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The University of MemphisThe University of MemphisDepartment of BiologyDepartment of Biology
Ecological Research CenterEcological Research Center
Historical Review and View for the FutureHistorical Review and View for the Future
Inception
South Campus was deeded to the South Campus was deeded to the University in 1967University in 1967
Provided office and research space Provided office and research space
Research focused on both aquatic and Research focused on both aquatic and terrestrial habitatsterrestrial habitats
Ecological Research Center established Ecological Research Center established within the University in 1973within the University in 1973
ObjectivesObjectives
To meet the need for information relating To meet the need for information relating to ecology (locally, regionally, nationally to ecology (locally, regionally, nationally and world-wide)and world-wide)
To provide an academic unit within the To provide an academic unit within the University that would foster its goals of University that would foster its goals of discovery and dissemination of critical discovery and dissemination of critical knowledge to the community of Memphis, knowledge to the community of Memphis, the state of Tennessee and the nation.the state of Tennessee and the nation.
To prepare diverse graduate and To prepare diverse graduate and undergraduate students for successful undergraduate students for successful careers in ecology and related fields careers in ecology and related fields
Facilities and CollectionsFacilities and Collections Offices, classrooms, labs and field spaceOffices, classrooms, labs and field space The University of Memphis Museum of Zoology mammal The University of Memphis Museum of Zoology mammal
collection, containing specimens from the United States collection, containing specimens from the United States and Mexico and Mexico
A fish collection containing representative fishes of the A fish collection containing representative fishes of the Mid-South and Mexico. Mid-South and Mexico.
Offices of the Offices of the USF&WS Wildlife and Habitat USF&WS Wildlife and Habitat ManagementManagement and the and the USGS Water Resources Division USGS Water Resources Division
Research and teaching activities are integrated with Research and teaching activities are integrated with facilities at Ellington Biology and Life Sciences Buildings.facilities at Ellington Biology and Life Sciences Buildings.
Activities of the ERC are closely coupled with those of Activities of the ERC are closely coupled with those of The The Edward J. Meeman Biological StationEdward J. Meeman Biological Station (MBS) (MBS)
A newly constructed aquaculture research building A newly constructed aquaculture research building provides 4,000 ftprovides 4,000 ft2 2 ofof wet lab space for aquaculture wet lab space for aquaculture researchresearch
Aquaculture FacilitiesAquaculture Facilities
Research ConcentrationsResearch Concentrations
Wildlife Ecology Wildlife Ecology Conservation Conservation Physiological Ecology Physiological Ecology Behavioral Ecology Behavioral Ecology
AquacultureAquaculture Reproductive BiologyReproductive Biology Ecological GeneticsEcological Genetics BiogeographyBiogeography SystematicsSystematics
FacultyFaculty Dr. Melvin Beck, ecological genetics, [email protected]. Melvin Beck, ecological genetics, [email protected]
Dr. Charles Biggers, population genetics, [email protected]. Charles Biggers, population genetics, [email protected]. Maciej Biernacki, landscape ecology, [email protected]. Maciej Biernacki, landscape ecology, [email protected]. King Thom Chung, microbial ecology, [email protected] Dr. King Thom Chung, microbial ecology, [email protected]
Dr. Michael Ferkin, physiological ecology, behavior, [email protected]. Michael Ferkin, physiological ecology, behavior, [email protected]. Scott Franklin, plant community ecology, [email protected]. Scott Franklin, plant community ecology, [email protected]
Dr. David Freeman, neuroendocrinology, biological rhythms, Dr. David Freeman, neuroendocrinology, biological rhythms, [email protected]. Jack Grubaugh, aquatic ecology, Director of MBFS, Dr. Jack Grubaugh, aquatic ecology, Director of MBFS, [email protected]
Dr. Michael Kennedy, wildlife ecology, mammalogy, Dr. Michael Kennedy, wildlife ecology, mammalogy, [email protected]. Charles Lessman, developmental biology, [email protected] Dr. Charles Lessman, developmental biology, [email protected]
Dr. Matthew Parris, evolutionary ecology, Dr. Matthew Parris, evolutionary ecology, [email protected]. Reza Pezeshki, physiological ecology, wetlands, Dr. Reza Pezeshki, physiological ecology, wetlands, [email protected]
Dr. Stephan Schoech, physiological ecology of birds, Dr. Stephan Schoech, physiological ecology of birds, [email protected]. Bill Simco, aquaculture, Director of ERC, Dr. Bill Simco, aquaculture, Director of ERC, [email protected]
Dr. Ed Stevens, microbial ecology, [email protected] Dr. Ed Stevens, microbial ecology, [email protected] Dr. Gary Voelker, avian biology, Dr. Gary Voelker, avian biology, [email protected]
Dr. Tit-Yee Wong, microbial ecology, [email protected] Dr. Tit-Yee Wong, microbial ecology, [email protected] Dr. Jerry Wolff, evolutionary ecology, behavior, [email protected] Dr. Jerry Wolff, evolutionary ecology, behavior, [email protected]
Examples of Past ResearchExamples of Past Research
Hormonal/environmental control of reproduction, Hormonal/environmental control of reproduction, stress physiology and water quality in aquaculturestress physiology and water quality in aquaculture
Assessments of rare and endangered plants and Assessments of rare and endangered plants and animals on a proposed coal gasification site animals on a proposed coal gasification site
Survey of significant biota within the surroundings Survey of significant biota within the surroundings of a sewage treatment plantof a sewage treatment plant
Development of a checklist for mammalsDevelopment of a checklist for mammals Streams surveys at a regional national parkStreams surveys at a regional national park Survey of mammals within the Cumberland River Survey of mammals within the Cumberland River
Drainage Basin in TennesseeDrainage Basin in Tennessee
Examples of Current ResearchExamples of Current ResearchWildlife Ecology and Conservation BiologyWildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology
Role and impact of “mesopredators” (raccoons and opposums) and Role and impact of “mesopredators” (raccoons and opposums) and their impact on nesting Northern bobwhitestheir impact on nesting Northern bobwhites
Improving management practices for food resources of migratory Improving management practices for food resources of migratory waterfowl and shorebirdswaterfowl and shorebirds
Investigating restoration of canebrake habitat to the Mid-SouthInvestigating restoration of canebrake habitat to the Mid-South Evaluating the role of macrophytes in cycling of nutrients and Evaluating the role of macrophytes in cycling of nutrients and
contaminants in aquatic systemscontaminants in aquatic systems Monitoring deer populations (collaboration with TWRA and USFWS)Monitoring deer populations (collaboration with TWRA and USFWS) Identification and distribution of mammalian biodiversity in TNIdentification and distribution of mammalian biodiversity in TN Understanding landscape level effects on biodiversityUnderstanding landscape level effects on biodiversity Evaluating effects of urbanization ecosystemsEvaluating effects of urbanization ecosystems
Examples of Current ResearchExamples of Current ResearchPhysiological EcologyPhysiological Ecology
Understanding physiological effects of natural and anthropogenic Understanding physiological effects of natural and anthropogenic factors on plant survival, productivity and distributionfactors on plant survival, productivity and distribution
Evaluating effects of salt water intrusion on plant systems in the Gulf Evaluating effects of salt water intrusion on plant systems in the Gulf of Mexicoof Mexico
Identifying environmental influences on nest emergence in hatchling Identifying environmental influences on nest emergence in hatchling turtles and embryological development in vertebratesturtles and embryological development in vertebrates
Identifying environmental influences on digestion and feeding in Identifying environmental influences on digestion and feeding in snakes and crocodilianssnakes and crocodilians
Identifying cues used by birds to time reproductionIdentifying cues used by birds to time reproduction Determining environmental influences on regulation of the seasonal Determining environmental influences on regulation of the seasonal
cycles in mammalscycles in mammals Assessing the influence of predators on behavior of elkAssessing the influence of predators on behavior of elk Determining factors that limit growth and reproduction of channel Determining factors that limit growth and reproduction of channel
catfishcatfish
Examples of Current ResearchExamples of Current ResearchTheoretical, Behavioral and Evolutionary EcologyTheoretical, Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology
Dynamics of mating strategies in small mammalsDynamics of mating strategies in small mammals Role of hybridization in survival of amphibians, and response Role of hybridization in survival of amphibians, and response
of bottomland tree species to changes in flooding regimesof bottomland tree species to changes in flooding regimes Impact of chromosomal integrity and ploidy on organisms and Impact of chromosomal integrity and ploidy on organisms and
natural populationsnatural populations Role of enzymes and blood proteins in the population Role of enzymes and blood proteins in the population
dynamics of boll weevils, kangaroo rats, crayfish, fish and dynamics of boll weevils, kangaroo rats, crayfish, fish and amphibian populationsamphibian populations
PublicationsPublications
Journal of Wildlife Journal of Wildlife ManagementManagement
Wildlife Society BulletinWildlife Society Bulletin Journal of MammalogyJournal of Mammalogy EcologyEcology Animal BehaviorAnimal Behavior GeneticaGenetica Systematic ZoologySystematic Zoology Journal of ParasitologyJournal of Parasitology AukAuk EthologyEthology
HeredityHeredity CopeiaCopeia Physiological ZoologyPhysiological Zoology General and Comparative General and Comparative
EndocrinologyEndocrinology AquacultureAquaculture Transactions of the Transactions of the
American Fisheries American Fisheries SocietySociety
Canadian Journal of Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesSciences
Post-Graduate PlacementPost-Graduate Placement
ERC graduates occupy professional positions ERC graduates occupy professional positions throughout the world as:throughout the world as:
Directors of Federal research and extension Directors of Federal research and extension programs programs
State and Federal Fisheries and Wildlife State and Federal Fisheries and Wildlife Biologists Biologists
Researchers and Managers at museums, Researchers and Managers at museums, zoos, and international programs zoos, and international programs
University Professors University Professors
TeachingTeaching
Students study plants and animals in laboratory Students study plants and animals in laboratory and field environmentsand field environments
Field courses and extended field trips to parts of Field courses and extended field trips to parts of US, Mexico, Trinidad and BelizeUS, Mexico, Trinidad and Belize
Gives students first hand knowledge of Gives students first hand knowledge of ecological principles learned in classesecological principles learned in classes
Summer courses include: Summer courses include: Field Techniques in Vertebrate Ecology Field Techniques in Vertebrate Ecology River and Stream Ecology River and Stream Ecology Local Flora of TennesseeLocal Flora of Tennessee
What has worked?What has worked?
Historically, two strong concentrations:Historically, two strong concentrations: Ecology and Molecular BiologyEcology and Molecular Biology Grown from 1Grown from 1° teaching to nationally recognized ° teaching to nationally recognized
research departmentresearch department More than 300 students and several million dollars More than 300 students and several million dollars
in grants administeredin grants administered Recently, ecology core remained strong with added Recently, ecology core remained strong with added
emphasis on:emphasis on: conservation biology and evolutionary ecologyconservation biology and evolutionary ecology
What is the Challenge?What is the Challenge?
To continue To continue to beto be recognizedrecognized at the national at the national and global leveland global level
To keep ourselves and our students To keep ourselves and our students in the in the mainstreammainstream of a competitive workplace of a competitive workplace
To To anticipate changesanticipate changes will occur in the will occur in the environment and accept them as driving forces environment and accept them as driving forces for new research for new research
To To be seen as leadersbe seen as leaders in the evolution of the in the evolution of the new frontier – Urban Ecologynew frontier – Urban Ecology
