will include 10 faculty mentors from two AU departments: Fisheries and Biological Sciences.  More info can be found here -  http://wilsonlab.com/reu/  We expect to begin recruiting our first cohort of students later this Fall.

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

• The National Science Foundation 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 recently posted a little blurb about the lab's research.

December 2008

• The Ecological Biology cluster of the National Science Foundation 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

• 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)