| Research Assistants |
Kristen DeVanna
Graduate Student
kristen.devanna@utoledo.edu
My dissertation topic addresses ecological interactions between an important native species in the Great Lakes, burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia limbata and H. rigida), and invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis respectively). My Ph.D. work builds on my master’s degree, for which I studied the interactions between Dreissena and Hexagenia, which are an important food web component in many temperate lakes. I found that in oxygenated waters, Hexagenia prefer habitats with 50-100% spatial coverage of Dreissena. Therefore, I plan to determine the food web consequences of this observed relationship during both high and low oxygen conditions for my dissertation. Specifically, I will determine whether Hexagenia derive protection from fish predation in Dreissena clusters and if short periods of hypoxia, which often develop in Lake Erie and other productive lakes, interfere with this relationship and force Hexagenia out of Dreissena-cluster habitat to seek well-oxygenated waters. If Dreissena protect Hexagenia from fish predation, I will examine the implications to the food web and the flow of benthic energy (Hexagenia) to fish. 
Nathan Manning
Graduate Student
nathan.manning@utoledo.edu
I am a Ph.D. student working in Dr. Mayer’s and Dr. Bossenbroek’s labs. My main focus is spatial and temporal modeling of Yellow Perch populations in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, specifically the role of different types of turbidity. Other research interests include wetlands ecology, effects of human impacts at the landscape scale, and invasive species.
Patricia Armenio
Graduate Student
pcope@utnet.utoledo.edu
CV-2009
My graduate research involves algae (Cladophora and Lyngbya) as well as zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.). I am trying to determine what resource Dreissena are providing for enhanced benthic algal growth, specifically their hard structure or some nutrient. The increased growth of this nuisance algae leads to increased algal mats washing onshore. I work in Dr. Mayer's lab.