James T. Cronin

Research

Andrea joined the lab in the spring of 2021 and is also working with our team of researchers on the causes and consequences of widespread dieback of the wetland grass, Phragmites australis (Roseau cane) in the Mississippi River Delta (for details, see: Roseau cane (Phragmites australis) Dieback in the Mississippi River Delta). Andrea’s research focus on the photochemical landscape and its effects on multi-trophic species interactions. With the Phragmites system, she is focusing on 1) protease inhibitors as a resistance mechanism, 2) α and β biochemical diversity and plant resistance, and 3) the effects of environmental stressors (flooding, nutrient additions and herbivory) on Phragmites metabolomics diversity.

• B.S., University of Pittsburg (2008)
• Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno (2017)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Michigan State University (2017-2021)

  aglass5@lsu.edu

Dissertation Project

Joe is a new PhD student in the lab, beginning his tenure in January, 2022. Joe is part of the team of researchers studying the causes and consequences of widespread dieback of the wetland grass, Phragmites australis (Roseau cane) in the Mississippi River Delta (for details, see: https://www.jcronin.biology.lsu.edu/research/roseau.html). He has yet to decide on a dissertation project.

• B.S., University of Rhode Island (2018)

  johnston@lsu.edu

Dissertation Project

Nate is a research biologist with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Lewisville, TX. While employed with the Corps, he earned his PhD in my lab in 2020. Nate’s dissertation research focused on the biological control and management of wetland invasive plant species. Specifically, he studied flea beetle (Agasicles hygrophila) control of alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Historically, flea beetles have been very successful in controlling alligatorweed but an interesting phenomenon is now occurring with this system. Alligatorweed has been expanding northward but the flea beetles have lagged behind. Nate published six papers directly from his dissertation along with numerous other publications associated with his job with the Corps.

• View or download Nate's dissertation.  

• B.S., University of Texas (2003)
• M.S., University of North Texas (2010)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2020)

  Nathan.E.Harms@usace.army.mil

Dissertation Project

Rachel's dissertation focused on the effects of density-dependent emigration (DDE) on the population dynamics of competing species. She was particularly interested in comparing traditional forms of DDE (where dispersal increases linearly with density) with non-tradition forms such as negative or U-shaped DDE (see Harman et al. 2020). She was also interested in life-history tradeoffs at range margins using Tribolium flour beetles as a model system. Rachel completed her PhD in 2020 and is currently a postdoctoral associate in Tania Kim’s lab at Kansas State University.

• View or download Rachel's dissertation.  
• More about Density-Dependent Emigration and Predator-Prey Population Dynamics  

• B.S., Indiana University, Purdue University Fort Wayne (2012)
• M.S., Indiana University, Purdue University Fort Wayne (2014)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2020)

• Current Position:
• Postdoctoral Associate
• Department of Entomology
• Kansas State University
• Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

  rharman@ksu.edu

Thesis Project

Lori was jointly advised by Erik Aschehoug (Norwegian University of Life Sciences) and me. She studied plant-soil feedbacks in cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), specifically focused on legacy effects on native plant species.

• B.S., University of Wisconsin
• M.S., Louisiana State University (2019)

Dissertation Project

Warwick’s dissertation focused on two main research areas: invasive plant - herbivore - predator interactions and how they vary in space (see Allen et al 2017) and direct and indirect effects of soil microorganisms on invasion success and plant-plant interactions. His research focused primarily on the wetland invader, Phragmites australis. After graduating in 2017, Warwick has moved on to a postdoc at Lincoln University in New Zealand.

• View or download Warwick's dissertation.  
• More about "The Ecology and Evolution of Latitudinal Gradients in Plant Defenses"  

• B.S., Lincoln University, New Zealand (2009)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2017)

  warwick.j.allen@gmail.com

Dissertation Project

Ganesh's research focused on a large-scale, biogeographic approach to studying invasive plant species. Chapters in his dissertation addressed the effects of large-scale disturbances on the proliferation and spread of the invasive plant, Phragmites australis, the ecology and evolution of latitudinal gradients in P. australis - herbivore interactions, and apparent competition between native and invasive genotypes of P. australis and how it varies with latitude.

• View or download Ganesh's dissertation.  
• More about "Effects of Large-Scale Disturbances on the Proliferation and Spread of Phragmites australis"  

• B.S., Prithvi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (1997)
• M.Sc., Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (2000)
• M.S., Texas Christian University (2007)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2015)

• Current Position:
• Postdoctoral Associate
• Department of Entomology
• Kansas State University
• Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

  bhattaraigp@gmail.com

Thesis Project

Anthony's research focused on the latitudinal variation in competitive ability of Phragmites australis and its role in invasion success.

• View or download Anthony's thesis.  

• B.S., University of Tennessee (2009)
• M.S., Louisiana State University (2014)

  achow2@tigers.lsu.edu

Dissertation Project

Impact of invasive plant species on community structure. Forrest is interested in the invasion and spread of brome grass (Bromus inermis) in the tall-grass prairies of the Great Plains. His research has shown that brome is rapidly displacing native grasses, and altering the dispersal behavior and increasing the extinction risk of native insect species.

Dissertation Title: Invasion of smooth brome into North American tall-grass prairies: impact on native plant/herbivore species and mechanisms responsible for successful invasion.

• View or download dissertation.  
• More about "Impact of Invasive Plants"  

• B.S., Louisiana State University (2003)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2012)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Louisiana State University

  fdille1@lsu.edu

Thesis Project

For many plant speices, chemical and morphological defenses against herbivory induced upon herbivore attack. A plant's resistance to herbivory also may be influenced indirectly by its neighbors, that is, by the diversity and composition of the plant community. Amanda's objective is to examine how the efficacy of induced defenses is influenced by the context of the community. She plans to manipulate the species composition and defensive strategies (e.g., constitutive or induced defense levels) of neighboring plants and quantify their effects on the herbivory of a target plant species (soybeans) that either possess or lack the ability to induce a defense.

• More about "Environmental Effects on Induced-Plant Resistance"  

• B.S., State University of New York, Geneseo (2000)
• M.S., Louisiana State University (2011)

  aaccam1@lsu.edu

Dissertation Title

Mechanisms Promoting Spatial and Temporal Variability in Plant Defense

• View or download dissertation.  
• More about "Plant Resistance and Tolerance at the Landscape Level"  

• B.S., University of Illinois (2003)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2010)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Florida State University (2010-2012)

  alyssa.s.hakes@lawrence.edu

• Current Position:
• Associate Professor
• Department of Biology
• Lawrence University
• Appleton, WI

Dissertation Title

From Indidvidual Dispersal Behavior to the Multiscale Distribution of a Saproxylic Beetle.

• View or download dissertation.  
• More about "Management Effects on Dead-Wood Arthropods"  

• B.S., Brigham Young University (2001)
• M.S., Brigham Young University (2004)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2010)
• Postdoctoral Associate, Carelton University, Ottawa, Canada
• Postdoctoral Associate, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

  heather.jackson@colostate.edu

• Current Position:
• Instructor
• Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
• Colorado State University
• Fort Collins, CO 80523

Dissertation Title

Landscape heterogeneity and the spatial ecology of a prairie planthopper.

• View or download dissertation.  
• More about "Host-Parasitoid Spatial Ecology"  

• B.S., University of California, Santa Barbara (1994)
• M.S., Utah State University (1998)
• Ph.D., Louisiana State University (2004)

  haynes@virginia.edu

• Current Position:
• Research Associate Professor and Associate Director
• Blandy Experimental Farm
• University of Virginia
• (webpage)

Thesis Title

Adaptive oviposition behaviour in the goldenrod stem galler, Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae).

• B.S., University of Manitoba (1999)
• M.S., University of North Dakota (2003)

Thesis Title

Response of a Gall-forming Guild (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) to Stressed and Vigorous Prairie Roses

• More about "Host-Plant Choice by Herbivores and Their Enemies"  

• B.S., Missouri Southern State University (1998)
• M.S., University of North Dakota (2000)
• Ph.D., University of Wyoming

  markalanwilliams@hotmail.com

• Current Position:
• Forester
• Bureau of Land Management
• Salt Lake City, UT