People In the Lab
Lead Principle Investigator
Dr. Antonietta Quigg, Associate Professor
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
Room 164
Tel.:+1 (409) 740-4990
Fax.: +1 (409) 740-5001
E-mail: quigga@tamug.edu
Research Interests: Phytoplankton ecophysiology, physiological adaptation, photosynthesis,
biological oceanography, biochemistry and biophysics, molecular biology, plant physiology, evolution.
Post-doctoral Fellow
Dr. Miao Aijun, TIO Post-doctoral Fellow (Co-advisor, Dr. Peter Santschi)
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
Room 200E
Tel.:+1 (409)740 4772
Fax.: +1 (409)740 4786
E-mail: aijunm@tamug.edu
Interests: Phytoplankton-trace metal interactions, phytoplankton physiology, trace elemental cycles in the environment.
Dr. Angela Capper (Research Associate)
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: capper.a@gmail.com
Interests: Research includes identification and quantification of phytoplankton collected from the Galveston Bay between 2005-2009, with particular interest in harmful algal blooming forming species (HABs).
Dr. Chuan-Kai Ho
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: chuanho@tamug.edu
Interests: Basic and applied research in ecology, including trophic interactions (plant-herbivore interactions, omnivory, top-down & bottom-up control, etc), climate change impacts on trophic interactions, biogeography, and conservation biology.
Dr. Eric Madrid
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: eric.n.madrid@gmail.com
Interests: Evolutionary and developmental biology of plants. In particular, the specific role that cell biological developmental processes have had on the evolution and biogeography of salt-tolerant wetland plants.
PhD Students
Ms. Allison Skinner McInnes (Department of Oceanography)
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: aliskinner41@yahoo.com
Started courses Fall 2008
Project: I am currently working on a project which we think will more clearly resolve the role of the biological pump in the C-cycle. I hope to incorporate remote sensing data with field and laboratory measurements to look at different classes and sedimentation patterns of phytoplankton.
Ms. Jamie Steichen (Department of Ocenaography)
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: jls4513@neo.tamu.edu
Started courses Fall 2007
Project: I am interested in exotic and invasive species around the world, particularly phytoplankton species and concerns for Texas ecosystems. We are using molecular methods to identify phytoplankton species that are being transported in the ballast water of ships. Samples are analyzed based on DNA using polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and phylogenetic analysis. Samples are being collected from all the major ports and bay systems along the Texas coast to look for phytoplankton species that may have been introduced to Texas waters via ballast water.
Masters Students
Ms. Elizabeth Neyland, Masters (Department of Biology)
Office: Currently at TAMU, College Station.
E-mail: alainn_beth@yahoo.com
Started courses Fall 2006
Mr. Federico Alvarez, Masters (Department of Oceanography)
Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: falvarez@ocean.tamu.edu
Started courses Fall 2006
Project: My project is to look at how nutrients. irradiance and zonation regulate primary production in coastal waters impacted by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. On an extra-curicular basis I also maintain various departmental websites.
Ms. Leslie Rulon, Masters (Marine Resource Management)
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Office: Fort Crockett Campus
E-mail: leslierulon@yahoo.com
Started courses Fall 2006
Project: I am looking at the impacts of nutrient additions (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) at four different concentrations on Spartina alterniflora, Salicornia virginica, and Batis maritima growth over a two year period, to gain a better understanding of the impact of eutrophication on salt marsh plant dynamics. I hope to see a positive relationship between growth and nutrients however, I believe it will be species dependent. Along with plant height and percent cover we are measuring biomass, dry weight, chlorophyll, proteins, and nutrient concentrations.
Mr. Sam Dorado (Department of Marine Biology Interdisiplinary Program)
Office: Ft Crockett
E-mail: dorado_sam@yahoo.com
Started courses Fall 2008
Project: Analyzing how primary production effects trophic interactions associated with eddies in the Gulf of Mexico.
Goals:
1. Measure biomass, diversity and evenness of phytoplankton groups, zooplankton, and icthyoplankton within and outside of eddy surface waters.
2. Measure chlorophyll a biomass, pigment concentrations, and analyze the photochemistry of the phytoplankton communitywithin and outside of eddy surface waters.
3. Determine the isotopic signatures of the separate components contributing to the Particulate Organic Matter (POM) within and outside of eddy surface waters.
Under Graduate Students
Ms. Melanie Britton
E-mail: melaniebritton@gmail.com
Project: I assist with the collection and processing of samples obtained for the Galveston Bay Project and ballast water grow out.
Ms. Rachel Windham, Volunteer
E-mail: rawindham1186@neo.tamu.edu
Project: I help Dr. Quigg and the graduate students in the lab with any odd job that comes along. Some of the things I do to help out include cleaning collection bottles, archiving information about journal articles and assisting in phytoplankton identification.
Lab Staff
Mrs. Tyra Booe (Research Assistant)
E-mail: traywict@tamug.edu
Project: I work on the Galveston Bay Project measuring freshwater inflow from the Trinity River into Galveston Bay in order to quantify its effect on the phytoplankton community. I also organize and carry out monthly nutrient limitation assays and manage the research logistics of our lab.
Ms. Kim Janusaitis (Research Assistant)
E-mail: janusaik@tamug.edu
Project: I research different strains of algae for the eventual production of biodiesel. By manipulating different variables, we hope to find several species that will tollerate a range of temperatures, light, and salinities. Eventually, these species will be grown on a mass scale and harvested as an alternative fuel source. I also assist other projects going on in the lab such as the Swan Lake project and the Galveston Bay project.
Alumni
| Amanda Thronson | Linda Roehrborn | Whitney Krey | Jo Goodman |
| Recently Graduated | National Guard Officer | Now Graduate student at MIT/WHOI | Now Graduate student UCSB |
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| Brad Grimmit | Derek Shulz | Larissa and Katie | |
| Now at Texas Parks and Wildlife (Dickinson Office) | Now experiencing life | Continuing Graduate program at TAMUG | |
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