Kari E. Benson
Associate
Professor
(434)544-8364
email: benson@lynchburg.edu
Education
Ph.D. Biology,
Signal use in Poeciliid fishes.
Supervisors: Dr. Alexandra L. Basolo and Dr. William E.
Wagner
M.S. Biology,
Feeding strategies of larval
fishes.
Supervisor: Dr. Gary L. Miller
B.S. Biology,
Research Interests
My research includes both field and laboratory investigations
of decision-making in a variety of organisms. I am particularly interested with
decisions relating to mating strategies.
I employ manipulative experiments to examine the importance of such
decisions and the direction and strength of preferences. My current focus is the adaptive value of the
gravidity spot in female Gambusia holbrooki,
the mosquitofish (Poeciliidae), the adaptive value of
reproductive indicators in female Dolomedes
sp., a group of congeneric fishing spiders (Pisauridae),
and male male competition in Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens).
Selected Grants
·
May 2000: Thomas K. and Kate Miller Jeffress Memorial Trust
The adaptive value of female
receptivity signals. Award: $11,807.00
·
March 1997: National Science Foundation, Doctoral
Dissertation Improvement Grant
Male-male competition and the evolution
of the sword. Award: $8,150.00
·
January 1997: Sigma Xi
Male-male competition and the
evolution of the sword. Award: $600.00
·
April 1994:
Is Predator Inspection a
Prisoner's Dilemma? Award: $1,855.00
·
August 1990: American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers
Association
Examination of optimal habitat
and foraging strategies of larval Crappie (Pomoxis spp.).
Award: $1,841.00
Selected Publications
Benson,
K. E. 2007.
Enhanced female brood patch size stimulates male courtship in Xiphophorus
helleri. Copeia 2007:212–217. pdf
Benson, K. E. and A. L. Basolo. 2006. The role of the
sword in male-male competition in the green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri. Animal Behaviour 71:121-134
pdf
Benson,
K. E. 2004. My brother’s keeper: A case
study in evolutionary biology and animal behavior. Journal of College Science Teaching. 34(2)40-45.
Stephens, D.W., J.P. Anderson, and K.E. Benson. 1997.
On the spurious occurrence of tit-for-tat in pairs of predator-approaching
fish. Animal Behaviour
53:113-131 pdf
Benson, K. E. and D. W. Stephens. 1996.
Interruptions, trade-offs, and temporal discounting. From the Symposium on Risk
Sensitivity, American Zoologist
36:506-517
Beachly, W.
M., D. W. Stephens, and K. B. Toyer (Benson). 1995.
On the economics of sit--and--wait foraging: site selection and assessment. Behavioral Ecology 6:258-268
Stephens,
D. W., K. Nishimura, and K. B. Toyer (Benson). 1995.
Error and discounting in the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma. The Journal of Theoretical Biology 176:457-469 pdf
Undergraduate Research Supervision
·
Latese Perdue (2007)
Do male Betta splendens recognize “dear enemies”?
·
Angela Eanes (2007)
Test male responsiveness to
female vs. male Gambusia holbrooki.
·
Tests of
male responsiveness to females dependent on reproductive status in fishing
spiders (Dolomedes scriptus).
·
Laura Cooper (2003)
Tests of male response to
female signals in fishing spiders (Dolomedes
vittatus).
·
Laura Cooper (2003)
Development of new methods
(making artificial models for manipulation) in Gambusia
holbrooki.
·
Sherrie Yancey (2002)
Tests of male response to the
gravidity spot and body shape in Gambusia holbrooki from College Lake, Lynchburg, VA.
·
Lindsay Kramer, (2001)
Tests of male response to
chemical signals of female reproductive status in Gambusia holbrooki, a within subjects design.
·
Tests of handedness in
primates, including a field test with howler monkeys and a zoo test with
gorillas.
·
Michelle DeLamarter,
(2000)
Tests
of male response to chemical signals of female receptivity in Gambusia holbrooki.
·
Michelle DeLamarter,
Robert Sentz, (2000)
Tests
of the cost of male harassment to females signaling receptivity.
·
Desirae Goff,
(1999)
Tests of male response to the
gravidity spot in Gambusia holbrooki, both male response to natural spots, and
male response to manipulated spots.
Selected Professional Development Conferences and
Courses
·
June 2002, Case Studies, State University of New
York,
·
June 1999, NSF - Chautauqua Conference, Promoting
Active Learning in Introductory Biology,
·
June 1999, Association of Biology Laboratory
Educators, Annual Conference, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
·
January 1999, Retention Seminar, Symposium on
Increasing Retention Rates,
Selected Professional Service and Other Activities
·
Certified in Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness
Medicine Institute, 2007-2009.
·
Reviewer, SUNY-Buffalo
Case Study Collection, 2003, 2005
·
Textbook Reviewer, Several introductory Biology
texts.
·
Assist teaching field courses to K-12 students at Claytor Nature Study Center.
·
Chair, Sessions on Reproductive Biology at the
Annual Meeting for the Animal Behavior Society, 2000, 2002
·
Reviewer, Animal
Behaviour, Fish
Biology
Courses of Interest:
Biology 111:
Introductory
Biology: Organisms, Ecology, and Evolution
An introduction to organismal
biology. A course offered to majors and
non-majors, techniques include active learning, permanent teams to develop case
studies and problem solving, experimental design projects, web-based learning,
field experiences, and traditional methods.
Biology 313:
Marine Biology
An introduction to marine biology. In this course, students learn via problem-solving,
discussion, group and individual presentations, student-centered field
investigations, web-based learning, field and laboratory identification of
marine fauna, visits to university research laboratories, aquaria, and museums,
discussing and criticizing primary literature, and traditional methods.
Biology
314: Biology of West Indian Coral Reef
Organisms
A field
biology, study-abroad experience, taught in
Biology
321: General Ecology
An introduction to general ecology for advanced
undergraduates. In this course, students
learn via problem-solving, computer simulations, group projects, student-based
ecological simulations, student-centered field investigations, discussing and
criticizing primary literature, presenting their own research (oral and
written), field identification of patterns of dispersal, visits to university
field stations, and traditional methods.
Biology
345: Animal Behavior
An introduction to animal behavior for advanced
undergraduates. In this course, students
learn via problem-solving, group projects, student-centered field
investigations, participation at a dog agility/obedience trials (to explore
learning and training techniques), presenting their own research (oral and
written), discussing and criticizing primary literature, communicating with authors
of criticized primary literature, and traditional methods.
Biology
480: Case Studies in Biology
A capstone course designed to allow students to study
specific topics in biology in depth.
This course draws on case studies in biology and draws upon previous
course knowledge in the major with an emphasis in critical thinking and problem
solving, particularly in the area of experimental design and analysis of
published work. Students use teams to
develop their skills in interpreting graphical and written scientific
information and to develop presentations highlighting important moments in
biology (through history and in the past decade).
Additional
Courses of Interest:
Evolution, Experimental Design,
Introductory Biostatistics, Behavioral Ecology, Conservation Biology, and
Selected Service Activities
College-wide
·
Faculty Development Committee, 2006-present
·
Faculty Grievance Committee, 2006-present
·
IACUC, 2003-present
·
Lynchburg College Dean Search Committee, 2002
·
Faculty Policies Committee, 2001 - 2003 (Chair, 2002-2003)
School
of Sciences and Biology Program
·
Biology Program Coordinator, 2005-present.
·
Chair, Animal Biologist Search, 2005-2006
·
Plant Biology Search Committee, 2002-2003
·
Claytor Nature
Study Center Director Search Committee, 2001-2002
·
Advisor, 1999-present
Selected
Presentations
·
March 2007, Birth Matters – Virginia, K. E. Benson
Educated decision-making: The
BRAIN method.
·
April 2003, Dean’s Centennial Lecture Series,
Hot to trot... show it or not:
Why indicate sexual receptivity?
·
January 2002, Teaching Idea Exchange, Lynchburg
College, K. E. Benson and N. Cowden
Making
cooperation pay.
·
July 2002, Animal Behavior Society, Annual
Meeting, Bloomington, IN, K. E. Benson
Gravid mosquitofish show off their spots.
·
October 2001, Biology Department Seminar, Roanoke
College, K. E. Benson
Sexy
spots: studying a second sort of sexual selection.
·
September 2000, Biology Departmental Seminar,
Male's
tails and female's spots: male mating preferences and competition in
poeciliids.
·
August 2000, Animal Behavior Society, Annual
Meeting , K. E. Benson, Desirae Goff, and
Michelle
DeLamarter Male Gambusia holbrooki demonstrate preferences for females based on
reproductive condition.
·
October 1999, Science Gang, Lynchburg College, K.
E. Benson
Sex,
why bother?
·
October 1997, University of Kentucky, Ecology
Lunch, K. E. Benson
Male's
tails and female's spots: mate choice in swordtails.
·
June 1997, Animal Behavior Society, Annual
Meeting, K. E. Benson and A. L. Basolo
Male-male competition and the
evolution of the sword.
·
August 1996, Animal Behavior Society, Annual
Meeting, J.P. Anderson, D.W. Stephens, and K.E.
Benson. On the spurious occurrence of tit-for-tat in
pairs of predator-approaching fish.
·
June 1996, Evolution, Annual Meeting, W.E. Wagner
and K.E. Benson
Do
discriminating females search longer for a mate?
·
January 1995, American Society of Zoologists, Annual
Meeting, D.W. Stephens and K. E. Benson
Interruptions,
trade-offs, and temporal discounting. In: Symposium on Risk Sensitivity
·
October 1993, Ecology Seminar, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, K. E. Benson.
Floodplain
habitat use and feeding habits of larval fishes.
·
April 1992. Association of Southeastern
Biologists, Annual Meeting, K. E. Benson, G. L. Miller, J. C.
Trexler, and T. F. Turner. Use of
floodplain habitats by larval fishes.
Computer Experience
Although I am quite comfortable with many aspects of
computing and programming, I subscribe to the philosophy that technology is a
tool. I employ new tools as they enhance
the product and try to avoid innovation merely for innovations’ sake.
General
Experience: I have experience
using DOS, Windows, Mac, Unix, and Linux operating systems.
Data
Collection: I have employed
digitization, tracking, and measurement programs for the analysis of video and
photographic data including: Photoshop, NIH-Image, and recently ImageJ.
I have written data collection programs for individual
use and to operate operant boxes using C and C++. More recently I adopted the
use of JWatch for behavioral assay.
Data
Analysis: I have
used Unix shell programming, awk, Splus,
and SAS for data analysis. I currently
program in Splus for data analysis.
Math
Modeling: I have used MapleV and Mathematica for the construction of mathematical
models.
Web
Tools: I have developed web pages for use in my courses at
Additional
Teaching Tools: I have also used a technology classroom for
instruction on simulation packages (such as Populus
and Evobeaker) for general ecology students.