Morgan Vis
Professor
Ph.D., Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1995
Freshwater Algal Ecology and EvolutionPorter Hall 400
740 593 1134Other Websites
Faculty Research Focus Areas
Phylogenetic Systematics
Eastern Deciduous Forest Ecology
Courses
PBIO 103 (Plants and People)
PBIO 307/507 (Morphology of Algae and Bryophytes)
PBIO 313/693 (Algal Biology for Engineers)
PBIO 420/520 (Phycology)
Global Studies in Plant Biology
Departmental Service
Genomics Facility, Faculty Mentor
Research Program Summary
The two primary research foci of this laboratory are systematics/biogeography of freshwater red algae and impacts of acid mine drainage on stream periphyton communities in southeastern Ohio. In our studies of freshwater red algae, we employ a combination of field research and molecular DNA techniques for systematic and phylogeographic research. At present we are concentrating our efforts on multigene phylogenetic analyses to contribute to the Red Tree of Life through a grant from the National Science Foundation. Our studies of the effects of acid mine drainage (AMD) in streams is an effort to understand how the various chemical and physical impacts effect the algal community. We collaborate with other researchers at Ohio University who study impacts of AMD on other aquatic life and hydrogeology of these streams in order to contribute to a more complete understanding of this pollution on the ecosystem. These collaborations got their start as part of an EPA STAR grant. Lastly, we work with colleagues in mechanical engineering on a photobioreactor for CO2 remediation and mechanisms to make algae more useful for fuel applications.
Selected References
Smucker, N.J. & Vis, M.L. 2010. Using diatoms to assess human impacts on streams benefits from multiple habitat sampling. Hydrobiologia 654: 93-109.
Hollingsworth, E.K. & Vis, M.L. 2010. The spatial heterogeneity of diatoms in eight southeastern Ohio streams: how far does a single riffle reach? Hydrobiologia 651: 173-184.
Vis, M.L., Feng, J., Chiasson, W.B., Xie, S.-L., Stancheva, R., Entwisle, T.J., Chou, J.-Y. & Wang, W.-L. 2010. Investigation of the molecular and morphological variability in Batrachospermum arcuatum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) from geographically distant locations. Phycologia 49: 545-553.
House, D.L., VandenBroek, A.M. & Vis, M.L. 2010. Intraspecific genetic variation of Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) in eastern North America. Phycologia 49: 501-507.
Necchi, O. Jr., Vis, M.L. & Oliveira, M.C. 2010. Phylogenetic relationships in Kumanoa (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta) species in Brazil with the proposal of Kumanoa amazonensis sp. nov. Phycologia 49: 97-103.
Zalack, J.T., Smucker, N.J. & Vis, M.L. 2010. Development of a diatom index of biotic integrity for acid mine drainage impacted streams. Ecological Indicators 10: 287-295.
Current and Recent Student Research Projects
Systematics and revision of the genus Kumanoa
Phylogeography of Batrachospermum boryanum in North America
Systematics of Sirodotia from worldwide locations
Development of algal indices that are tailored to biomonitoring acid mine drainage pollution
Diatom community structure and function downstream of acid mine drainage mitigation
Optimization of microalgae systems for CO2 mitigation and biofuel production