Linda E. Green, University of Virginia

Research Interests

      I am interested in community ecology and the interplay of biotic and abiotic factors in shaping species distributions. My research projects have roamed from the northern forests of New Hampshire, roadsides of D.C., and the tropical settings of Costa Rica and Jamaica. My current research in the Ph.D. program at the University of Virginia will span several river drainages in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains. I am focusing on one abiotic factor in particular, acidity, and I will explore how stream salamanders are responding to the ongoing acidification processes in Virginia streams. I am interested in how species interactions, such as competition and predation, are affected by a physiological response to acidity, and how species are affected by indirect effects from the response of sympatric species to acidity.
     Acidification of stream and groundwater has heightened in the past 50 years, and both the scientific and political eye have focused on health and environmental effects on the eastern coast of the U.S.. Although governmental measures have reduced coal-burning emissions, the recovery of the environment is slow and in some areas, there has been no measurable recovery. Changes in streamwater chemistry are well-documented, and numerous reports have elucidated the response of stream fish and invertebrates to changes in water quality. The response of stream salamanders is still relatively unexplored. The diversity of stream salamanders in the southern Appalachians is the highest in the world; therefore, the community of salamanders in this region offers an exciting opportunity to understand how the natural world is responding to anthropogenic changes to the environment.
     I am using stream surveys, laboratory, and experimental studies to examine how growth, survival, and overall distribution of salamander populations are affected by an acidic environment. The stream surveys take place throughout western Virginia, and the experiments are conducted at Mountain Lake Biological Station, Giles Co., VA. My research will complement the knowledge we have on the community response of other taxa to stream acidification. My future research interests encompass questions in species interactions, with an emphasis on community-level implications.

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Biology, May 2006
University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA

A.B. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, June 2000
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH

RESEARCH
Field Biologist, University of Virginia
May 2002 - Sept 2005
Dissertation research investigating the effects of pH on the population and community ecology of stream salamanders.
Advisor: Dr. Henry M. Wilbur.

Greenhouse Biologist, University of Virginia
August 2001- December 2002
Graduate research on maternal effects in Plantago lanceolata. Measured offspring quality for two cohorts of maternal individuals. Advisor: Dr. Deborah Roach.

Field Research Assistant, Georgetown University
August 2000 - December 2000
June 2001 - August 2001
Behavioral studies of color preference in butterflies, foraging in wasps, and shelter-building in caterpillars. Contributed to experimental protocol, manuscript writing and editing. Maintained records and livestock. Supervisor: Dr. Martha R. Weiss.

Lab. Research Assistant, Dartmouth College
April - June 2000
March - Sept. 1998
Investigation in metal accumulation and biomagnification within aquatic freshwater systems; testing the effects of varying food availability, pH, and toxin levels on survival in zooplankton and Rana pipiens tadpoles. Supervisor: Dr. Celia Y. Chen.

Field Biologist, Costa Rica, Jamaica
Jan. - March 2000
Dartmouth College Foreign Study Program. Terrestrial and coral reef tropical ecology; projects in behavior, population biology, resource competition, plant-animal interactions. Supervisors: Dr. Richard T. Holmes, Dr. Matthew P. Ayres,
Dr. John J. Gilbert.

Field Biologist, Dartmouth College
May - Dec. 1999
Independent research project exploring interspecific interactions and habitat selection in stream-dwelling salamanders. Focus on implications of areas of human disturbance. Advisor: Dr. Doug T. Bolger.

TEACHING
Adjunct Faculty, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jan. 2006 - present
Introductory Biology I. Majors course covering the core concepts in cell biology and plant form and function. Preparation and instruction for biweekly lecture course. 305 students.
Introductory Biology II. Majors course covering the core concepts in genetics, evolution, and animal form and function. Preparation and instruction for biweekly lecture course. 2 sections, 160 and 260 students.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Virginia
August 2002 - Dec. 2005
Fall 2002: Course in Introductory Biology Laboratory Techniques. Preparation, instruction, and grading for 42 students. Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Machunis-Masuoka.
Spring 2003: Introduction to Organismal Biology. Instruction and grading for 320 students. Supervisor: Dr. Mark T. Kopeny.
Fall 2003: Ecology and Conservation of Fishes. Instruction in field-based course, prepared statistical tutorials. Supervisor: Dr. Mark T. Kopeny.
Spring 2004: Introduction to Organismal Biology. Instruction and grading for 370 students. Supervisor: Dr. Mark T. Kopeny.
Fall 2004: Vertebrate Functional Morphology. Instruction in weekly comparative anatomy laboratory. Supervisor: Dr. Mark T. Kopeny.
Fall 2005: Vertebrate Functional Morphology. Instruction in weekly comparative anatomy laboratory. Supervisor: Dr. Mark T. Kopeny.

Laboratory Director, Georgetown University
Jan. 2001 - May 2001
Director of Introductory Biology Laboratory. Preparation, instruction, and grading of six lab sections (175 students); supervised a team of 20 undergraduate TAs. Supervisor: Dr. Martha R. Weiss.

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Dartmouth College
April - May 2000: Course in Animal Behavior. Assistant in preparation and instruction of 4-hr lab. Supervisors: Dr. Richard T. Holmes, Craig D. Layne.
June - July 1999: Course in Biological Diversity. Assistant in preparation and instruction of 5-hr lab. Supervisors: Dr. David R. Peart, Craig D. Layne.

ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS
Best Oral Presentation at the 2005 Robert J. Huskey Graduate Research Exhibition, University of Virginia. First place of Biological and Biomedical Sciences division, April 11, 2005.
Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Teaching Assistants, University of Virginia. Awarded by the Department of Biology, 2004.
Seven Society Award for Superb Teaching, University of Virginia. Semi-finalist in 2004, 2005, and 2006 university-wide competitions, nominated by former undergraduate students.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Samuel Miller Agricultural Fund Research Grant, $9,500. Awarded to fund an undergraduate field assistant during the 2004 and 2005 field seasons.
Samuel Miller Fellowship, $9000. Awarded by Mountain Lake Biological Station in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
Governor's Fellowship, $18,000. University of Virginia graduate student fellowship, 2001-2002.
Andrew F. Mellon Grant, $500. Awarded for independent undergraduate research project, Dartmouth College. 1999.
2004 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Dept. of Biology, University of Virginia
2004 Mt. Lake Biological Station Fellowship, University of Virginia
2003 Mt. Lake Biological Station Fellowship, University of Virginia
2003 Samuel Miller Agricultural Fund Research Grant, for summer 2004 research assistant
2002 Mt. Lake Biological Station Fellowship, University of Virginia
2000-2001 Governors Fellowship, University of Virginia
1999 Andrew F. Mellon Foundation Grant, for undergraduate field research in New Hampshire

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
Ecological Society of America (ESA)
Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians (SSAR)

Contact Linda Green at Lgreen@virginia.edu. Last modified 03.01.06