Department of Biology

Paula S. Williamson, Ph.D.
Professor

Phone: 512-245-3312

Fax: 512-245-8713

E-mail: pw04@txstate.edu

Biology Department
Texas State University - San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666

Education

Ph.D.

1988

University of California, Santa Barbara

M.A.

1985

University of California, Santa Barbara

B.S.

1981

Southwest Texas State University

Professional Experience

Texas State University-San Marcos, Dept. of Biology
Associate Chair for Graduate Programs	2004-Present
Professor	1998-Present
Associate Professor	1994-1998
Assistant Professor	1988-1994
University of California at Santa Barbara, Dept. of Biological Sciences
Instructor	1988
Post-Graduate Assistant	1987-1988

Research Interests

Paula Williamson and Gena Janssen studying a population of Abronia macrocarpa, an endangered Texas endemic.

Conservation Biology/Endangered Species Biology
My lab is interested in understanding causes of species rareness, particularly with regard to reproductive biology. Our work includes relating life history traits and pollination ecology to genetic variability of rare species.
Texas State University : Aquarena Wetlands Project
In this area, we are interested in understanding the role invasive species play in altering aquatic ecosystems and in restoration with native vegetation. My lab has been extensively involved in developing the Wetlands Walk at Aquarena Center, located on our campus, which provides a hands-on approach to educating the public about the ecology and importance of wetlands.
Phylogeny and Systematics of Aquatic Plants
My research includes a long-standing interest in elucidating the phylogeny of flowering plants, with emphasis on the Nymphaeales.

Courses Taught

BIO 1431: Organismal Biology

BIO 3406: Economic Botany - Syllabus; Tentative Lecture and Exam Schedule, Fall 2006

BIO 3465: Plant Physiology - Syllabus

BIO 5318: Topics in Botany (Pollination Biology; Ecological Plant Anatomy)

BIO 5347: Conservation Biology

BIO 7346: Conservation Biology

Publications

Williamson, P.S. 2004. Status of the Large-fruited sand verbena (Abronia macrocarpa). pp. 37-45 In Texas Plant Conservation Conference 2002 Proceedings. Eds. K. Clary, C. Delmatier, J. Poole. and F.M. Oxley.

Schneider, E.L., S.C. Tucker, and P.S. Williamson. 2003. Floral development in the Nymphaeales. International Journal of Plant Science. 164: 5279-5292.

Arsuffi, T.L., P.S. Williamson, M. de la Garza Newkirk, and Melani Howard. 2000. The San Marcos River Wetlands Project: Restoration and environmental education in Texas. International Journal of Wilderness 6: 17-21.

Lippok, B., A.A. Gardine, P.S. Williamson, and S.S. Renner. 2000. Pollination by flies, bees, and beetles of Nuphar ozarkana and N. advena (Nymphaeaceae). American Journal of Botany 87: 898-902.

Williamson, P.S. and C.R. Werth. 1999. Levels and patterns of genetic variation in the endangered species Abronia macrocarpa Galloway (Nyctaginaceae). American Journal of Botany 86: 293-301.

Arsuffi, T.L., P.S. Williamson, and M. de la Garza Newkirk. 1999. The San Marcos River Wetlands Project: Restoration and a vision of environmental stewardship and managment for urban rivers in Texas through education and partnerships. 1998 River Managment Society Symposium Proceedings pp. 161-170.

Van Auken, O.W. and P.S. Williamson. 1997. Rare plants of the southwest: forward. Southwestern Naturalist 42: 367-368.

Williamson, P.S. and S.K. Bazeer. 1997. Self-incompatibility in Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae). Southwestern Naturalist. 42: 409-415.

Schneider, E.L. and P.S. Williamson. 1996. Barclaya rotundifolia M. Hotta (Nymphaeaceae). Aqua-Planta 2: 87-95.

Williamson, P.S., S.K. Bazeer, and G.K. Janssen. 1996. Self-incompatibility in Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae), an endangered Texas endemic: Comparison of self- and outcross pollen tube growth. IN: Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plants: Proceedings of the Second Conference. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-GTR-283: 171-178.

Janssen, G.K. and P.S. Williamson. 1996. Encouraging conservation of endangered plants on private lands: A case study of Frankenia johnstonii, an endangered south Texas subshrub. IN: Southwestern Rare and Endangered Plants: Proceedings of the Second Conference. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-GTR-283: 1-7.

Williamson, P.S. and E.L. Schneider. 1994. Floral aspects of Barclaya (Nymphaeaceae): pollination, ontogeny and structure. Plant Systematics and Evolution 8: 104- 115.

Williamson, P.S. and E.L. Schneider. 1994. Ondinea purpurea den Hartog. Aqua-Planta 1: 3-10.

Williamson, P.S., L. Muliani, and G.K. Janssen. 1994. Pollination biology of Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae), an endangered Texas species. Southwestern Naturalist 39: 336-341.

Moseley, M.F., E.L. Schneider, and P.S. Williamson. 1993. Phylogenetic interpretations from selected floral vasculature characters in the Nymphaeaceae, sensu lato. Aquatic Botany 44: 325-342.

Williamson, P.S. 1991. Ondinea, the new Australian water lily. Water Garden Journal 7: 43-48.

Williamson, P.S. 1991. Ecological anatomy of Nuphar luteum leaves. Texas A&M University EM Views 6: 7-8.

Williamson, P.S. 1991. Crisis in Science: Creating an interest in botany. Native Plant Society of Texas Symposium Proceedings pp. 91-105.

Skubatz, H., P.S. Williamson, E.L. Schneider, and B.J.D. Meeuse. 1990. Cyanide-insensitive respiration in thermogenic flowers of Victoria and Nelumbo. Journal of Experimental Botany 41: 1335-1339.

Schneider, E.L., P.S. Williamson, and D.C. Whitenberg. 1990. Hot sex in water lilies. Water Garden Journal 6: 41-51.

Williamson, P.S., E.L. Schneider, and L.A. Malins. 1989. Tuber and leaf structure of Ondinea purpurea den Hartog (Nymphaeaceae). Western Australian Naturalist 18: 52-61.

Williamson, P.S. and M.F. Moseley. 1989. Morphological studies of the Nymphaeaceae (s.l.). XVII. The floral anatomy of Ondinea purpurea subspecies purpurea. American Journal of Botany 76: 1781-1796.

Moseley, M.F., I.J. Mehta, P.S. Williamson, and H. Kosakai. 1984. Morphological studies of the Nymphaeaceae (s.l.). XIII. Contributions to the vegetative and floral structure of Cabomba. American Journal of Botany 71: 902-924.

Schneider, E.L., M.F. Moseley, and P.S. Williamson. 1983. The pollination biology of Ondinea purpurea. Proceedings of the Vth International Symposium on Pollination. Ed. INRA Publ. Les Colloques de I'INRA, n-21: 231-235.

Chapters in Books:

Williamson, P.S. and E.L. Schneider. 1993. Cabombaceae. In: The Families and Genera of Flowering Plants. K. Kubitzki, editor. Vol. II. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Williamson, P.S. and E.L. Schneider. 1993. Nelumbonaceae. In: The Families and Genera of Flowering Plants. K. Kubitzki, editor. Vol. II. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Schneider, E.L. and P.S. Williamson. 1993. Nymphaeaceae. In: The Families and Genera of Flowering Plants. K. Kubitzki, editor. Vol. II. Springer-Verlag, New York.

Laboratory Manuals:

Elliot A.M. and P.S. Williamson. 1996. Laboratory Manual to Accompany The Botanical World. Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Iowa. 207 pp.

Elliot A.M. and P.S. Williamson. 1996. Instructor's Resource Guide for the Laboratory Manual to Accompany The Botanical World. Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Iowa. 45 pp.

Theses Directed

Gena K. Hamilton - M.S., 1991. Reproductive biology and leaf structure of Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae), an endangered Texas endemic.
Lisa Muliani - M.S., 1994. Breeding system and reproductive capacity of Abronia macrocarpa, large-fruited sand verbena (Nyctaginaceae).
Selvi K. Bazeer - M.S., 1996. Self-incompatibility in Abronia macrocarpa, large-fruited sand verbena (Nyctaginaceae).
Karen L. Couch - M.S., 1996. Seedling recruitment and plant recolonization of a disturbed population of Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae).
Patti L. Herzik - M.S., 1998. The seed biology of Frankenia johnstonii (Frankeniaceae).
Darren P. Dodson - M.S., 2001. The effects of disturbance on Thymophylla tephroleuca, ashy dogweed (Asteraceae).
Carrie K. Preite - M.S., 2002. Algal species composition on turtle carapaces in Spring Lake, Hays County, San Marcos, Texas.
Marsha M. Reimer - M.S., 2002. Baseline survey and checklist of birds at Spring Lake and surrounding vicinity, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas. (Co-advisor with Dave Huffman)

Non-Thesis Graduate Students Directed

Christine F. Hudec - M.S. 2001.
Luz E. Morris - M.S. 2005.
Jennifer R. Mandel - M.S., 2005

Current Graduate Students & Postdocs

Master's Graduate Students:

Carolyn G. Meredith - M.S., In Progress. Recovery of Abronia macrocarpa following population disturbance.
Anna W. Strong - M.S., In Progress.Reproductive biology of Astrophytum asterias (Cactaceae)
Cyndee Baker - M.S., In Progress. Estimating the probabilities of detection of Golden-checked Warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia) using presence-absence surveys. (Co-advisor with Floyd Weckerly)
Jacqueline Goodson - M.S., In Progress. Testing population introduction of Abronia macrocarpa.
Eric O. Atkins - M.S., In Progress. . A comparison of eradication techniques of a nonindigenous emergent plant species (Colocasia esculenta)
Andy Blair - M.S., In Progress. Thesis topic under selection
Sandy Birnbaum- M.S., In Progress. Testing population introduction of Astrophytum asterias.

Doctoral Graduate Students:

Florence M. Oxley - Ph.D., In Progress. Dissertation topic under selection.

Curriculum Vita

Curriculum vita is available for download [pdf]

Links to Scientific Societies

Southwestern Association of Naturalists , Past - President

Beta Beta Beta Bological Honor Society, Kappa Zeta Chapter Sponsor

Last updated Thursday, 22 September, 2004. Click here to return to the Biology front page


Undergraduate Studies \| Graduate Studies \| Faculty & Staff \| About the Department