PhD Students -- Maria Wise
DUML
Lab 2, rm. 10
135 Duke Marine Lab Rd
Beaufort, NC 28516
252-504-7569
Fax: 252-504-7648
Research Interests:
- phenotypic variability in marine organisms, esp. in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus
- physiological ecology, esp. in relation to color patterns and their functions
- the role of genetic versus environmental factors influencing phenotype
- species versus subspecies
Education:
- B.S. Biology, Florida State University, 2000
- M.A. Russian, University of Iowa, 1991
- B.A. Russian, University of Iowa, 1988
Bio: This is a second career for me. After I spent several years working in Russia I decided that I really wanted to live somewhere warm and sunny, preferably near a beautiful, azure sea. So I chose Beaufort NC.
I'm currently a PhD student in Dan Rittschof's lab. I'm interested in the color variation of the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus and what this means in terms of its subspecies designation. We currently do not know what factors determine adult color patterns and whether the different colors have any functional importance. Hopefully, by the end of my graduate experience I will know what the structural difference is between purple, red, green and white spines and why we see these colors in certain places.
Hobbies: I like to garden (a recent pastime), snorkel, play with my cats Poonies, Cassie and Alba, and generally enjoy life.