Carol Stepien

Last updated
Carol Stepien
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Scientific career
Thesis Life history, ecology, and regulation of the colormorphic patterns of the giant kelpfish, 'Heterostichus rostratus' Girard (family Clinidae)  (1985)

Carol Ann Stepien is an American ecologist at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution. She was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2016.

Contents

Education and career

Stepien has a B.S. from Bowling Green University and an M.S. from the University of Southern California. [1] She earned her Ph.D. in 1985 working on Chironemus . [2] She did postdoctoral work with Richard Heinrich Rosenblatt at Scripps Institution of Oceanography [3] [4] and David Hillis at the University of Texas at Austin. [5] In 1992 she joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University where she remained until 2000. [1] She then moved to Cleveland State University and held a position there until 2014. [1] Concurrently, she joined the University of Toledo in 2004, and was appointed Distinguished University Professor in 2012. [6] She was Director of the Lake Erie Research Center from 2004 until 2016. [6] In 2016, [7] she moved to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she led the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory's Ocean Environmental Research Division until 2021. [8] Starting in 2017, she became a research associate at National Museum of Natural History. [8]

Research

Stepien's research centers on the genetics and genomics of marine and freshwater fishes and invertebrates. Her early research examined genetic divergence in fish, [9] and the population genetics of walleye, [10] bivalves, [11] and rockfish. [12] She is interested in the population genetics and evolutionary patterns of invasive species, and has used genetic tools to study invasive species such as the zebra mussel and quagga mussel. [13] Her research on the goby fish centered on comparisons of goby fish populations from North American and Eurasia. [14] [15] She has also examined viral hemorrhagic septicemia, viruses that cause disease in finfish [16] and has developed new techniques to track the virus. [17] She has also used metabarcoding to track invasive species. [18] [19] She also is working with collaborators to apply eDNA biotechnology for monitoring and assessing marine and aquatic biological community dynamics using eDNA collected remotely from buoys, drones, AUVs, and gliders.[ citation needed ]

Selected publications

Awards and honors

In 2010, she was awarded the Sigma Xi Scientific Society's Outstanding Researcher award. [1] In 2016, Stepien elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) who cited her “for distinguished contributions to the fields of molecular evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics, particularly invasive and native populations, and mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students”. [6] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Population bottleneck</span> Effects of a sharp reduction in numbers on the diversity and robustness of a population

A population bottleneck or genetic bottleneck is a sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events such as famines, earthquakes, floods, fires, disease, and droughts; or human activities such as genocide, speciocide, widespread violence or intentional culling. Such events can reduce the variation in the gene pool of a population; thereafter, a smaller population, with a smaller genetic diversity, remains to pass on genes to future generations of offspring. Genetic diversity remains lower, increasing only when gene flow from another population occurs or very slowly increasing with time as random mutations occur. This results in a reduction in the robustness of the population and in its ability to adapt to and survive selecting environmental changes, such as climate change or a shift in available resources. Alternatively, if survivors of the bottleneck are the individuals with the greatest genetic fitness, the frequency of the fitter genes within the gene pool is increased, while the pool itself is reduced.

Phylogeography is the study of the historical processes that may be responsible for the past to present geographic distributions of genealogical lineages. This is accomplished by considering the geographic distribution of individuals in light of genetics, particularly population genetics.

Deborah Charlesworth is a population geneticist from the UK, notable for her important discoveries in population genetics and evolutionary biology. Her most notable research is in understanding the evolution of recombination, sex chromosomes and mating system for plants.

<i>Arabis alpina</i> Species of flowering plant

Arabis alpina, the Alpine rock-cress, is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to mountainous areas of Europe, North and East Africa, Central and Eastern Asia and parts of North America. In the British Isles, it is only known to occur in a few locations in the Cuillin Ridge of the Isle of Skye. It inhabits damp gravels and screes, often over limestone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racer goby</span> Species of fish

The racer goby is a species of goby native to fresh, sometimes brackish, waters, of the Black Sea basin. It is a Ponto-Caspian relict species. The species is placed a monotypic genus, Babka, which was once considered a subgenus of genus Neogobius, but was then elevated to genus-status based on the molecular analysis.

<i>Proterorhinus marmoratus</i> Species of fish

Proterorhinus marmoratus is a species of gobiid fish, a tubenose goby native to the brackish water parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, near the coasts of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine and Russia. Also it is found in the Marmora Sea (Turkey). It can reach a length of 11.5 centimetres (4.5 in) TL.

Hypoplectrus gummigutta, commonly called the golden hamlet, is a species of marine ray-finned fish. They are sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae and the greater family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. The golden hamlet was first described in 1852 by zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) as Plectropoma gummigutta before being given its accepted name: Hypoplectrus gummigutta. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean and occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Genetic monitoring is the use of molecular markers to (i) identify individuals, species or populations, or (ii) to quantify changes in population genetic metrics over time. Genetic monitoring can thus be used to detect changes in species abundance and/or diversity, and has become an important tool in both conservation and livestock management. The types of molecular markers used to monitor populations are most commonly mitochondrial, microsatellites or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), while earlier studies also used allozyme data. Species gene diversity is also recognized as an important biodiversity metric for implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Avise</span> American evolutionary geneticist, conservationist, ecologist & natural historian (born 1948)

John Charles Avise is an American evolutionary geneticist, conservationist, ecologist and natural historian. He is a Distinguished Professor of Ecology & Evolution, University of California, Irvine, and was previously a Distinguished Professor of Genetics at the University of Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DNA barcoding</span> Method of species identification using a short section of DNA

DNA barcoding is a method of species identification using a short section of DNA from a specific gene or genes. The premise of DNA barcoding is that by comparison with a reference library of such DNA sections, an individual sequence can be used to uniquely identify an organism to species, just as a supermarket scanner uses the familiar black stripes of the UPC barcode to identify an item in its stock against its reference database. These "barcodes" are sometimes used in an effort to identify unknown species or parts of an organism, simply to catalog as many taxa as possible, or to compare with traditional taxonomy in an effort to determine species boundaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental DNA</span> DNA sampled from the environment rather than directly from an individual organism

Environmental DNA or eDNA is DNA that is collected from a variety of environmental samples such as soil, seawater, snow or air, rather than directly sampled from an individual organism. As various organisms interact with the environment, DNA is expelled and accumulates in their surroundings from various sources. Such eDNA can be sequenced by environmental omics to reveal facts about the species that are present in an ecosystem — even microscopic ones not otherwise apparent or detectable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollen DNA barcoding</span> Process of identifying pollen donor plant species

Pollen DNA barcoding is the process of identifying pollen donor plant species through the amplification and sequencing of specific, conserved regions of plant DNA. Being able to accurately identify pollen has a wide range of applications though it has been difficult in the past due to the limitations of microscopic identification of pollen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landscape genetics</span> Combination of population genetics and landscape ecology

Landscape genetics is the scientific discipline that combines population genetics and landscape ecology. It broadly encompasses any study that analyses plant or animal population genetic data in conjunction with data on the landscape features and matrix quality where the sampled population lives. This allows for the analysis of microevolutionary processes affecting the species in light of landscape spatial patterns, providing a more realistic view of how populations interact with their environments. Landscape genetics attempts to determine which landscape features are barriers to dispersal and gene flow, how human-induced landscape changes affect the evolution of populations, the source-sink dynamics of a given population, and how diseases or invasive species spread across landscapes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquatic macroinvertebrate DNA barcoding</span>

DNA barcoding is an alternative method to the traditional morphological taxonomic classification, and has frequently been used to identify species of aquatic macroinvertebrates. Many are crucial indicator organisms in the bioassessment of freshwater and marine ecosystems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fish DNA barcoding</span>

DNA barcoding methods for fish are used to identify groups of fish based on DNA sequences within selected regions of a genome. These methods can be used to study fish, as genetic material, in the form of environmental DNA (eDNA) or cells, is freely diffused in the water. This allows researchers to identify which species are present in a body of water by collecting a water sample, extracting DNA from the sample and isolating DNA sequences that are specific for the species of interest. Barcoding methods can also be used for biomonitoring and food safety validation, animal diet assessment, assessment of food webs and species distribution, and for detection of invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DNA barcoding in diet assessment</span>

DNA barcoding in diet assessment is the use of DNA barcoding to analyse the diet of organisms. and further detect and describe their trophic interactions. This approach is based on the identification of consumed species by characterization of DNA present in dietary samples, e.g. individual food remains, regurgitates, gut and fecal samples, homogenized body of the host organism, target of the diet study.

Invasion genetics is the area of study within biology that examines evolutionary processes in the context of biological invasions. Invasion genetics considers how genetic and demographic factors affect the success of a species introduced outside of its native range, and how the mechanisms of evolution, such as natural selection, mutation, and genetic drift, operate in these populations. Researchers exploring these questions draw upon theory and approaches from a range of biological disciplines, including population genetics, evolutionary ecology, population biology, and phylogeography.

Libby Liggins is an evolutionary ecologist and a Senior Lecturer in the School of Natural and Computational Science at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand, as well as a research associate at Auckland Museum. Her research uses genetic and genomic data to explore the biogeography, population ecology, and biodiversity of marine organisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metabarcoding</span> Genetic technique for identifying organisms in mixed samples

Metabarcoding is the barcoding of DNA/RNA in a manner that allows for the simultaneous identification of many taxa within the same sample. The main difference between barcoding and metabarcoding is that metabarcoding does not focus on one specific organism, but instead aims to determine species composition within a sample.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Bucklin</span> Marine scientist

Ann Bucklin is Professor Emeritus of Marine Sciences at the University of Connecticut known for her work using molecular tools to study zooplankton. Bucklin was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1995.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Stepien CV" (PDF). NOAA PMEL. 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ Stepien, Carol Ann (1985). Life history, ecology, and regulation of the colormorphic patterns of the giant kelpfish, 'Heterostichus rostratus' Girard (family Clinidae) (Thesis). OCLC   51466594.
  3. ↑ "Richard H. Rosenblatt and Carol A. Stepien, in Fish Collection lab, October 1989". library.ucsd.edu. 1989. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  4. ↑ "Marine Ecology Tree - Richard H. Rosenblatt Family Tree". academictree.org. Archived from the original on 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  5. ↑ "Evolution Tree - David M. Hillis". academictree.org. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ecologist elected Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science | UToledo News". 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  7. ↑ "PMEL Welcomes Dr. Carol Stepien as new Research Division Leader!". NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  8. 1 2 "ORCID". orcid.org. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
  9. ↑ Stepien, Carol A.; Rosenblatt, Richard H. (1996). "Genetic Divergence in Antitropical Pelagic Marine Fishes (Trachurus, Merluccius, and Scomber) between North and South America". Copeia. 1996 (3): 586–598. doi:10.2307/1447522. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   1447522.
  10. ↑ Stepien, Carol A.; Faber, Joseph E. (1998). "Population genetic structure, phylogeography and spawning philopatry in walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) from mitochondrial DNA control region sequences". Molecular Ecology. 7 (12): 1757–1769. doi:10.1046/j.1365-294x.1998.00512.x. ISSN   1365-294X. PMID   9859203. S2CID   25376633.
  11. ↑ Stepien, Carol A; Hubers, Allyson N; Skidmore, Jennifer L (1999-10-01). "Diagnostic Genetic Markers and Evolutionary Relationships among Invasive Dreissenoid and Corbiculoid Bivalves in North America: Phylogenetic Signal from Mitochondrial 16S rDNA". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 13 (1): 31–49. doi:10.1006/mpev.1999.0666. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   10508537.
  12. ↑ Stepien, Carol A; Dillon, Alison K; Patterson, Amy K (2000-08-01). "Population genetics, phylogeography, and systematics of the thornyhead rockfishes (Sebastolobus) along the deep continental slopes of the North Pacific Ocean". Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 57 (8): 1701–1717. doi:10.1139/f00-095. ISSN   0706-652X.
  13. ↑ Stepien, C. A.; Taylor, C. D.; Dabrowska, K. A. (2002). "Genetic variability and phylogeographical patterns of a nonindigenous species invasion: a comparison of exotic vs. native zebra and quagga mussel populations". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 15 (2): 314–328. doi: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00385.x . ISSN   1420-9101. S2CID   59062892.
  14. ↑ Stepien, Carol A.; Tumeo, Mark A. (2006). "Invasion Genetics of Ponto-Caspian Gobies in the Great Lakes: A 'Cryptic' Species, Absence of Founder Effects, and Comparative Risk Analysis". Biological Invasions. 8 (1): 61–78. doi:10.1007/s10530-005-0237-x. ISSN   1387-3547. S2CID   24114412.
  15. ↑ Stepien, Carol A.; Brown, Joshua E.; Neilson, Matthew E.; Tumeo, Mark A. (2005). "Genetic Diversity of Invasive Species in the Great Lakes Versus Their Eurasian Source Populations: Insights for Risk Analysis". Risk Analysis. 25 (4): 1043–1060. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2005.00655.x. ISSN   0272-4332. PMID   16268948. S2CID   16302137.
  16. ↑ Pierce, Lindsey R.; Stepien, Carol A. (2012-05-01). "Evolution and biogeography of an emerging quasispecies: Diversity patterns of the fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 63 (2): 327–341. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.12.024. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   22266219. S2CID   8729155.
  17. ↑ Pierce, Lindsey R.; Willey, James C.; Crawford, Erin L.; Palsule, Vrushalee V.; Leaman, Douglas W.; Faisal, Mohamed; Kim, Robert K.; Shepherd, Brian S.; Stanoszek, Lauren M.; Stepien, Carol A. (2013-04-01). "A new StaRT-PCR approach to detect and quantify fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv): Enhanced quality control with internal standards". Journal of Virological Methods. 189 (1): 129–142. doi:10.1016/j.jviromet.2013.01.006. ISSN   0166-0934. PMID   23375747. S2CID   26341389.
  18. ↑ Klymus, Katy E.; Marshall, Nathaniel T.; Stepien, Carol A. (2017-05-18). "Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding assays to detect invasive invertebrate species in the Great Lakes". PLOS ONE. 12 (5): e0177643. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1277643K. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177643 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5436814 . PMID   28542313.
  19. ↑ Stepien, Carol A.; Snyder, Matthew R.; Elz, Anna E. (2019-03-27). "Invasion genetics of the silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix across North America: Differentiation of fronts, introgression, and eDNA metabarcode detection". PLOS ONE. 14 (3): e0203012. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1403012S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203012 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   6436794 . PMID   30917127.
  20. ↑ "PMEL's Dr. Carol Stepien is honored as an AAAS 2016 Fellow". NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.