Research and Field Studies

Research within the Biology Department at Bowdoin College covers a wide range of subjects, from molecular and genetics to environmental and evolutionary processes. Students are encouraged to pursue hands-on research with professors in the laboratory and in the field.

Bowdoin Facilities:

Coastal Studies Center

118-acre site of forest, meadows, wetlands, and saltwater coves located on Orr's Island, Maine.

Visit the Coastal Studies Center website.

Bowdoin Scientific Station at Kent Island

Biological field station located on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada.

Visit the Bowdoin Scientific Station at Kent Island website.

Student Research and Fellowship Opportunities:

The Biology Faculty encourage juniors and seniors to pursue a laboratory or field research project as an independent study. Independent studies provide unique opportunities for students to venture outside the standard curriculum and become involved in hands-on research. Research projects are arranged with the approval and advice of a sponsoring faculty member, and are usually closely related to that person's ongoing research.

Student Research and Fellowship Opportunities

Faculty:

Patsy Dickinson: Chair, Professor of Biology and Neuroscience:

pdickins@bowdoin.edu

Examines the mechanisms by which animals are able to generate behavioral flexibility in rhythmically repeated movements, such as those involved in chewing and locomotion. Using an invertebrate model system (portions of the lobster nervous system), which has the advantage of being relatively simple, we look at the effects of specific neuromodulatory compounds on the properties of individual nerve cells as well as on the ways in which they interact with one another. This then allows us to understand how such changes can alter the behavioral output of the whole system and enable it to generate a variety of patterns from a single anatomical group of neurons and synaptic connections.

Recent Publications:
  • Patsy S. Dickinson, *Jake S. Stevens, *Szymon Rus, *Henry R. Brennan, Christopher C. Goiney, Christine M. Smith, Lingjun Li, David W. Towle and Andrew E. Christie (2007). Identification and cardiotropic actions of sulfakinin peptides in the American lobster Homarus americanus, In press, Journal of Experimental Biology.
  • Stemmler, Elizabeth A., *Emily A. Bruns, *Noah P. Gardner, Patsy S. Dickinson and Andrew E. Christie, (2007). Mass spectrometric identification of pEGFYSQRamide: a crustacean peptide hormone possessing a vertebrate neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like carboxy-terminus. General and Comparative Endocrinology 152:1-7.
  • Christie, Andrew E., *Szymon Rus, Christopher C. Goiney, Christine M. Smith, David W. Towle and Patsy S. Dickinson (2007). Identification and characterization of a cDNA encoding a crustin-like, putative antibacterial protein from the American lobster, Homarus americanus, Molecular Immunology 44:3333-3337.
  • Christie, Andrew E., Kimberly K. Kutz-Naber, Elizabeth A. Stemmler, Alexandra Klein, Daniel I. Messinger, Christopher C. Goiney, *Anna J. Conterato, *Emily A. Bruns, Yun-Wei A. Hsu, Lingjun Li and Patsy S. Dickinson (2007). Midgut epithelial endocrine cells are a rich source of the neuropeptides APSGFLGMRamide (Cancer borealis tachykinin-related peptide Ia) and GYRKPPFNGSIFamide (Gly1-SIFamide) in the crabs Cancer borealis, Cancer magister and Cancer productus. Journal of Exp Biol. 210:699-714.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Hadley W. Horch: Assistant Professor of Biology and Neuroscience:

hhorch@bowdoin.edu

The Horch lab uses the cricket model system to examine the molecular neurobiological basis of a number of areas including regeneration, behavior, and development.  Mainly, the lab will focus on the regeneration of interneurons in the auditory system of the cricket. Removing on ear induces auditory interneurons to sprout new dendrites, grow abnormally across the mid-line, and form synapses with intact auditory neurons from the opposite ear, both in developing as well as adult crickets. This is one of the most elegant and complex examples of neuronal regeneration known. Techniques such as dextran backfills, immunohistochemistry, and confocal microscopy will be used to understand the molecular cues involved in this phenomenon. Other projects include examining the role of octopamine on male cricket aggression and attempting to create transgenic crickets in order to examine the development of individual neurons.

Recent Publications:
  • *Maynard, K.M., McCarthy, S.S., *Sheldon, E., Horch, H.W. 2007. Developmental and adult expresson of sempahorin 2a in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.  Journal of Comparative Neurology. 503: 169-181.
  • Horch, H.W. 2004. Local effects of BDNF on dendritic growth. Reviews in the Neurosciences, 15: 116-129.
  • Horch, W.W., and Katz, L.C. 2002. BDNF release from single cells elicits local dendrtic growth in nearby neurons. Nature Neuroscience, 5: 1177-1184.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

William R. Jackman: Assistant Professor of Biology:

wjackman@bowdoin.edu

Research Interest:

The evolution of the genetic mechanisms of developmental patterning, especially in regard to the origin of vertebrates and the development and evolution of teeth. 

Recent Publications:
  • Willilam R. Jackman and David W. Stock. (2006). Transgenic analysis of Dix regulation in fish tooth development reveals evolutionary retention of enhancer function despite organ loss. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 103, 19390-19395.
  • David W. Stock, William R. Jackman, and Josh Trapani. (2006). Developmental genetic mechanisms of evolutionary tooth loss in cypriniform fishes. Development 133, 3127-3137.
  • William R. Jackman, Bruce W. Draper, and David W. Stock. (2004). FGF signaling is required for zebrafish tooth development. Developmental Biology 274, 139-157.
  • William R. Jackman, Jolee M. Mougey*, Georgia D. Panopoulou, and Charles B. Kimmel. (2004). crabp and maf highlight the novelty of the amphioxus club-shaped gland. Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 85, 91-99.
  • William R. Jackman and Charles B. Kimmel. (2002). Coincident iterate gene expression in the amphioxus neural tube. Evolution and Development 4, 366-374.

 *unergraduate co-author

Amy Johnson: Professor of Biology:

ajohnson@bowdoin.edu

Biomechanics and ecology of marine organisms, including: mechanics of echinoderm skeletal growth and of crustacean jaws, and hydrodynamics and ecology of wave-swept organisms.

Recent Publications:
  • Johnson, A.S., Ellers, O., *Wright, M., *Selden, R., *Stranges, B. (2006). Is there oxygen-limited lag phase in early growth in sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis? International Echinoderm Conference, University of New Hampshire, August 2006.
  • Ellers, Ol, Johnson, A.S. (2006). Temperature determines size and time-to-size in urchins: calibration of size-temperature effects in marine ectotherms. International Echinoderm Conference, University of New Hampshire, August, 2006.
  • Johnson, A.S., Ellers, O. (2006). A new fluorochrome-based identification tag for sea urchins for use in a hatchery and lease-site-aquaculture. Northeast Aquaculture Conference and Exposition. Mystic, Connecticut. December, 2006.
  • *Lake, B., Johnson, A.S., Mauck, R.A. (2006). Influence of orientation and flow speed on feeding behavior and metabolism of the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides. Integr. Comp. Biol. 46 (1): e219; doi: 10.1093 /icb /ic1056.
  • Johnson, A.S., Ellers, O., *Butler, M. (2006). Barbs of a feather bend (and twist) together. Integr. Comp. Biol. 46 (1): e70;doi: 10.1093 /icb /ic1056.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Bruce Kohorn: Professor of Biology and Biochemistry:

bkohorn@bowdoin.edu

My studies now concentrate on two types of signaling pathways. One involves communication between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the cytoplasm of angiosperms. The other project involves a redox controlled, membrane bound organelle protein kinase that regulates light energy transduction and the perception of light.

Recent Publications:
  • Kohorn, B.D., Kobayashi, M., Johansen, S., Fischer, A., *Byers, N. (2006) Wall Associated Kinase 1 is Crosslinked in Endomembranes and Transport To The Cell Surface Requires Correct Cell Wall Synthesis. Journal Cell Science, in press.
  • Kohorn, B.D., Kobayashi, M., Johansen, S., *Riese, J., Huang, L-F., Koch, K., Fu, S., Dotson, A., and *Byers, N. (2006) An Arabidopsis Cell Wall Associated Kinase Required for Invertase Activity and Cell Growth. The Plant Journal, in press.
  • Snyders, S., and Kohorn, B.D. (2001) Disruption of thylakoid kinase activity TAK1 leads to alteration of light energy transduction. J. Biol. Chem. 276:32169-32176.
  • Anderson, K.A., and Kohorn, B.D.(2001) Inactivation of Arabidopsis SIP1 leads to reduced levels of sugars and drought tolerance. The Plant Journal 158:1215-1219.
  • Kohorn, B.D.(2001) Cell wall associated kinases. Curr. Opinions in Cell Biol 13:529-33.
  • Wagner, T.A., and Kohorn, B.D. (2001) Wall associated kinases, WAKs, are expressed throughout development and are required for cell expansion. The Plant Cell. 13:303-18.
  • Anderson, C.M., Wagner, T.A., He, Z.H., He, D., and Kohorn, B.D. (2001) WAKs: cell wall associated kinases linking the cytoplasm to the extracellular matrix. Plant Mol. Biol. 47:197-206.
  • Kohorn, B.D. (2000) Plasma membrane-cell wall contacts. Plant Physiology 124:21-38.

 *Denotes Bowdoin College student author

John Lichter: Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science:

jlichter@bowdoin.edu

Studies the mechanisms underlying plant community and ecosystem dynamics to provide information useful for the restoration and sound management of ecosystems. Recent work has focused on carbon sequestration in forest soils under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration, but research students have also contributed studies of carbon storage in a maturing pine-hemlock forest, soil erosion, the effects of deer browsing on plant and soil microbial diversity, the effects of snowshoe hare browsing on tree regeneration, the mechanisms of a plant invasion, and of periodic tree growth in coastal forests.

Recent Publications:
  • Koster, D., J. Lichter, P.D. Lea, and A. Nurse. 2007. Historical eutrophication in a river-estuary complex in mid-coast Maine. Ecological Applications 17:765-778.
  • Lichter, J., H. Caron, *T. Pasakarnis, *S. Rodgers, T.S. Squiers, Jr., and C. S. Todd. 2006. The ecological collapse and partial recovery of a freshwater tidal ecosystem. Northeastern Naturalist 13:153-178.
  • Finzi, A., D. Moore, E. DeLucia, J. Lichter, K. Hofmackel, R. Jackson, H. Kim, R. Matamala, H. McCarthy, R.Oren, J. Pippen, and W.H. Schlesinger. 2006. Progressive nitrogen limitation of ecosystem processes under elevated CO2 in a war-temperate forest. Ecology 87:15-25.
  • *Peterson, T.S., *A. Uesugi, and J. Lichter. 2005. LImitation of tree regeneration by introduced snowshoe hare on Kent Island, New Brunswick. Canadian Field Naturalist 119:569-572.
  • Lichter, J., *S.H. Barron, *C.E. Bevacqua, *A.C. Finzi, *K.F. Iriving, E.A. Stemmler, and W.H. Schlesinger. 2005. Soil carbon sequestration and turnover in a pine forest after six years of atmospheric CO2  enrichment. Ecology 86:1835-1847.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Barry Logan: Assistant Professor of Biology:

blogan@bowdoin.edu

Studies the acclimation of plants to environmental stresses commonly experienced in the field, such as high light intensity or chilling temperatures and the responses of the photosynthetic apparatus and the photoprotective mechanisms that plants employ to protect themselves from damage when they are absorbing more light than they can utilize for photosynthesis (i.e. excess light).

Recent Publications:
  • Reblin, JS, Logan, BA, Tissue, DT. (2006). Impact of eastern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium pusillum) infection on the needles of red (Picea rubens) and white spruce (P. glauca): oxygen exchange, morphology, and compostition. Tree Physiology 26: 1325-1332.
  • Logan, B.A., Kornyeyev, *Hardison, J., Holaday AS. (2006) The role of antioxidant enzymes in photoprotection. Photosynthesis Research (2006) 88: 119-132.
  • Logan, B.A. (2005) ROS and Photosynthesis. In: Antioxidants and Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants (N Smirnoff ed.) Blackwell Scientific Publishing, London, 250-267.
  • Kornyeyev D., Logan BA, Tissue DT, Allen RD, Holaday AS (2006) Compensation for photosystem II photoinactivation by regulated non-photochemical dissipation influences the impact of photoinactivation on electron transport and CO2 assimilation. Plant and Cell Physiology 47: 437-446.

 *Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Anne McBride: Assistant Professor of Biology and Biochemistry:

amcbride@bowdoin.edu

Studies cellular roles of protein modification, focusing on arginine methylation and its involvement in protein transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm. We use biochemical techniques combined with yeast genetics and cell biology to address questions such as how the enzymes responsible for protein methylation are regulated and how methylation affects a protein's function. Our work with baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has led us to start investigating protein methylation and transport in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans.

Recent Publications:
  • McBride, AE, Zurita-Lopez, C.,*Regis, A., *Blum, E., *Conboy, A, *Elf, S. and Clarke, S. (2007). Protein arginine methylation in Candida albicans: Role in nuclear transport. Eukaryot Cell. 6(7): 1119-1129. Abstract.
  • McBride, A E (2006) Diverse roles of protein arginine methyltransferases in "Protein Methyltransferases" The Enzymes Vol. XXIV, ed. S. Clarke and F. Tamonoi, Academic Press, pp. 51-103.
  • McBride AE, *Cook JT, Stemmler EA, Rutledge KL,*McGrath KA and *Rubens JA (2005) Arginine methylation of yeast mRNA-binding protein Np13 directly affects its function, nuclear export, and intranuclear protein interactions J Biol Chem 280(35): 30888-98.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Michael Palopoli: Assistant Professor of Biology:

mpalopol@bowdoin.edu

My diverse teaching and research interests are centered within the field of evolutionary genetics. Current research projects focus of nematode species in the genus Caenorhabditis and include the following: molecular evolution of a sperm transmembrane protein; molecular genetic mapping of a protein required for copulatory plug formation; comparison of sperm size variation and patterns of sperm competition between species with different mating systems; and using whole-genome databases to test current models for the evolution of intron size. Other student projects include the molecular identification of ectomycorrhizal fungi across a dune chronosequence (in collaboration with John Lichter) and the molecular population genetics of human follicle mites.

Recent Publications:
  • *Graustein A, *Walters J, *Gaspar J and Palopoli MF. Levels of DNA polymorphism vary with mating system in the nematode genus Caenorhabditis. Genetics (in press).
  • *Suzuki Y and Palopoli MF. 2001. Evolution of insect abdominal appendages: Are prolegs homologous or convergent traits? Development, Genes, and Evolution 211: 486-492.
  • Palopoli MF. 2000. Genetic partners in crime: Evolution of an ultraselfish supergene that specializes in sperm sabotage. Pp. 113-126 in Wolf, J, ED Brodie III, and MJ Wade, (eds.) Epistasis and the Evolutionary Process. Oxford Press, Oxford.
  • Palopoli MF and Patel NH. 1998. Evolution of the interaction between Hox genes and a downstream target. Current Biology 8: 587-590.
  • Palopoli MF and Patel NH. 1996. Neo-Darwinian developmental evolution: Can we bridge the gap between pattern and process? Current Opinions in Genetics and Development 6(4): 502-508.
  • Palopoli MF, Davis AW, and Wu C-I. 1996. Discord between the phylogenies inferred from molecular versus functional data: Uneven rates of functional evolution or low levels of gene flow? Genetics 144:1321-8.
  • Palopoli MF and Wu CI 1996. Rapid evolution of a coadapted gene complex: Evidence from the Segregation Distorter (SD) system of meiotic drive in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics 143:1675-88.
  • Wu CI, Johnson NA, and Palopoli MF. 1996. Haldane's rule 1985-1995: Why are there so many sterile males? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 11: 281-284.

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Carey Phillips: Professor of Biology:

cphillips@bowdoin.edu

Has worked extensively with NASA and studied how birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles use gravity to orient their nervous systems. This included the effects of gravity on organizing patterns of amphibians and the development of Medaka in microgravity. This work included six new experimental laboratories that will be placed on the US space station Alpha. Current research involves animation CD's for developmental biology which take students through the inside of cells and organs.


William Steinhart: Professor of Biology and Biochemistry:

wsteinha@bowdoin.edu

Research projects focus on two different areas, one in the area of molecular genetics of plant development and the other in human genetic disorders involving triplet nucleotide expansions. In the former case, our research examines the changing pattern of gene expression that occurs as orchid plants develop from an embryonic protocorm stage to plantlets with shoots and roots. In the latter case, we are continuing work in collaboration with human geneticists at the Foundation for Blood Research that seeks to determine the probabilities for the triplet nucleotide expansions associated with Fragile X Syndrome, the most common heritable cause of mental disabilities in humans.

Recent Publications:
  • Steinhart, W. and *Wood, D., Gene expression during shoot morphogenesis of Cattleya (Orchidaceae) protocorms. Plant Physiology 102, 122 (1993). Abstract
  • Steinhart, W. and *Renvyle, T., Cymbidium mosaic virus RNA synthesis in isolated orchid protoplasts. Virus Research 30, 205 (1993)
  • Steinhart, W. and *Winkler, R., Improved method for preparation of orchid protoplasts for transient expression efficiency assays. Physiology 105, 121 (1994) Abstract
  • Steinhart, W., *Chute, A., and *Toothaker, S., Proteins expressed in orchid protocorms upon transfer from suspension to stationary culture. Plant Physiology 111, 142 (1996) Abstract
  • Steinhart, W., *Winkler, R., *Brierley, K., *Hickman, M., and *Merlis, D., Expression of the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene from a variety of promoter constructs in Cattleya protocorms and their protoplasts. Lindleyana 12, 172 (1997)

*Denotes Bowdoin College student author

Nathaniel Wheelwright: Professor of Biology:

nwheelr@bowdoin.edu

Studies ecological and evolutionary interactions between fruit-eating birds and tropical plants in Monteverde, Costa Rica, including sex expression, population genetic structure, phenology, and lifetime reproduction in the family Lauraceae. Summer research includes a long- term study of Savannah Sparrows, Tree Swallows, and Plants on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada, site of the Bowdoin Scientific Station. This research work involves collaboration each year with eight undergraduates, several graduate students and other researchers on the archipelago in the Bay of Fundy. Recent work on sparrows focuses on avoidance of inbreeding, the acquisition and heritability of song, incubation rhythms of experienced and inexperienced birds, offspring sex rations, male choice, and post- fledging parental care.

Recent Publications:
  • Wheelwright, N.T. Conservation successes in the shado of the Golden Toad. P. 144 in J. Withgott and S. Brennan, Environment: the Science Behind the Stories (2nd edition). Benjamin Cummings PUblishing, San Francisco.
  • Wheelwright, N.T. and J.D. Rising. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. 90 p. In press.
  • Freeman-Gallant, C.R., N.T. Wheelwright, K.E. Meiklejohn, and S.V. Sollecito. Genetic similarity, extra-pair paternity and offspring quality in Savannah Sparrows. Behavioral Ecology 17: 952-958.
  • Wheelwright, N.T., C.R. Freeman-Gallant, and R.A. Mauck. 2006. Asymmetrical incest avoidance in the choice of social and genetic mates. Animal Behaviour 71: 631-639. pdf
  • Wheelwright, N.T., E.E. Dukeshire, J.B. Fontaine, S.H. Gutow, D.A. Moeller, J.C. Schuetz, T.M. Smith, S.L. Rodgers, and A.G. Zink. 2006. Pollinator limitation, autogamy, and minimal inbreeding depression in insect-pollinated plants on a boreal island. American Midland Naturalist 155: 19-38. pdf
  • Wheelwright, N.T. 2005. Conservation successes in the shadow of the Golden Toad. P. 150 in S. Brennan and J. Withgott, Environment: The Science Behind the Stories. Benjamin Cummings Publishing, San Francisco. pdf
  • Freeman-Gallant, C.R., N.T. Wheelwright, K.E. Meiklejohn, S.L. States, and S.V. Sollecito. 2005. Little effect of extra-pair paternity on the opportunity for sexual selection in Savannah Sparrows Passerculus sandwichensis. Evolution 59: 422-430. pdf