Department of Biology
 |
Associate Professor Director Population and Conservation Biology Program Phone: 512-245-2321 Fax: 512-245-8713 E-mail: Jimott@txstate.edu Mailing AddressBiology Department Texas State University 601 University Drive San Marcos, TX 78666 |
Research Interests
Visit the Ott Lab Page
Insect-Plant Interactions
Ecological Genetics
Evolutionary Mechanisms
Courses Taught
BIO 1431: Organismal Biology: (Syllabus) A freshman-level course that focuses on the evolution, ecology, behavior, and diversity of organisms. This is the second semester of the integrated Principles of Biology core course sequence.
BIO 4416: General Ecology: A senior-level core course which explores the conceptual basis of ecological processes and patterns at the individual, population, and community levels.
BIO 5301: Evolution: A graduate-level course with emphasis on evolutionary mechanisms. Organized along the classic population genetic approach of understanding the origin, maintenance, and disposition of genetic variation. Periodically taught as a co-listed course with Biology 4301.
BIO 5427, 7428: Principles of Population Biology I, II. (Co-taught with Dr. Chris Nice). (Syllabus) These graduate-level courses provide rigorous training in classic and contemporary issues in population biology. We stress the development and application of theory as well as the use of analytical tools in problem solving in population biology. As well we extend this development to problems in population ecology and conservation biology at multiple levels.
BIO 7120: Invasion Biology (Syllabus)
Special Topics Courses previously offered
BIO 5110 EvolutionaryEcology of Plant-Animal Interactions
BIO 5319 Insect Ecology
BIO 5319 Theory and Practice of Natural Selection Measurement
BIO 5319 Competition: Cornerstone or Millstone?
(UMCP) Evolution of Diet Breadth in Phytophagous Insects (UMCP) Parasitiod Community Ecology and Evolution
BIO 5319: Topics in Ecology (Population Biology; Natural Selection; Competition: Cornerstone or Millstone?)
Publications
Whitely, M., J. R. Ott, E. A. Weaver, and R. J. C. McLean. 2001. Effects of community composition and growth rate on aquifer biofilm bacteria and their susceptibility to betadine disinfection. Environmental Microbiology 3: 43-52.
Langellato, G. A., R. F. Denno, and J. R. Ott. 2000. A trade-off between flight capability and reproduction in males of a wing-dimorphic insect. Ecology 81: 865-875.
Braswell, W. E, and J. R. Ott. 2000. The Biology of Doa ampla (Lepidoptera: Doidae) on its host plant Stillingia texana (Euphorbiaceae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash 102: 507-518
Ott, J. R., J. A. Nelson, and T. Caillouet. 1998. The effect of spider-mediated flower alteration on seed production in golden-eye phlox. The Southwestern Naturalist 43: 430-436.
Lund J. N., J. R. Ott, and R. J. Lyon. 1998. Heterogony in Belonocnema treatae Mayr (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 100: 755-763
Ott, J. R., J. Baccus, S. Roberts, D. Harmel, E. Fuchs, and W. Armstrong. 1997. Antler quality and body mass of spike- and fork-antlered yearling white-tailed deer at maturity. Proc. Annu. Conf. Southeast Assoc. Fish and Wildl. Agencies. 51: 400-413.
Denno, R. F., M. McClure, and J. R. Ott. 1995. Interspecific interactions in phytophagous insects: competition revisited and resurrected. Annual Review of Entomology 40: 297-331.
Ott, J. R. 1993. Population variation in overwintering site quality: Implications for the size and composition of Acanthoscelides alboscutellatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) populations. Oecologia. 96: 493-499.
Ott, J. R., and M. Lampo. 1991. Body size selection in Acanthoscelides alboscutellatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). I. Entrapment within the fruit of Ludwigia alternifolia (Onagraceae). Oecologia 87: 522-527.
Ott, J. R., and R. E. Weems. 1986. The Hot Run site: A new Pleistocene vertebrate locality in Virginia. IN J. N. McDonald and S. O. Bird, eds. Symposium on the Quaternary of Virginia. Va. Div. Min. Res. 75: 129-130.
Ott, J. R., L. A. Real, and E. M. Silverfine. 1985. Bumblebee response to nectar variance: Potential effects of pollen mediated gene dispersal. Oikos. 45: 333-340.
Real, L. A., J. R. Ott, and E. M. Silverfine. 1982. On the tradeoff between mean and variance in behavioral models of foraging. Ecology 63: 1617-1623.
McCauley, D. E., J. R. Ott, A. Stine, and S. McGrath. 1981. Limited dispersal and its effects on population structure in the milkweed beetle Tetraopes tetraopthalamus. Oecologia 51: 145-150.
Theses Directed
Completed Masters Degree Research Projects
Evan Braswell, 1998. The Biology and Ecology of Gregarious Larval Behavior in Doa ampla Lepidoptera: Doidae).
JoAnne Lund, MS 1998. Biology and Ecology of Belonocnema treata (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) on its Host plant, Plateau Live Oak.
Preston Galusky, MS 2000. Implications of the Within-Canopy Oviposition Preference, Abundance, and Larval Performance: Patterns of a Host-Specific Cynipid Gall Former.
Richard Reynolds, MS 2000. The Role of Natural Enemies in Determining the Relationship Between Gall Size and Emergence Success of a Host-Specific Cynipid.
Carmen Hall, MS 2001. Community Structure of Parasitoids Attacking Leaf Galls of Belonocnema treatae on Quercus fusiformis.
Scott Egan, MS 2004. Host Plant Quality and Deme Formation as Determinants of the distribution of a Gall-Forming Herbivore.
Greg Cryer, MS 2004. Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Parasitoid Attack on a Root Galling Cynipid.
Completed Undergraduate Independent Research Projects
Traci Caillouet. 1995-96. Color polymorphism and host choice in a central Texas spittlebug; the effect of crab spiders on the fitness of golden-eyed phlox.
Carmen Hall, 1997-98. Interactions among parasitoids,hyperparasitoids, and inquilines within leaf galls of B. treatae on live oak.
Valentine Cantu, 1998. The distribution and success of B. treatae on its host plant across a hybrid zone.
Jason Locklin, 1998. Oviposition intensity and fitness of B. treatae as afunction of canopy strata on its host-plant.
Greg Cryer, 1998-99. Relationship of leaf gall size to female size and potential fecundity in B. treatae.
Jetiame Newton, 1999. Relationship between leaf gall size and emergence success in B. treatae.
Amanda Murray, 1999. (Mentored at UVA, Blandy Field Station.) The role of plant morphology and the defensive shield of Cassida rubiginosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in determining susceptibility to natural enemies on alternate host plants.
James Russell, 1999-2001. Sex determination and sex ratios in Belonocnema treatae: linking sexual and asexual generations.
Lezlie Jones, 2000-01. Variation in growth dynamics and maturation of leaf galls of B. treatea within and among host plants.
Andre’ Bailey, 2001. (Mentored at UVA, Blandy Field Station.) Relationships among patterns of reproductive allocation within Redbud fruits, the oviposition behavior of a host-specific seed predator and its associated parasitoids.
David Smith, 2001. Relationship between leaf gall size and female size and fecundity in sexual generation B. treatae.
Teacher Involvement Research Projects
Chau Nguyen, 1998. (SMTEI Program). Directional analysis of oviposition intensity and fitness of B. treatae on the leaves of plateau live oak.
Anne Bowen, 2003. (SMTEI Program). Distorted sex ratios in the root gall generation of B. treatae.
Students & Postdocs
M. S. Students:
- Esther Chovanec 2005-present
Ph. D. Students: None
Postdocs: None
Click here to return to the Biology front page