April Blakeslee

Dr. April Blakeslee
Dr. April Blakeslee
Biology
blakesleeap14@ecu.edu

Research Outputs

Publications

  • Moore, C.S.*, M.J. Ruocchio** & A.M.H. Blakeslee (2018) Distribution and population structure in the naked goby Gobiosoma bosc (Perciformes: Gobiidae) along a salinity gradient in two western Atlantic estuaries. PeerJ 6:e5380
  • Lehnert, S.J., C. DiBacco, N.W. Jeffery, A.M.H. Blakeslee, J. Isaksson, J. Roman, B.F. Wringe, R.R.E. Stanley, K. Matheson, C.H.McKenzie, L.C. Hamilton, I.R. Bradbury (2018) Temporal dynamics of a genetic cline of invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in eastern North America. Evolutionary Applications. DOI: 10.1111/eva.12657.
  • Moritzen, L.C.**, M.S. Roy*, G.W. Smalley & A.M.H Blakeslee (2018). Distribution and tidal variation of palaemonid shrimp in artificial and natural habitats. Journal of Crustacean Biology. 38: 295-301.

Conferences

  • Blakeslee, A.M.H., M. Ruocchio, C. Moore, C.L. Keogh (2018). Altered susceptibility to trematode parasite infection in native versus introduced populations of the European green crab, Carcinus maenas. International Conference on Marine Biological Invasions  (ICMB-X), Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
  • Blakeslee, A.M.H., A.W. Miller, A.W., L. Haram, K. Maglies, I. Altman, G.M. Ruiz (2018) Genetic bottlenecks and species invasions: how do parasites compare to hosts? Marine Evolution 2018, Stromstad, Sweden.
  • Blakeslee, A.M.H., R.B. Barnard, K. Matheson, C.H. McKenzie (2018) Parasites and invasions: a case study of parasite spread in two Newfoundland bays. Benthic Ecology Meeting, Corpus Christi, TX.
  • Blakeslee, A.M.H., M.T.K Tsui, C.S. Moore, M. Ardon Sayao (2018) Examining the impact of methylmercury accumulation in intermediate hosts of North Carolina coastal wetlands. AFS Tidewater Meeting, Beaufort, NC.

 

Research Focus

Blakeslee’s lab focuses on conservation biology in marine systems and includes a diverse research program involving biodiversity, population genetics, parasite ecology, and biogeography — as well as the unique and integrative insight that can be gained from studying biological invasions. Recently, biological invasions have become recognized as a major contributor to the global (and often disjunct) distributions of many marine species as a result of human transport mechanisms. Invasion research is therefore important not only from a conservation perspective but can provide theoretical and practical understanding of population and community level influences of novel species, and can also serve as an important teaching tool for students and the general public.

 

Grants and Contracts

  • A.M.H. Blakeslee. “Biotic and abiotic tradeoffs shape the ecology and evolution of a marine host across space and time.” ECU THCAS College Research Initiation Grant. $7,000 (2018-2019).
  • Gittman, A.M.H. Blakeslee. “Developing design criteria and novel monitoring approaches for oyster restoration to improve water quality and enhance estuarine habitat value.” Natural Resources and the Environment Research Cluster Proposal, ECU. $12,561 (2018-2019).
  • Tsui, M. Ardón-Sayao, A.M.H. Blakeslee, C. Grace-McCaskey. “New focus on a regional problem in eastern NC: What are the impacts of increased salinity on mercury, parasite prevalence in fish, fishing behaviors, and perceptions of human health risk?” UNC IPG Stage 1 Grant. $25,000 (2018-2019).
  • A.E. Fowler & A.M.H. Blakeslee. “Impacts of two functionally distinct invaders on facilitation and community succession.” Mid-Atlantic Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species. $13,722 (2018-2019).
  • C.S. Moore & A.M.H. Blakeslee. Parasites as Novel Indicators of Biodiversity in Restored Coastal Habitats. North Carolina Sea Grant Coastal Research Fellowship. $10,000 (2018-2019).
  • A.M.H. Blakeslee. “Ecotypic formation in Littorina saxatilis in the Western Atlantic and comparisons across the North Atlantic.” University of Gothenburg Research Travel Grant, Tjarno Marine Laboratory, Sweden. $3023 (May 2018).

 

Awards

  • Coastal Scholar Award, 2018-2019
  • Scholar-Teacher Award, 2018-2019

 

Research Activities

  • A.M.H. Blakeslee (11/2018). Multi-host parasites: valuable indicators in marine systems. Duke Marine Lab, Beaufort, NC.
  • A.M.H. Blakeslee (10/2018). Invasion of the body snatchers: parasites that create zombies. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Lunchtime Discovery Series. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh.
  • A.M.H. Blakeslee (10/2018). Investigating Biological Invasions in NC Coasts & Estuaries: from A to Zombie. North Carolina Sea Grant Site Review Panel: Stakeholder Engagement: Expertise Meeting Communities’ Needs. NCSU, Raleigh.

 

Student Researchers

Graduate Advisor
Kyle Swanson, MS student, ECU, 2018-present.; Timothy Lee, IDPBS Ph.D. student, ECU, 2017-present; Christopher Moore, IDPBS Ph.D. student, ECU, 2016-present; Rebecca Barnard, MS student, ECU, 2016-2018.

Undergraduate Mentor
Hyejoo Ro, Parasite Ecology Intern, Research Internship in Field Science, Shoals Marine Laboratory (Appledore Island), 2018; Corey Winkler, Honors Thesis Research, 2018-present; Emily Edmonds, Undergraduate Research, ECU, 2017-present; Christofer Brothers, Honors Thesis Research, ECU, 2016-2018 (Christofer received a competitive ECU URCA award to receive a stipend and supply funding for his research in my lab Spring 2017, and successfully defended his honors thesis in April 2018, entitled: “Zombie Hide & Seek: Invasive Parasite’s Influence on Host Predatory Hiding Behavior in Mud Crabs”).