This core team collaborates with other faculty members and professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise. Other team members are categorized by department. Select the appropriate letter to view faculty members and professionals affiliated with invasion science research efforts.
School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences
Natural Resource Economics and Policy
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Ecology, Biology, Modeling | Greg Kiker | I focus on biological modeling of savanna ecosystems (Soil, Plants, Fire, Herbivores). Working on bush encroachment in pastoral systems in Ethiopia and wildlife systems in southern Africa. Also, I teach basic and advanced biological modeling with our graduate modeling certificate. I also work quite a bit with multi-criteria decision analysis and risk analysis (in various application areas). |
| Engineering | Stephen Lantin | I work in the Ecosystem Dynamics Laboratory (Dr. Aditya Singh). My focus is on the classification of thrip damage on Brazilian peppertrees (partnership with FDACS) via hyperspectral imaging. |
| Ecology | Aditya Singh | I am a remote sensing scientist with a specialization in imaging spectroscopy. Recent developments in imaging spectroscopy have enabled the spatial mapping of canopy foliar biochemical profiles across landscapes, adding a valuable tool to the arsenal available to invasive ecologists. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Human Dimensions | Katie Stofer | Currently, I am a teacher professional development research and extension with invasive species as a content focus. Generally, I'm a science education/communication researcher who works to help get academic research into the hands of non-academic audiences. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Risk Assessment | Fredy Altpeter | I develope bioenergy feedstock and forage crop cultivars, emphasizing on selecting or engineering the most productive and stress tolerant genotypes. I am evaluating the accessions prior to cultivar release for potential invasiveness, and developing and implementing genetic strategies to elevate their biosafety are part of this research activity. |
| Risk analysis, Ecology | Zack Brym | I am interested in the natural and assisted transportation of plants between natural and agricultural land. Target species for this plant community assessment include invasive species. I am also investigating the recent introduction and invasion risk of industrial hemp. |
| Invasive Plant Biology, Weed Management | Stephen Enloe | I focus on developing management tools and strategies for invasive plant management across Florida's ecosystems. This is a core component of invasion science that is often overlooked in basic research funding. If you want to make a difference in Florida, the research needs to contribute to finding real solutions to the problem. |
| Plant Community Ecology, Ecosystem Ecology, Invasion Ecology | Luke Flory | My focus is on the mechanisms and of plant invasions, long-term dynamics and impacts, interactions of invasions with other global change drivers, such as climate change, fire, and emerging pathogens. |
| Ecology, Biology | Lyn Gettys | I evaluate biology and ecology of invasive species to predict invasion potential; notable taxa we've worked on include rotala (Rotala rotundifolia; substrate, nutrient and water depth evaluations) and species of Nymphoides (vegetative reproductive capacity, ramet sprouting conditions, hybridization potential between native and introduced species). |
| Genomics, Breeding | Baskaran Kannan | I am a senior biological scientist, working on genetic improvement of elephantgrass through breeding and genomics for biofuel production. |
| Ecology, Management | James Leary | I focus on improving management of naturalized invasive plant populations impacting freshwater systems with research and development of techniques, tactics and strategy |
| Ecology, Risk Assessment, Extension and Stakeholder Engagement | Deah Lieurance | My focus is on the IFAS Assessment of Nonnative plants in Florida's Natural Areas. This is an invasive plant Risk Assessment program that aims to prevent the introduction of potentially invasive plants, to characterize the establishment, spread, and impacts of current invaders, and to provide general guidance on the use of non-native plant species. Our overarching goal is to protect natural and agricultural areas by reducing non-native plant invasions in Florida and throughout the southeastern US. |
| Biology | Greg MacDonald | My focus is on the Biology and Management of Invasive Species, ranging from wetland sedges to upland vines, shrubs and tree species, with an emphasis on perennial grasses - cogongrass primarily. |
| Biology | Candice Prince | I am using the biology and ecology of invasive plant species to optimize management strategies, understanding the environmental impacts of plant management, and evaluating public perceptions of plant management methods. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Chemistry, Physiology | Chris Batich | My focus is on limiting interactions and populations of mosquitoes and ticks. I would like to learn more about plants, and have worked a long time ago with Shirley West, a plant pathologist, on preservation of soy seeds. My research is on drug delivery using polymers. |
| JORG Peters | I am a Professor of Computer and Information Sciences at University of Florida. I am interested in representing, analyzing and computing with geometry. This includes computer graphics, numerical computing, real time simulation, virtual and augmented reality with applications ranging from surgery simulation to exoplanet search using massively parallel GPU computation (that is also leveraged for machine learning). | |
| Computer Science | Markus Schneider | I am interested in invasive species and their spread, which can be regarded as an instance of moving objects. Part of my research is the design and implementation of data structures for moving objects (i.e., temporally varying spatial objects) and algorithms for their operations by means of software programs. Collections of moving objects can then be integrated and stored in databases (called moving objects databases) for querying and analysis. My question is if this could be of interest to the UF community on invasion science. |
| Ecology | Andrew Altieri | I examine community level factors that determine invasions success and biotic resistance. |
| Evolution, Risk Assessment | James Cahill | My research focuses on applied population and evolutionary genomics for conservation and human health. My primary dissertation research was conducted on the role of climate change in driving hybridization between related species. I have also conducted numerous studies on the population dynamics of endangered species. Going forward my lab will also be taking on an expanding focus in environmental DNA which can be used monitor difficult to detect taxa. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Invasion Ecology, Risk Assessment | Doria Gordon | I am a plant ecologist who focuses on a range of conservation questions. I have worked for the Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy since 1990 and am now the Director of Conservation. I am also a Research Associate at Archbold Biological Station, in Highlands County, Florida. I direct the resource management, research, and conservation planning efforts of the Florida Chapter. My research focus includes fire and species restoration in longleaf pine ecosystems, identification and prediction of invasive non-indigenous plant species, impacts of sea level rise on coastal habitats, and rare species biology, demography, and management. |
| Biology, Ecology | Mathew Leibold | I'm interested in relation the theory of community assembly to coexistence theory in highly diverse communities using 'disordered' statistical mechanics. This can be tested by doing competition experiments in multiple pairs of species in the biota and characterizing means and variances in key parameters such as 'carrying capacities' and 'interaction coeffiients' and using those to predict the outcomes of interactions in multispecies experiments. The basic wrinkle with invasive species is to ask if their parameter values differ (in means, variances, etc) from native species (which they might). This could be an interesting application and test of the theory that builds on invasive species biology. I should add that this is not a very well developed research plan (yet anyway)... |
| Ecology, Geonomics, Biology | Ana V. Longo | We study invasive amphibian fungal pathogens associated with species extinctions and population declines across the globe. |
| Biology | Todd Palmer | I work on the community- and landscape-level consequences of the invasive Pheidole megacephala on east African savannas. Our work includes effects of invasion on both the biota, as well as biogeochemical cycles, particularly carbon. |
| Biology | F.E. "Jack" Putz | My research ranges from ethnobotany and natural history to biomechanics and physiological ecology, but my principal interest is in the tropical forest silviculture. So as to promote adoption of the improved forest management methods that my research and that of my students and collaborators reveals, I am much involved in market-based mechanisms for conservation and development including forest product certification and carbon offsets. |
| Ecology, Physiology | Joseph Ryan | I study evolutionary genomics as it applies to ecology, developmental biology, neurobiology, reproductive biology, invertebrate zoology, cell biology, animal systematics, and cell physiology. I study a wide range of marine invertebrate taxa, but the primary animal that I study is the comb jelly, Mnemiopsis leidyi. This species has invaded the Black Sea in 1982. It became the dominant planktonic animal in the Black Sea in 1989 reaching estimated biomass of 1.10x10^9 tons. It has since spread to most other European waters. I am interested in the ability of this animal to spread it's range and it's invasion ability. Especially, the role of microbiome, reproductive ecology, and genomic underpinnings of adaptation to thermal environments. |
| Management | Maya Saar | I work on developing novel molecular pathways for the management of the invasive little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata). |
| Ecology, Evolution | Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis | I have a special interest in the history and philosophy of ecology and evolutionary biology and in the history of plant science in the United States. I've worked on Darwin who was arguably one of the first people with keen insight into invasion biology, and I've worked on the history of nativism in the movement recognizing the importance of native flora and fauna, especially in the United States of America. I am also the biographer of G. Ledyard Stebbins who made vital contributions to understanding the "genetics of colonizing species." In short, I am interested in the history of invasion biology/science. |
| Ecology, Evolution | Colette St. Mary | My lab is conducting research focused on the invasive cichlid - the jewel cichlid. We are investigating the predator prey dynamics and reproductive ecology of the species to better understand the role of those factors in invasion. I am also involved with a group interested in the role of range expansion/shift in response to climate change. We have drafted a training and research proposal focused specifically on evolutionary processes in that dynamic and intend to revise and resubmit. It involves both invasive species models and species involved in natural range expansion as well. |
| Ecology | Sergei Pilyugin | My focus is on theoretical ecology, epidemiology, general population dynamics. |
| Anthropology, History | Nancy Rose Hunt | I study and teach individual, social, and economic health in Africa as a historian and anthropologist. ALL issues that bear on this are significant to me. I use STS approaches. |
| Ecology, Risk Assemssment | Samuel Canfield | The research I contribute to in our lab primarily focuses on the ecology and spatio-temporal patterns of bacterial zoonoses. However, we utilize ecological/spatial modeling techniques that can be directly applied to invasion science. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Genomics, Evolution, Bioinformatics, Immunology | Roy Curtiss | I am a molecular geneticist and I design bacterial vectored vaccines to control infectious diseases, induce infertility and ablate cancers |
| Veterinary | Robson Giglio | |
| Nancy Denslow | I plan on a new experiment with mosquitofish that are considered invasive in Europe but not the US. I will determine how each group responds to a stressor. I think the invasive group in Europe has developed tolerance to stressors. | |
| Veterinary Medicine | Jorge Hernandez | My main areas of research interest include epidemiology and diagnostics of diseases in animal and human populations. I am the author or co-author of 90+ scientific publications in the area of epidemiololgy, health and policy. |
| Veterinary Medicine | Julie Levy | My research focuses on the health and welfare of animals in shelters, feline infectious diseases, and humane alternatives for cat population control. Community (stray and feral) cats are often considered invasive and there is much controversy regarding the best methods for measuring their impact, counting them in the field, and methods for control. My research focuses on tools that mitigate harm and reduce cat populations and is conducted via collaborations between wildlife biologists and animal welfare experts. |
| Veterinary Medicine | Robert Ossiboff | A substantial portion of my research relates to pathogens (viruses, parasites) that accompany invasive reptiles and the effects that such pathogens can have on native species. |
| John Roberts | I am an anatomic pathologist interested in disease of all wildlife. | |
| Risk Analysis, Ecology | Adam Stern | I focus on a road kill survey in alachua county. We are looking for hotspot locations. As part of this project we hope to be able to monitor for invasive species in our roadkill animals. |
| Ecology, Risk Assessment, Veterinary Medicine | Heather Walden | I study the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and it's hosts which include invasive snails, slugs and paratenic hosts such as reptiles and frogs. I also study a variety of parasites, including Raillietiella orientalis, a pentastome introduced to Florida likely by Burmese pythons. This pentastome is now infecting our native snakes and causing significant disease. Additionally, I have identified a variety of parasites new to Florida and/or the US. |
| Ecology, Risk Assessment, Veterinary Medicine | Jim Wellehan | I work with both clinical wildlife medicine and infectious disease diagnostics/pathogen discovery, with a focus on host/pathogen ecology and evolution. This often deals with invasive pathogens/parasites. |
| Ecology, Evolution | Jason Byrd | My area of research has been in forensic entomology, including invasive insect species displacement on native carrion insect species. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Risk Assessment | Julien Beuzelin | My focus is on monitoring/survey of invasive insects of sugarcane and rice, emergency management of newly detected invasive insect pests. I have participated in proposals addressing population genetics of the Mexican rice borer (proposals unsuccessful so far) |
| Risk Analysis | Bryony Bonning | My focus is on novel control methods for invasive insect species (Asian citrus psyllid, stink bugs, etc) including potential use of insect viruses for management. |
| Ecology, Evolution | Nathan Burkett-Cadena | My research has focused on diverse vector-borne disease systems including river blindness, eastern equine encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, epizootic, Everglades virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus. Current projects focus on ecology of eastern equine encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, epizootic, Everglades virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus. Students and postdocs in my program receive training and experience in field techniques involving vectors and vertebrate hosts, laboratory techniques including morphological and molecular identification of vectors and hosts, and analysis of field and laboratory data. |
| Lindsay Campbell | I am interdisciplinary research scientist with a focus on the spatial ecology of medically important arthropod vectors. My research focuses on investigating distributions, abundances, and functional connectivity of vector species. I use a variety of tool sets to investigate these questions, including geographic information systems and remotely-sensed satellite imagery, and I draw from methods developed in the fields of distributional ecology, landscape ecology, and landscape genetics. | |
| Entomology | Angela Chuang | My funded project is on the role of improved windbreaks and the spatial connectivity of said windbreaks in promoting natural enemy abundance of an invasive citrus pest, Asian citrus psyllid. |
| Entomology, Ecology and Management of Invasive Insects | Adam Dale | As the turf and ornamental entomologist, I am responsible for researching economically important pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants, and disseminating the results through management recommendations to extension faculty across the state. The ultimate goal of my lab is to generate more sustainable, ecologically based management strategies that benefit the environment as well as the turf and ornamental industries. |
| Nematology | Johan Desaeger | My research program is focused on nematode management in central and south Florida. Plant-parasitic nematodes are a major problem in Florida and can easily be introduced from other places on plants and soil. We have found damaging nematodes on strawberry transplants coming from out of state in the past. The risk of invasive plant-parasitic nematodes becoming established in Florida is high. |
| Insect Ecology, Integrated Pest Management, Entomology | Lauren Diepenbrock | I am an Assistant Professor and Citrus Entomology Extension Specialist at UF/IFAS. I was also a postdoctoral research at North Carolina State University. |
| Entomology, Ecology, Biology | Philip Hahn | My program focuses on fundamental questions involving plant-herbivore interactions. Sometimes I use invasive species to test questions related to how herbivores impact plant fitness and how spatially variable are these interactions. |
| Entomology | Amanda Hodges | My research, teaching, and extension program have evolved significantly over 17 years of service at UF and are integrated to focus primarily on the early detection of invasive arthropods in Florida. Specific ongoing research includes fruit fly modeling, detection and biological control of the brown marmorated stink bug specific to Florida, the establishment potential of the Bagrada bug, biological control of invasive ants in Ecuador, and a survey for the old world bollworm. Teaching efforts focus on regulatory plant health and pest management, and all of my work supports graduate training in either entomology or Plant Medicine, and I manage the Certificate for Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management. For over 8 years, I have specifically managed and developed content for the Florida First Detector program. This program has served as a model for working with county agent faculty and interagency collaboration for the early correction and correct reporting of Florida plant pests (anything that may impact the state of Florida) through the proper reporting channels per Florida statute. I also currently serve as the UF/IFAS Extension liaison for the Caribbean Plant Diagnostic Network (CPDN) through training activities and representation at conferences of the Caribbean Plant Health Directors (CPHD) in the Caribbean region. |
| Entomology | Sriyanka Lahiri | An important component of my research program is development of pest management strategies to manage invasive arthropod pest species in strawberries and small fruit crops. Management of invasive species, such as the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, is proving to be challenging because of the lack of effective insecticide options and limited understanding of its ecology. In my program, we are assessing the population dynamics of this invasive pest and natural enemies present in Florida. While we attempt to solve this problem, two other invasive polyphagous thrips species have already been reported in Florida on horticultural crops. Several integrated pest management tactics such as biological control using predatory mites, incorporation of semio-chemicals, and boosting host plant resistance, fall under the research goals of my program. This relates to invasion science because Florida is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of introduction of many such invasive species through the booming horticulture industry that can cause economic and ecological losses and carry a nuisance factor. |
| Entomology, Genomics | Yoosook Lee | I study invasive species of Aedes aegypti in California, Dutch Caribbean Islands and US Marshall Islands. I use population genomic approach to estimate population size and dispersal capacity which requires much small sample size (N~4). |
| Entomology | Norman C. Leppla | My focus is on integrated pest management and biological control of selected invasive pest species, primarily arthropods and weeds. |
| Evolution | Andrea Lucky | My focus is on the systematics and diagnostics of invasive ants, taxonomic training, public and professional education about invasive ants. |
| Carey Minteer | I work to develop solutions for controlling the state’s invasive weed problems through classical biological control and integrated pest management. I am currently working to control the Brazilian peppertree, one of the state’s most wide-spread invasive plant species and air potato, a climbing vine from Asia. | |
| Biology, Entomology | Roberto Pereira | My research is on management and control of several urban insect pests such as ants, cockroaches, bedbugs, flies, mosquitoes, and termites. |
| Ecology, Risk Assessment | Blair Siegfried | My research is directed at quantifying the ecological risks of pesticide use and advancing our understanding of insecticide resistance evolution. A recent focus has been on transgenic maize hybrids that express insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). My laboratory has worked to increase genomic resources of important insect pests that are targeted by transgenic Bt maize through transcriptome sequencing. |
| Risk Analysis, Ecology | Hugh Smith | I carry out some research on invasive whiteflies and thrips. |
| Medical Entomology, Virology | Bryan Giordano | I am the Project Director of a multi-state working group focused on invasive mosquito species in the southern region. I focus on improved arbovirus surveillance through strategic sampling regimes in overlooked habitats. |
| Entomology | Cynthia Lord | I study the introduction and invasion of vector borne disease, and invasive mosquito and tick species. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Horticulture | Gary Knox | I focus on evaluating cultivars of invasive non-native plants to identify non-invasive taxa that may be cultivated without risk of invasion. |
| Biology | Carrie Reinhardt Adams | My focus is on restoration and management of plant communities of degraded systems, particularly wetlands/aquatic, of which invasive species are a primary concern. |
| Ecology, Risk Assessment | Sandra Wilson | We evaluate cultivars of popular ornamental invasives such as lantana, nandina, Ligustrum, etc. this includes morphological, cytological, and reproductive comparisons in statewide plots. |
| Jackie Burns | My initial research at CREC concerned the mechanical harvest of citrus fruit, a harvesting option that still poses challenges and opportunities for the industry. During my time as the dean of research, however, the emergence of citrus greening shifted my focus to positioning UF/IFAS as a leader in finding solutions to the emerging crisis, a challenge that researchers are making significant progress resolving. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Human Dimensions | Amarat Simonne | My interest is in the safety and quality of foods. I have a new interest in utilizing some of the invasive species as foods and feeds. Obviously there needs to be organized study to determine safety and quality of those invasive species (plants or animals) first. Recently I led a team to to submit an internal grant to assess the safety and quality of green iguana in FL, but it was not funded. I am interested in pursuing that idea again with my team. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Ecology, Evolution | David Blackburn | My focus is on diversity, evolution, and conservation of amphibians. I also support researchers and students using scientific collections of the Florida Museum of Natural History. |
| Biology | Larry Page | As it relates to Florida, we are documenting and understanding the statewide occurrence of non-native fishes. In our "Fishes in the Fresh Waters of Florida", published in 2018, we documented the presence of 48 non-indigenous species of fishes that are reproducing in the state. This is 28% of the total number of freshwater fishes in the state. |
| Ecology | Gustav Paulay | My focus is on diversity and distribution of marine invertebrates, including non-indigenous species. |
| Ecology | Scott Robinson | I study bird community ecology, primarily in the tropics. One of my graduate students also studies urban bird communities in Florida and I have a long-standing interest in invasive birds in Florida. his is not a core focus of my lab, however. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| I know that invasion species are a major concern to south Florida. I would like to learn more about how I can build a research program that includes addressing invasive species. | ||
| Human Dimensions | I have been a co-author on a couple of biology papers on invasive species (catfish and eel) but would like to find ways to incorporate economics into the analysis of invasive species. | |
| I began researching non-native species in 2013 at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory (TAL) in Ruskin. My role at the lab is primarily research-based, but also includes the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students and providing support to the ornamental aquaculture industry by informing agency and industry partners about aquaculture best management practices (BMPs) and the invasion risk of aquacultured fish. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Extension and Stakeholder Engagement | Lisa Hickey | When I find something unidentifiable (plant or animal) in the commercial crop fields, I research until I find what it is and if it is an invasive. I talk with the fruit and vegetable production about invasive species that are on their farms and how to manage. |
| Human Dimensions | Morgan Pinkerton | I develop and deliver a wide variety of events and presentations related to invasive species. In this, I also survey the community about their knowledge of invasive species, introduction pathways and plant biosecurity. This research provides us a better understanding of the knowledge of the general public on invasive species efforts. This allows us to target certain topics and develop educational programs to involve the public in invasive species prevention efforts. |
| Stephen Robinson | ||
| Alyssa Vinson | I am the UF/IFAS Extension Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator. I approach my role from a background in Ecological Sciences and hopes to ignite a love of the natural world through gardening in my programs. | |
| Extension and Stakeholder Engagement | William Lester | I was the creator of the Air Potato Patrol Citizen Science Program (https://airpotatobeetle.com/) and part of my work responsibilities deal with invasives. |
| Extension and Stakeholder Engagement | Maxine Hunter | My focus is on Florida Friendly Landscaping, Wildlife educational series and invasive plant and animal education. |
| Habitat Restoration, Community Science | Vincent Encomio | I have started some extension work related to lionfish. I also have dealt with invasive plant removal in habitat restoration projects. |
| Extension, Natural Resources and Conservation, Horticulture | Jim Davis | My focus is on adult education bringing awareness of citizens about native and invasive species of Florida. |
| Extension, 4-H | Paula Davis | I have been the 4-H Youth Development Agent since 2000. I work to develop Life Skills in youth through educational delivery methods of clubs, school enrichment, day camps and overnight residential camps. |
| Extension, Natural Resources and Conservation, Horticulture | Jamie Daugherty | I am more interested in learning about the research and teaching the information. I am a non-traditional graduate student. I work fulltime while working on classes and research at a distance. For the first two years of my Ph.D. program, I worked as a Visiting Instructor of Biology at Florida Southern College. As of June 2020 I have transitioned to work with the UF/IFAS Lake Country extension as the Residential Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator. My research interest is related to education effectiveness in Environmental Horticulture topics. I plan to conduct research related to extension education. |
| Extension, Natural Resources and Conservation | Shannon Carnevale | I am an Extension Agent in Polk County, FL, where I lead the Natural Resources and Conservation Extension program addressing issues related to watershed ecology & restoration, invasive plant management, and forest resource management. I collaborate with Florida LAKEWATCH by training volunteers for freshwater lake water quality sampling. My innovative approach to Extension programming related to water resources and conservation earned the Art Hornsby Distinguished Extension Professional and Enhancement Award in August 2013. I am extremely proud to serve on two award winning Innovative Extension Initiative Teams; the Watershed Stewards Academy Team (2013) and Statewide Water School Program Team (2014). |
| Extension, Commercial Horticulture | Sheila Dunning | I am the Commercial Horticulture Agent with the University of Florida Extension Service in Okaloosa County. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Horticulture and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education and Communication from the University of Florida, as well as, several industry certifications including International Society of Arboriculture Arborist, Associate Certified Entomologist, and Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association Landscape Contractor. My background is in the nursery industry, of which I am employed for twenty-two years before joining Extension over eighteen years ago. |
| Policy and Governance | Mary Ann Hooks | I am responsible for educating state and federal legislators on UF/IFAS programs and issues. I monitor and affect legislation that impacts the IFAS budget, programs and other initiatives. I also act as a liaison to the agriculture industry and other IFAS stakeholders. |
| Population Ecology, Rangeland Ecology, Invasive Species Management | Hance Ellington | One component of my program will be focused on the management of wild pigs in Florida. |
| Ecology, Biology | Holden Harris | I'm interested in applied research that guides natural resource management. Current focus areas include the bioeconomics of commercialized invasive species harvest and the developing lionfish fishery; innovative fisheries gear, including deepwater lionfish traps and self-releasing fish hooks; management strategies to reduce discard mortality; and, applying ecosystem models to value oyster reef restoration and forecast the effects of land-use and climate changes to estuarine communities. |
| Ecology | Charles W. Martin | Our lab studies invasive species in freshwater, estuarine, and marine systems. My dissertation focused on the biogeographic spread of introduced species in Mobile Bay, AL, as well as the effects these invaders have on native flora and fauna. I have worked extensively with Eurasian milfoil, a species of submerged aquatic vegetation, linking environmental conditions to field distributions in order to determine factors limiting dispersal into coastal environments. Eurasian milfoil also forms structurally complex habitat and additional research has documented patterns of fish habitat preference and trophic interactions relative to native vegetation, as well as how organisms respond to the diel hypoxic conditions that develop. Other research on invasive fishes such as Nile tilapia and red lionfish has highlighted their rapid invasion and agonistic behavior, with implications for native fishes in coastal areas. I currently serve as Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor for several invasive species journals (Aquatic Invasions and Bioinvasions Records) and continue to pursue an understanding of Gulf of Mexico invaders. |
| Ecology | Ashley McDonald | I study the influence of invasive freshwater/estuarine plant and animal species on native ecological processes. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Plant Pathology | Ashish Adhikari | |
| Ecology, Evolution | Marina Ascunce | My program merges research, teaching, minority mentoring and outreach about invasive ants and microbes. We aim to gain understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes during ants’ invasions as it relates to microbes using high-throughput sequencing methods coupled with network analyses. |
| Plant Pathology | Marie De Gracia Coquerel | I am a postdoctoral researcher with teaching assignment in the Department of Plant Pathology at University of Florida, Gainesville. I currently work at the Emerging Pathogen Institute on two different research projects: (1) IRIS project and (2) Citrus greening project. |
| Bioinformatics, Genomics, Molecular Plant Pathology | Braham Dhillon | I am a molecular plant pathologist working on fungal pathogens of palms, other woody plants and crops of agricultural significance. My research (70%) and extension (30%) programs focus on leveraging pathogen biology for diagnostics and management of fungal pathogens and disease challenges faced by nurseries and stakeholders. |
| Plant Pathology, Systems Analysis | Karen Garrett | I focus on the general concepts related to management of invasives (with new R package for management scenario analyses), common applications are to invasive plant pathogens, work on local and global invasions, projects in the US, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. |
| Pathology | Erica Goss | My group’s research is on the ecological and evolutionary processes underlying pathogen emergence or re-emergence. We study bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes. In collaboration with Plant Pathology colleagues Jeff Jones and Gary Vallad, we are studying the population biology and evolution of the pathogens that cause bacterial spot of tomato, particularly Xanthomonas perforans. Bacterial spot is a major disease problem for Florida tomato growers and management is challenged by the highly dynamic pathogen population. |
| Rosemary Loria | My research is on the evolution and molecular mechanisms of plant pathogenesis in Streptomyces spp, genomics of plant pathogenic actinobacteria, biosynthesis and regulation of the cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor, thaxtomin, identification of secreted proteins in the virulence of streptomycetes, secondary metabolite production and regulation in plant pathogenic Streptomyces, and the role of horizontal gene transfer in the emergence of plant pathogenic bacteria. | |
| Risk Assessment | Ian Small | My program studies the epidemiology and management of plant diseases. New and emerging diseases threaten agriculture in Florida and the rest of the nation. We monitor for new threats and work to understand their epidemiology and management. |
| DISCIPLINE | CONTACT | BRIEF BIO |
| Computer Science | Amr Abd-Elrahman | I am using remote sensing for mapping invasive vegetation using machine and deep learning algorithms. My research focuses on utilizing remote sensing techniques to provide information needed in natural resources management/monitoring and precision agriculture applications. The research program involves multispectral and hyperspectral image classification, lidar data processing, and geospatial analysis. |
| Michael Andreu | I work with my students to develop research that supports my Teaching and Extension programs. Broadly speaking my research addresses sustainable forest management at all scales and across the urban to rural gradient. | |
| Shirley Baker | I have had funding for several studies on invasive molluscs including marine and freshwater bivalves and gastropods. I also have an interest in invasive terrestrial gastropods. | |
| Agricultural Production, Ecology | Stephanie Bohlman | One of my main research areas in remote sensing of vegetation structure and function, including detecting the presence, coverage, impacts and habitat suitability for native and invasive species. I have completed one project looking at hyperspectral detection of invasive species at the experimental cogongrass plots on campus. I think approaches we are using in this group (IDTReeS.org) are applicable to invasive species at NEON sites and beyond. Finally, I teach an undergraduate course on forest ecology. We do a case study on invasive species and students do individual projects often related to invasive species. I would be very interested in opportunities to improve and collaborate on teaching related to invasive species. |
| Extension, Natural Resources and Conservation, Horticulture | Chris Demers | I am the Extension Program manager for UF/IFAS. I am also the Forest Stewardship Coordinator for UF/IFAS. |
| Ecology | Will Patterson | I am a marine fisheries ecologist. My lab has conducted extensive research on invasive lionfish population dynamics, their direct and indirect effects on native reef fishes, and effectiveness of lionfish control measures. We also have documented the spread of the non-native, potentially invasive, regal damselfish and are examining its ecology in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |
| Human Dimensions | Damian Adams | My expertise is in natural resource economics and policy, with emphasis on invasive species, carbon sequestration, and water resources. In these contexts, I focus on evaluation the economic value of ecosystem goods and services using preference-based valuation, bioeconomic modeling, and legal analysis of natural resource policy and law. |
| Social Science | Mysha Clarke | I am social scientist and I study the human dimensions of invasive species management. More specifically, I study invasive plant management on family forestlands, management of invasive species, invasive species communication, risk perception and collective efforts to invasive species management. I also apply social science theories to better understand people's decisions about invasive plant management using both qualitative and quantitative social science research methods. |
| Ecology, Fire Ecology, Population and Community Ecology | Raelene Crandall | I model the population dynamics of invasive species under different disturbance regimes and in combination with different spatial and phylogenetic methods to determine their success with different assemblages of native species. |
| Biology, Ecology, Modeling, Spatial Data and Methods | Basil Iannone | I am interested in enhancing biodiversity in urban landscapes. As part of that, I am interested in understanding how horticulture, urban green infrastructure, and expanding residential landscapes contribute to the spread and establishment of invasive plants. |
| Human Dimensions | Martha Monroe | Regardless of the strategy that invasion scientists select for the species and ecosystem, my project will require public approval and support. I am exploring the use of deliberative discussions as a way to engage a community in understanding an issue and listening to other perspectives. It can also be used to make recommendations, if the group is sufficiently informed. At minimum, it can prioritize concerns that could contribute to the process of ranking alternatives or, perhaps, identifying criteria for appropriate research. |
| Ecology, Human Dimensions | Jiangxiao Qiu | My research aims to understand the impacts of biological invasions on ecosystem services - benefits people derive from nature, as well as mechanisms that underly the spread and impacts of invasions. |
| Ecology | Lindsey Reisinger | I am a freshwater ecologist. My research program focuses on the role of pathogens in invasions, specifically how pathogens alter invasion success and interactions between native and invasive species. My research also focuses on intraspecific variation, especially how behavioral traits change during the invasion process. I also study the impacts of invasive species on freshwater community composition and ecosystem processes. |
| Ecology | Andrew Carlson | My lab, The Carlson Lab, explores fisheries as ecosystems, human systems, and coupled human-natural systems. Our mission is to conduct collaborative research that informs fisheries management and conservation while preparing students for professional success. Our research provides aquatic resource managers with practical, science-based information for managing aquatic invasive species (e.g., fish, invertebrates, plants), and associated coupled human-natural systems, amid climate change, land-use alteration, and management-resource limitations (e.g., time, money, personnel). |
| Ecology, Evolution | Donald Behringer | My expertise is in marine and disease ecology. I have recently engaged in research the bridges the gap between disease and invasion science. I am currently collaborating with Lindsey Reisinger (also in FAS) on a project focused on the dynamics of disease among native and invasive crayfish in the midwest. We have plans to expand this project to include other organisms and a broader set of questions. |
| Ecology | Mike Allen | I work with a wide range of invasive species in aquatic systems, including aquatic plants and fish. |
| Forest Ecosystem Health, Forest Genomics | John Davis | I specialize in forest ecosystem health, tree-pathogen coevolution, forest genomics, and is tenured in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. |
| Laurie Albrecht | I have over six years of experience teaching science-based workshops on Florida native plants, including their identification, uses and relative storm resilience. |
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| Chemistry, Biology | Yang Lin | I am interested in understanding the biogeochemical consequences of invasive species in natural and agricultural landscapes. |
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| Ecology | Eric Hellgren | I have been Professor and Chair of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida since 2013. Prior to being an administrator, my research program focused on the ecology and population dynamics of mammals (e.g., rodents, carnivores, ungulates) and reptiles (horned lizards, tortoises), with additional interests in mammalian nutrition and physiology. Among my mammalian studies, I investigated several aspects of the ecology of invasive feral pigs, including reproduction, social behavior, habitat selection, and resource partitioning/competitive relationships with native species. I have published 150 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in Ecology, Ecological Applications, Conservation Biology, Oecologia, Oikos, Biological Conservation, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, Journal of Wildlife Management, and Wildlife Monographs; and 6 book chapters. I have advised over 40 graduate students to graduation, and served on the advisory committee of over 50 students throughout his career. I served as Editor of Wildlife Monographs from 2007 to 2017 for The Wildlife Society. In 2015, I was named a Fellow of The Wildlife Society. |
| Ecology, Management | Steve A. Johnson | My students and I focus on invasion ecology of vertebrate, mainly amphibians and reptiles. |
| Human Dimensions | Martin Main | My research is primarily human wildlife conflict. My extension program broadly addresses ecological and economic impacts of invasive species. FERAL HOGS; EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING; FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM (DIRECTOR) |
| Ecology | Christina Romagosa | My focus is on wildlife trade contribution to biological invasions, ecological impacts of vertebrate invasions. |
| Ecology, Evolution | Brett Scheffers | My focus is on understanding the ecophysiology of invasive animals (especially ectotherms), predicting the range shift potential of invasive animals, and native and non-native species interactions. |
| Ecology | Samantha Wisely | I am interested in documenting pathogen pollution from invasive species, and the downstream consequences of introducing new or amplifying native pathogens. |
| Biology | Frank Mazzotti | My focus is on an integrated research and extension program for surveillance, research, modelling, management, and monitoring of invasive wildlife. |
