Todd D. Levine

Professional

Resources

Professional Interests

My research interests are centered on patterns in ecology across landscapes and through time. I am especially interested in the interplay of spatial and temporal dynamics and have a strong interest in understanding how obligate linkages between populations affect these dynamics, including parasite, mutualist and predator-prey relationships.Most of my work takes place in aquatic ecosystems and I have a deep interest in how these habitats affect the organisms living in them and, in turn,are affected by their inhabitants . My current work, as a post-doctoral researcher at Hancock Biological Station, addresses these topics using a variety of aquatic animals in Kentucky Lake and the Midwest. For example, I am describing long-term (ca. 20 years) population patterns in space and time of zooplankton in Kentucky Lake.

My graduate research focused on using freshwater mussels as a model for symbiotic interactions. Mussels are an interesting case study, because they do not follow the typical life history patterns of parasites and are of critical conservation concern. I hope that by carefully observing the interactions between mussels and their hosts, my research will contribute to the conservation of this highly endangered fauna. By improving our understanding of this unique and imperiled fauna, I believe that its atypical life history will shed new light on the interactions between hosts and parasites.

I have pursued an understanding of these interactions, some general methological themes have caught my attention and have enhanced my ability to understand these interactions. Of particular interest to me, has been the challenge of gathering data on difficult to sample organisms. Mussels fit squarely into this description; infecting fish as microscopic ectoparasites (although other terms may be used here), excysting from fish at less than a milimeter long and growing to macroscopic animals that may survive to ages of more than 100 years. Along these lines, I have participated in and/or led studies of long- term mark-and-[recapture datasets and population genetic studies to track the ecology and potential for evolution.

Peer - reviewed Publications

Contact me for more information or reprints

Submitted or in review

  • Levine, TD, DS White, LB Francisco and G Rice. In review. Comparison of Schindler-Patalas traps and Wisconsin nets for monitoring zooplankton in a large, shallow reservoir. Journal of Plankton Research
  • Levine, TD, BK Lang, and DJ Berg. In review. The niche concept in mussel-host relationships: a comparison of laboratory and field studies of glochidial infestation of fishes by Popenaias popeii (Bivalvia: Unionidae). Freshwater Biology
  • Levine, TD, JB Sickel and DS White. Colonization, trends and status of two non-native species in Kentucky Lake, Plectomerus dombeyanus and Daphnia lumholtzi. Proceedings of the14th Symposium on the Natural History of Lower Tennessee and Cumberland River Valleys.

Upcoming and Recent Presentations

  • Levine TD, ME Bradley, BR Bosman, MC Barnhart and JB Sickel. 2012. Natural History and range expansion of Plectomerus dombeyanus Society for Freshwater Science: Louisville
  • Inoue K, TD Levine, BK Lang and DJ Berg. 2012. Use of distance sampling to estimate population size and density of the Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii, Lea 1857) in the Black River, NM, USA Society for Freshwater Science: Louisville
  • Levine TD and DS White. 2011. Scale dependency among freshwater zooplankton in Kentucky Lake, Tennessee River. Sigma Xi (to be submitted to regional meeting at University of Tennessee Martin)
  • Levine TD, DS White and JB Sickel. 2011. Colonization, trends and status of two non-native species in Kentucky Lake, Plectomerus dombeyanus and Daphnia lumholtzi. 14th Natural History of the Lower Tennessee and Cumberland River Valleys Conference.
  • Hendricks SP, TD Levine and DS White. 2011. Real-time continuous observations from sensors and long-term monitoring of water quality allow increased understanding of biogeochemical and hydrological processes in a reservoir, Kentucky Lake (USA). Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, Lexington, KY. (click for abstract)
  • Francisco, L, TD Levine and DS White. 2011. Comparing two zooplankton sampling methods in long-term community and population monitoring. Posters at the Capitol, Lexington, KY.
  • Francisco, L, TD Levine and DS White. 2011. Comparing two zooplankton sampling methods in long-term community and population monitoring. Ecological Society of America
  • Mueller, K, ST Flynt, DS White and TD Levine. 2011. Habitat affinities in the Clarks River, Kentucky. Posters at the Capitol.
  • Mueller, K, ST Flynt, DS White and TD Levine. 2011. Survey and habitat use of the mussel fauna of the Clarks River, KY Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
  • Levine, TD, GW Gerald and H Hansen. 2011. Effect of enhanced shell structure on functional burrowing traits in Potamilus alatus. Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society

  • Hansen, H, GW Gerald, and TD Levine. 2011. Assessing the effect of shell ornamentation on burrowing performance and dislodgement in a freshwater mussel (Potamilus alatus). Nebraska Academy of Sciences.
  • Block, JE, GW Gerald and TD Levine. 2011. Temperature effects on burrowing amongst smooth-shelled unionid mussels. Freshwater Mollusks Conservation Society.
  • Sluss, T, TD Levine and DS White. 2010. Temporal and spatial trends of zooplankton community structure in a mainstem reservoir, Kentucky Lake, over a twenty year period. North American Benthological Society. Santa Fe, NM.
  • Levine, TD and J Sickel. 2010. Mussel community responses to new species in Kentucky Lake over a 20-year period. 6th Annual Kentucky Mollusk Meeting. Frankfort, KY

Poster and Presentation Gallery

A collection of examples of work that has been presented atprofessional meetings

See Also: Iffland et al. 2008 Ecological Society of America

Oral Presentations

Basic information and/or visuals from various presentations

Conservation Activities

Places where my opinion or data have been used to inform conservation actions

In the News

A few places where my work has been reported to a larger community

Fun Stuff

Some of these bridge the gap between personal and professional...and keep me saying "wow," when I'm otherwise exhausted. Others stand alone, but definitely keep me going.

  • Emergence
  • Programming
  • Photography: a gallery of my photographs
  • And for a combination of emergence and photography...click here
  • Blacksmithing
To contact me, use e-mail: tlevine **at** murraystate.edu ]]>