WENDY L. RYAN
Professor
Department of Biology
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA 19530

  Education     Experience     Affiliations     Professional Study     Research Interests  
  Publications     Abstracts     Grants     Co-Authored Grants  

Education:

Ph.D. - Marine Biology

Dissertation title: An Analysis of the Role of Hydrophobic Surfaces and Crevices in Bubble Formation at Low Gas Supersaturation . Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 1991.

M.S. - Marine Biology

Thesis title: Gas Supersaturation Thresholds for Bubble Formation in and Damage to Sea Urchin Eggs and Embryos . Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 1988.

B.S. - Biology with High Honors

Michigan State University, 1984.

 

Professional Experience:

2001-present:  Professor.  Kutztown University.

BIO 011.  Biological Science laboratory.

BIO 105.  Principles of Biology laboratory.

BIO 106/107 Zoology. Lecture and laboratory.

BIO 130.  Environmental Issues: Global Perspectives

BIO/MAR 226/227 Marine Biology.  Lecture and laboratory.

BIO/MAR 320/321 Physiological Ecology of Animals.  Lecture and laboratory.

BIO/MAR 340/341 Marine Mammals.  Field course offered at the Wallops Island Marine Station (Wallops Island, VA).

BIO 370 Research in Biology.

ENV 100/101 Introduction to Environmental Science.  Lecture and laboratory.

MAR/GEL 110/111 Introduction to Oceanography.  Lecture and laboratory.

MAR 370 Independent Research in Marine Science.

MAR 390 Internship in Marine Science.

 

1997-2001:  Associate Professor.  Kutztown University.

 

1992-1997:  Assistant Professor.  Kutztown University.

 

1990-1992:  Visiting Assistant Professor and Instructor.  University of San Diego.

Professional Affiliations:

National Association of Biology Teachers
Pennsylvania Academy of Science
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
Sigma Xi
Phi Kappa Phi

 

Professional Study:

2000

Research Link 2000 Institute sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research.
Grantsmanship Workshop sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research.
Digital Imaging Analysis Workshop.
Tropical Marine Ecology Workshop.

1996-2000

National Assembly for Faculty for the 21st Century.

1997

SSHE Summer Academy for the Advancement of College Teaching.
Project Kaleidoscope Workshop on The Research-rich Environment.
The Faculty 21 Summer Leadership Institute sponsored by Project Kaleidoscope.

1995

Faculty Workshop at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (Ft. Pierce, FL).

 

Research Interests:

My research interests include the mechanisms of gas bubble formation as they relate to decompression sickness. I have worked with both in vitro and in vivo systems in an attempt to clarify our understanding of this process. Most recently I have used fish embryos and newly hatched fry to study the bubble formation in vertebrates, as it might involve the presence or function of specific organ systems or structures. Fish also suffer from a gas bubble-related condition, gas bubble trauma, and are thought to be particularly sensitive to gas supersaturation. This may make it easier to study the conditions and system(s) responsible for gas bubble formation in these organisms.

I have recently initiated a new project examining the feeding strategies and energy budget of the sea anenome Aiptasia. So far preliminary results on both size-based prey selection and the productivity of the algal symbionts have proven to be very interesting.

As the former principle investigator for the Coastal Dolphin Research Project sponsored by the Marine Science Consortium, Wallops Island, VA, I am interested in the population status and habitat use of the migratory stock of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) along the upper latitudes of its range in the nearshore waters off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.

 

Publications:

Professional Publications:

Ryan, Wendy L. and Lisa M. Litzenberger.  In revision.  Gas supersaturation tolerance of dechorionated embryos of the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes).  J. Exp. Zool.

Ryan, Wendy L. and Edvard A. Hemmingsen.  1998.  Bubble formation at porous hydrophobic surfaces.  J. Colloid and Interface Sci. 197(1):101-107

Ryan, W. L. and E. A. Hemmingsen.  1993.  Bubble formation in water at smooth hydrophobic surfaces.  J. Colloid Interface Sci.  157:312-317

Ryan, Wendy L. and Edvard A. Hemmingsen.  1988.  Gas supersaturation thresholds for bubble formation in and damage to sea urchin embryos.  Bio. Bull.  74:83-89.

Educational Publications:

Sacchi, Chris, Zayaitz, Anne, Ryan, Wendy, Towne, William, and Mapes, Carol.  Integrating Digital Imaging Technology in the Undergraduate Biology Curriculum.  Syllabus 15(11):30-31.

Ryan, Wendy L.  2002.  Test Bank to accompany Biology, 6/e by E. Solomon, L. Berg, and D. Martin.  Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Fort Worth, TX.  512 pp.

Ryan, Wendy L.  2000.  Instructor's Manual and Test Bank to accompany Environment, Third Edition, by P. Raven and L. Berg.  Harcourt Brace College Publishers, Fort Worth, TX.  243 pp.

Ryan, W. L.  2000.  Marine Biology Lab Manual.  Charming Forge Publishers, Robesonia, PA.

Ryan, Wendy L.  1996.  Osmosis and Experimental Design.  In: A Non-traditional Physiology Laboratory Manual, D. U. Silverthorn, B. Johnson and A. C. Mills, eds.  Prentice-Hall.

Ryan, Wendy L.  1996.  Mammalian Dive Reflex - An Investigation.  In: A Non-traditional Physiology Laboratory Manual, D. U. Silverthorn, B. Johnson and A. C. Mills, eds.  Prentice-Hall.

Rowell, B. F. and W. L. Ryan.  1996.  Methods in Introductory Oceanography.  Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque, IA.  172 pp. 

Rowell, B. F. and W. L. Ryan.  1996.  Instructor's Manual for Methods in Introductory Oceanography.  Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque, IA.  113 pp.

Textbook Reviews:

2002:  Reviewed supplements and two chapters for a new non-majors textbook, Biology and Society: An Issues Approach by Virginia Borden and Colleen Belk. Prentice-Hall Publisher.

2000:  Attended a focus group meeting at the invitation of McGraw-Hill to discuss the future direction for their line of zoology texts by Hickman, et al., namely "Integrated Principles of Zoology, 11/e", "Biology of Animals, 7/e", and "Animal Diversity, 2/e."

1998:  Reviewed one section (five chapters) of Environment 2e by Raven, Berg, and Johnson in preparation for a third edition.

1998:  Reviewed a concept proposal for a new text for Comparative Animal Physiology.

1997:  Reviewed the manuscript for a new text, Introduction to Marine Biology by Karleskint.

1996:  Reviewed The Corporate Environmental Leader by Twyla Dell for potential use as a supplement for Environmental Science courses.

1996:  Reviewed Environmental Science: A Global Concern by Cunningham and Saigo.

1995:  Reviewed the Fourth Edition of Introduction to the World's Oceans by Duxbury and Duxbury to provide some insights for the preparation of the Fifth Edition of this text.

1995:  Reviewed one section of Biology, Fourth Edition, a textbook for biology majors by Raven and Johnson.

1993:   Reviewed one chapter of Essentials of Oceanography by Tom Garrison as it was in development for the First Edition.  Later, I reviewed the remaining thirteen chapters of the text at the request of both the publisher and the author.

1993:  Assisted in editing The Marine Science Consortium Pre-College Program Fieldbook.  Completed October, 1993.

 

Abstracts of Meeting Presentations:

National Meetings

Ryan, Wendy L.  2002.

Experimental Design in the Teaching Lab: Prey Density and Feeding Stimuli in the Sea Anemone Aiptasia.  American Zoologist. 

Ryan, Wendy L.*, Scatchard, Kimberly, and Brady, Beth.  2001.

Preliminary Findings from a Study of Gas Bubble Disease in Embryos and Fry of the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes).  American Zoologist. 

Dohanich*, Jonathan, Ryan, Wendy L. and Beeching, Simon.  2000.

Abundance and Distribution of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Coastal Waters of Wallops and Assateague Islands, VA.  Eighth Annual Atlantic Coast Dolphin Conference, UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington, NC.  March 24-26.

Jones, Russell*, Ryan, Wendy L., Schofield, T. David, and Carucci, Nicole. 1999.

Preliminary Results of an Ethological Study of Migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.  Seventh Annual Atlantic Coast Dolphin Conference, Virginia Marine Science Museum, Virginia Beach, VA  March 19-21.

Ryan, Wendy L. and Schofield, T. David. 1999.

Preliminary Insights into Density and Growth Potential of Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Observed off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.  Seventh Annual Atlantic Coast Dolphin Conference, Virginia Marine Science Museum, Virginia Beach, VA  March 19-21.

Urian, K.*, Barco, S., Bowles, N., Caldwell, M., Gubbins, C., Hansen, L., Hohn, A., Mallon-Day, R., Murphy, T., Read, A., Rittmaster, K., Rountree, G., Ryan, Wendy, Sayigh, L., Schofield, D., Thayer, V., and Zolman, E. 1999.

The Matchmakers:  The Mid-Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin Photo-ID Catalog -- Contributors and Their Matches.  Seventh Annual Atlantic Coast Dolphin Conference, Virginia Marine Science Museum, Virginia Beach, VA  March 19-21.

Regional Meetings

Brady, Beth*, and Ryan, Wendy L.  2001. 

Chronic Gas Supersaturation Tolerance of Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes)  Embryos and Fry.  77th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Monroeville, PA, March 30-April 1, 2001.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 74 (Abstract and Index Issue):121-122.

Longo, Lorraine*, and Ryan, Wendy L.  2001. 

Site Fidelity and Reoccurrence of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Wallops Island Vicinity.  77th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Monroeville, PA, March 30-April 1, 2001.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 74 (Abstract and Index Issue):137-138.

Williams, Heidi*, Ryan, Wendy L. and Schofield, T. David.  2001.

Estimated Abundance of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Off Wallops Island, VA.  77th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Monroeville, PA, March 30-April 1, 2001.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 74 (Abstract and Index Issue):153.

Ryan, Wendy L., Sacchi, Christopher, and Smiley, Elizabeth.  2000. 

Innovations in Introductory Biology Labs at Kutztown University.  Poster presentation at Hood College, Frederick, MD as part of the Research Link 2000 Institute.  October 28, 2000.

Dohanich*, Jonathan, Ryan, Wendy L. and Beeching, Simon. 2000.

Local Abundance and Distribution of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Coastal Waters of Wallops Island, Virginia. 76th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Wyomissing, PA, April 14-16, 2000. J. PA Acad. Sci. 73 (suppl.): 155-156.

Heaton, Carrie*, Beeching, Simon and Ryan, Wendy L. 2000.

Activities of Migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Assateague and Wallops Island, VA. 76th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Wyomissing, PA, April 14-16, 2000. J. PA Acad. Sci. In press.

Henning, Marcy*, Beeching, Simon and Ryan, Wendy L. 2000.

Ethology of the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Population off Wallops Island, Virginia. 76th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Wyomissing, PA, April 14-16, 2000. J. PA Acad. Sci. In press.

Moyer, Ryan P.*, Ryan, Wendy L., and Schofield, T. David. 1999.

Photo-Identification and Seasonal Migrations of Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Nearshore Waters off Wallops Islands, VA.  Annual Meeting of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, April 15-18.

Carucci, Nicole*, Ryan, Wendy L., Schofield, T. David, and Jones, Russell. 1999.

Population Survey of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.  75th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Pocono Manor, PA, April 9-11.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 72(suppl.):155.

Jones, Russell*, Ryan, Wendy L., Schofield, T. David, and Carucci, Nicole. 1999.

Preliminary Results of an Ethological Study of Migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.  75th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Pocono Manor, PA, April 9-11.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 72(suppl.):166.

Ryan, Wendy L. and Schofield, T. David. 1999.

The Role of Photo-Identification in the Study of Migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) off Assateague and Wallops Islands, VA.  75th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.  Pocono Manor, PA, April 9-11.  J. PA Acad. Sci. 72(suppl.):179.

IndividualGrants Awarded:

1999

(PA) State System of Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Grant.  Proposal Title: Survey of Coastal Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Off Wallops and Assateague Islands, VA.

1998

Kutztown University Faculty Research Grant. Proposal Title: Photomicrographo of gas bubble development in fish embryos and newly hatched fry.

1996

Kutztown University Faculty Research Grant. Proposal Title: Further investigation of gas bubble formation in sea urchin larvae and fish embryos.

1996

(PA) State System of Higher Education Faculty Professional Development Grant, Joint Faculty/Student Research Category. Proposal Title: Tolerance of Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes, fish) Eggs and Embryos to Gas Bubble Formation

Co-authored Grants Awarded:

2001

Hahn, Ashleigh, Connie Fedak, Andrew Gannon, Dena Hartzell, Staci Kreitz, Asako Matsuo, Roberto Medina, Jennifer Nein, Timothy Peters, Elizabeth Powell, Kelly Rush, Matthew Ryan, and Wendy L. Ryan Ph.D.  Project Title: The Reaction to Physical and Chemical Stimuli as Seen in the Tropical Sea Anemone Aiptasia pallida.

2000

Brady, Beth and Wendy L. Ryan, Ph.D.  KU Undergraduate Research Fund grant proposal.  Project Title: Gas Bubble Trauma in Embryos and Fry of the Japanese Medaka.

1999

Williams, Heidi and Wendy L. Ryan, Ph.D.  KU Undergraduate Research Fund grant proposal.  Project Title:  Calculation of Population Abundance of Coastal Migratory Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Wallops Island, VA Area.

1999

Longo, Lorraine and Wendy L. Ryan, Ph.D.  Pennsylvania Academy of Science student grant proposal.  Project Title:  A Study of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Residency and Reoccurrence in the Wallops Island Vicinity.

1999

Sacchi, Christopher F. (PI), Ryan, Wendy L., Mapes, Carol C., Towne, William F., and Zayaitz, Anne E.  NSF-CCLI grant proposal.  Project Title:  Biology Lab Adaptation and Digital Imaging Technology Project.

Positions Held and Recognition:

2001-2004:      Chair of the Education Council for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (formerly the American Society of Zoologists).  This also brings with it the responsibility of sitting on the Executive Committee for SICB.

2000-present:  Appointed as one of two Kutztown University representatives to the Marine Science Consortium Board of Directors.  Elected to a two-year term as Corporate Secretary Fall 2000-Spring 2002.  The Corporate Secretary is a member of the Executive Committee for the MSC.

1999:       Member of the Education Task Force for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (formerly the American Society of Zoologists).

1998-2000:   Member of the Education Council for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (formerly the American Society of Zoologists).

1997-present:       Faculty Representative to the Board of Directors for Kutztown University Student Services, Inc. (KUSSI).  Second term appointment effective 9/00.

1997-98:     Member of the Regional Steering Committee for PKAL (eastern PA, NJ and southeastern NY).

1996:       Member of Project Kaleidoscope Faculty for the 21st Century, Class of 1996.

1991:       Best Student Paper in the Division of Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists.

1990:       Dissertation Fellowship.  Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.

1987:       First Place Student Paper in Biological Science, Pacific Division AAAS 68th Annual Meeting.

1985:       National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

1984:       Graduation with High Honors, Michigan State University