b3loadinggel.jpg (15347 bytes)

Bonnie L. Brown
assocprof.gif (1445 bytes)bioname2.gif (3582 bytes)
VCU Ecological Genetics Laboratory

    oytrays2.jpg (159150 bytes)

bioname.gif (8516 bytes)                     HandSlogo.gif (2591 bytes)

This page is best viewed with the display set to 800 x 600 pixels

Mailing Address:
Department of Biology
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842012
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2012 USA                      
Voice: 804-828-1562 
Fax: 801-858-9492 
e-mail: BLBROWN@vcu.edu
Physical Location:
Ecological Genetics Laboratory
Rooms 327-329
Life Sciences Building
1000 West Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia 23284-2012

Research interests: conservation, ecological, and aquaculture genetics; vertebrate and invertebrate strain evaluation for aquaculture

Oyster Nutrient Trading : We are working with VaTech to quantitatively determine the basis for calculating nutrient assimilation credits associated with commercial scale oyster cultivation. Major collaborators on this project include: SK Stephenson, D Bosch, L Shabman

Conservation genetics: The primary goal of these studies is to document the dynamic genetic processes that characterize populations of managed species and to employ this knowledge in resource enhancement. Recent projects have examined molecular indicators of genetic variation to discern anthropogenic impacts on populations of the endangered blackbanded sunfish (Eneacanthus chaetodon), supplemented populations of American shad (Alosa sapidissima), and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Other studies have documented genetic variation in mammal populations (northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus, and red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi).  Major collaborators on these projects include: RJ Dyer, JM Epifanio, TP Gunter, JM Pagels, P Smouse, Y Saad, D Schwab

Aquaculture genetics: The primary goal of these studies is to promote domestication of aquaculture species (intensify selection without unintentional inbreeding) and appropriate supplementation (maintain high levels of genetic variation). Recent projects have evaluated efficiency of propagation-assisted restoration of American shad (Alosa sapidissima), gene mapping and QTL identification in eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), and gene mapping and QTL identification in yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Major collaborators on these projects include: JM Epifanio, TP Gunter, HP Wang, J Waters

Ecological genetics: Other ecological and evolutionary studies involve use of molecular genetic characters to discern macro- and microevolutionary processes (American shad and other clupeids), to investigate speciation in parasitoids (wasp, Cotesia congregata), and to detect and quantify parasites and disease causing organisms in heterogenous environmental backgrounds (Kudoa and parasitic amoebae on fishes, Dermo and MSX in oysters, Bacillus in soils, and influenza from environmental isolates). Major collaborators on these projects include: JM Epifanio, GC Garman, TP Gunter,J Jackman, C Keeler, KM Kester, W Watson,

Aquaculture: Performance evaluation of fishes and pre-domestic strains of oysters in local environments has been a focus since 1992. Major collaborators on these project include: AJ Butt, D Meritt, S Newton, KT Paynter

Services to the industry and government: The EGL provides a number of services including genetic mixed stock analysis for estimating harvest composition, genetic biodiversity asssessment, and ploidy analysis by flow cytometry for adult and larval fish and shellfish (grass carp, black carp, striped bass and oysters).

Yellow Perch microsatellite genotypes

Detecting Influenza in the environment

bluribn.jpg (285276 bytes)
Blue Ribbon aquacultured oysters

   

Courses: Environmental Science
BIOL 103
(u/grad non-science majors)
Biotechniques Laboratory
BIOL 300
(DNA Sequencing lab)
Genetics Laboratory
BIOZ 310
(u/grad Biology majors)
Conservation Biology
BIOL 510
(senior u/grad and graduate)
Ecological Genetics
BIOL 550
(senior u/grad and graduate)
Conservation Genetics
BIOL 650
(graduate)
Conservation Applications
BIOL 610
(graduate)

Vita:

Education 

Old Dominion University 1989 Ph.D. Biological Oceanography
University of Alabama in Birmingham 1981 B.S. Biology

Professional Positions 

Virginia Commonwealth University 2008-present Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University 1997-2008 Associate Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University 1991-1997, 1997-present Assistant Professor
East Carolina University 1990-1991 Adjunct Assistant Professor and Research Scientist
Chesapeake Bay Institute 1987-1991 Assistant Research Scientist
Old Dominion University 1986-1988 Associate Investigator

Professional Affiliations  
NOAA/NMFS Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee, 1996-2004
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Vice-Chair 1993-1994, Commissioner 1990-1994
World Aquaculture Society, Vice-President 1999-2000, Treasurer 1997-1999, Secretary/Treasurer of the
                                          US Chapter 1994-1996, Editor of the US Chapter Newsletter 1995- present

Virginia Aquaculture Advisory Board, 1992-1994
American Fisheries Society - Genetics Section, Fish Culture Section, Tidewater Section, Water Quality Section

Virginia Fish Farmers' Association, Secretary / Treasurer 1990-1996
National Shellfisheries Association
Society for the Study of Evolution
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
International Association for Genetics in Aquaculture
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Selected Recent Publications    
Shrinivas K, KM Kester, ADSS Mitchell, PAW Martin, & BL Brown. 2008. Molecular markers to determine ecological fate of
       Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. Molecular Ecology Resources. (in press).

Toothman MH, KM Kester, J Champagne, T Dawson Cruz, WS Street IV, & BL Brown. 2008. Characterization of human
       DNA in environmental samples. Forensic Science International. 178(1): 7-15.

Brown BL, Li L, Givens CB, Wang HP, Wallat GK, & Tiu LG. 2007. Genetic evaluation of six yellow perch broodstock groups.
       Aquaculture: 271: 142-151.

Li L, Wang HP, Givens CB, Czesny S, & Brown BL. 2007. Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in yellow perch
       (Perca flavescens). Molecular Ecology Notes: 7: 600-603.

Brown BL, Butt AJ, Shelton SW, Meritt D, & Paynter KT. 2005. Resistance of Dermo in eastern oysters, Crassostrea
       virginica (Gmellin), of North Carolina but not Chesapeake Bay heritage. Aquaculture Research 36: 1391-1399.

Brown BL, Butt AJ, Meritt D, & Paynter KT. 2005. Evaluation of resistance to Dermo in eastern oyster strains tested in
       Chesapeake Bay . Aquaculture Research 36: 1544-1554.

Webb SR, Garman GC, McIninch SP, Nerad TA, Peglar MT, Gillevet PM, & Brown BL. 2005. Etiology of ulcerative lesions of
       Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) from James Rier, Virginia .  Parasitology Research 97: 358-366.

Rudd ML, Nicolas AN, Brown BL, Fischer-Stenger K, & Stewart JK. 2005. Peritoneal macrophages express the serotonin
       transporter. Journal of Neuroimmunology. 159: 113-118.

Kester, KM, Brown BL, Jackman J, Theodore M, Le H & Shanholtz L. 2004. Methods and molecular tools for analysis of
       BW agents delivered by insect sentinels. Proceedings of the 2003 Joint Service s Scientific Conference on Chemical
       and Biological Defense Research.

Busch W-D N, Brown BL & Mayer GF. (Eds) 2003. Strategic guidance for implementing an ecosystem-based approach
       to fisheries management.  United States Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NMFS,
       Silver Spring , MD   62pp.

Brown BL & Epifanio JM. 2003. Nuclear DNA. Chapter 6 in Genetic Principles and Practices for Fisheries Scientists.
       pp. 101-123, E.M. Hallerman editor. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda , Maryland .

Hallerman EM, Brown B & Epifanio J. 2003. Introduction to Fisheries Genetics Principles. Chapter 1 in Genetic Principles
       and Practices for Fisheries Scientists. pp. 3-20 E.M. Hallerman editor. American Fisheries Society. Bethesda , Maryland .

Ettinger MR, Webb SR, Harris SA, McIninch SP, Garman GC, & Brown BL. 2003. Distribution of free-living amoebae
       in James River, Virginia, USA. Parasitology Research 89: 6-15.

Jensen MK, Kester KM, Kankare M & Brown BL. 2002. Characterization of microsatellite loci in the parasitoid, Cotesia
       congregata (Say) [Hymenoptera]. Molecular Ecology Notes 346-348.

Webb SR, Garman GC, McIninch SP & Brown BL. 2002. Amoebae associated with ulcerative lesions of fish from tidal
       freshwater of the James River, Virginia. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 14: 68-76.

Anderson J, Webb S, Fischer R, Kester K, & Brown B. 2001. Baseline and in vivo photoluminescence of endospore material
       using the parasitoid wasp C. congregata. Applied Spectroscopy, 55: 684-689.

Schultz SLW, Steinkoenig EL & Brown BL. 2001. Ploidy of feral grass carp in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. N. Amer.
       Jouranl of Fish Management 96-101.

Couch CR, Waters JM, Pagels JF & Brown BL. 2001. Genetic structuring of relict populations of the red-backed vole
       (Clethrionomys gapperi). J. Mammal. 82: 152-164.

Brown BL, Franklin DE, Gaffney P, Hong M, DenDanto D & Kornfield I. 2000. Characterization of microsatellite loci useful
       in ecological and aquaculture genetics of oysters. Molecular Ecology 9: 2217-2219.

Brown BL, Schultz SLW, & White FKH. 2000. A convenient field method of tissue preservation for flow cytometric ploidy assessment
       of grass carp. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 129: 1354-1359.

Butt AJ & Brown BL. 2000. The cost of nutrient reduction: a case study of Chesapeake Bay. Coastal Management. 28: 175-185.

Day JM, Franklin DE & Brown BL. 2000. Use of competitive PCR to detect and quantifyHaplosporidium nelsoni infection
       (MSX disease) in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Molec. Mar. Biol. 2: 456-465.

Waters J, Epifanio J, Gunter T & Brown B. 2000. Homing behaviour facilitates subtle population differentiation among river
       populations of Alosa sapidissima: microsatellites and mtDNA. J. Fish Biol. 56: 622-636.

Brown B, Gunter T, Waters J, & Epifanio J. 2000. Evaluating genetic diversity associated with propagation-assisted restoration
       of American shad. Conservation Biology 14: 294-303.

Niculescu VA, Chinnici JP & Brown BL. 2000. Attitudes in physics education: an alternative approach to teaching physics
       to non-science college students. J. Math Sci. Collab. Explor. 3: 119-129.


Disclaimer required by the University:
    "This page does not reflect an official position of Virginia Commonwealth University."

This page was last updated on   09 July 08