Dr. Paul Brunkow
Associate Professor
Ph.D. Arizona State University, 1996
Office: SW 1220
Research Lab: SW 0215
Phone: (618) 650-2976
E-mail: pbrunkosiue.edu
Web: http://www.siue.edu/~pbrunko/
Courses Taught: Introductory Biology II (BIOL 151), Evolution (BIOL 327), Living Ecologically (IS 363), Biostatistics (BIOL 417), Terrestrial cosystems (BIOL 466), Animal Behavior (BIOL 480), Ichthyology-Biology of Fishes (BIOL 485).
Research Interests: My research program currently focuses on aquatic ecology and evolutionary ecology. We are analyzing the effects of shell size, shape, and presence of epibiont communities on snail drag and lift, and the effect of parasitic trematode infection on aspects of snail biology. We are also studying functional morphology in freshwater fish species especially as related to the River Continuum Concept. Further research explores functional morphology and behavior in freshwater amphipods, and the influence of an invasive non-native plant species in communities of wolfspiders. My flexibility allows students to pursue many different aspects of undergraduate and Master’s thesis projects at their own pace, and I am always looking for self-motivated students to complement research activities in the lab.
Research Opportunities: Undergraduates can participate in laboratory- and/or field-oriented studies related to any of the above topics for one or two semesters and/or over the summer, and will work with me and graduate students working in the lab. Graduate students will develop their own projects in line with ongoing research interests, which typically include both field and laboratory components. All students are encouraged to develop their research to the point of presenting their project as part of Senior Assignment or at regional or national scientific meetings.
Selected Publications
Agustin, M.Z., M. Agustin, P. Brunkow, and S. Thomas. 2012. Developing Quantitative Reasoning: Will Taking Traditional Math Courses Suffice? An Empirical Study. Journal of General Education 61: 305-313.
Alldredge, P, M. Gutierrez, D. Duvernell, J. Schaefer, P. Brunkow, and W. Matamoros. 2011. Variability in movement dynamics of topminnow (Fundulus notatus and F. olivaceus) populations. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 20 (4): 513-521.
Huff, DJ, J. Harris, P. Brunkow, KA Johnson, ZQ Lin, and J Schaefer. 2010. Accumulation and distribution of arsenic in pond snails and fish with different feeding strategies. In: Jena, JS, J. Bundschuh, P. Bhattacharya. Arsenic in the Geosphere and Human Diseases. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. pp. 204-205.
Tryfonas, A. E., J.K. Tucker, P.E. Brunkow, K.A. Johnson, H.S. Hussein, and Z.-Q. Lin. 2006. Metal accumulation in eggs of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the Lower Illinois River. Chemosphere 63:39 - 48.
Brunkow, P.E., and T.A. Cochran. 2005. Evolution of honest signaling. In: CD_ROM Laboratory Exercise Supplement to Alcock, J. Animal Behavior. 8th Edition. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.
Brunkow, P. E., J. L. Badasch, and P. A. Herman. 2000. Effects of flooding on salamanders in the Horseshoe Lake State Conservation Area. Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference of the Illinois Groundwater Consortium. pp. 111 - 124.
Sowka, P. A., and P. E. Brunkow. 1999. Cage culturing the endangered bonytail. North American Journal of Aquaculture 61: 326 - 330.
Brunkow, P. E. 1999. Effects of the 1993 flood on salamanders in southern Illinois. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Conference of the Illinois Groundwater Consortium. April 1, 1999. Carbondale, Illinois. pp. 126 - 134.
Brunkow, P.E., and J.P. Collins. 1998. Group size structure affects patterns of aggression in larval salamanders. Behavioral Ecology 9: 508-514.
Brunkow, P.E., and J.P. Collins. 1996. Effects of individual variability in size on growth and development of larval tiger salamanders. Ecology 77: 1483-1492.
