Fowler Aquatic Biology Laboratory – FAB Lab

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Overview

Broadly speaking, our lab examines how biotic interactions in marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments affect the distribution and abundance of invertebrates. We are particularly interested in the biology and ecology of introduced species and their interactions with native species, as the study of invasion biology can provide an important theoretical and practical understanding of population and community level ecology. We combine traditional field and laboratory experiments, spatial ecology, resource management and decision making, and human dimensions in our work. Our research is mostly focused on the aquatic ecosystems of the Atlantic coast of North America, but we are also involved in international efforts, mostly focused on invasive species.​ For our most up to date information, please see our lab website: https://fowlerlab.weebly.com/.

PI of the lab

Dr. Amy E. Fowler

Research Topics

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Invertebrate Ecology
  • Invasion Ecology
  • Parasitology
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation

Facilities

Field surveys and equipment for aquatic systems
Laboratory equipment to run experiments controlling salinity and temperature

Publications

14 most recent publications
Mentees: ** indicates undergraduate or high school student (N=12), * indicates Fowler Laboratory graduate student (N=4)
Last author indicates senior advising role on publication

  1. Jaishanker P*, Hall-Stratton, Fowler AE. Interactive effects of temperature and salinity on mortality of juvenile invasive Japanese mystery snails. Aquatic Invasions (in press).
  2. Fowler AE, Loonam G**, Blakeslee AMH. 2022. Unraveling another mystery: parasite escape and host-switching vary spatially in non-indigenous populations of Japanese mystery snails. Freshwater Biology 67(8): 1316-1332.
  3. Fowler AE, Loonam G**, Blakeslee AMH. 2022. Population genetics and demography of non-indigenous populations of freshwater Japanese mystery snails in Virginia and Washington, D.C., USA. Aquatic Invasions 17(3): 415-430.
  4. Mott AW*, Krueger-Hadfield SA, Blakeslee AMH, Fowler AE. 2022. Native tube-building polychaete prefers to anchor non-native algae over other macrophytes. Oecologia 198(4): 967-980.
  5. Ro H**, Fowler AE, Wood CL, Blakeslee AMH. 2022. Trematode parasites have minimal effect on the behavior of invasive green crabs. Aquatic Invasions 17(2): 238-258.
  6. Tobias Z, Fowler AE, Blakeslee A, Darling J, Torchin M, Miller W, Ruiz G, Tepolt CK. 2021. Invasion history shapes host transcriptomic response to a body-snatching parasite. Molecular Ecology 30(17): 4321-4337.
  7. Blakeslee AMH, Pochtar DL*, Fowler AE, Moore CS, Lee TS, Barnard RB, Swanson KM, Lukas LC, Ruocchio M, Torchin ME, Miller AW, Ruiz GM, Tepolt CK. 2021. Invasion of the body snatchers: the role of parasite introduction in host distribution and response to salinity in invaded estuaries. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288: 20210703.
  8. Tepolt CK, Blakeslee AMH, Fowler AE, Darling JA, Torchin ME, Miller AW, Ruiz GM. 2020. Strong genetic structure in a widespread estuarine crab: A test of potential versus realized dispersal. Journal of Biogeography 47: 2432-2542.
  9. Carlton JT, Blakeslee AMH, Fowler AE. 2020. Accidental associates are not symbionts: The absence of a non-parasitic endosymbiotic community inside the common periwinkle Littorina littorea (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Marine Biology 167: 97.
    Editorial Commentary: Chapman MG. 2020. Not simply accept relationships: editorial comment on the article “Accidental associates are not symbionts: The absence of a non-parasitic endosymbiotic community inside the common periwinkle Littorina littorea (Mollusca: Gastropoda)” by J.T. Carlton et al. (2020). Marine Biology 167: 98.
  10. Fowler AE, Blakeslee AMH, Bortolus A, Dias J, Schwindt E, Tepolt CK. 2020. Tenth International Conference on Marine Bioinvasions (ICMB-X): Celebrating current research and innovations while bringing recognition to pressing issues and lingering questions. Aquatic Invasions 15: 1-10.
  11. Fowler AE, Blakeslee AMH, Canning-Clode J, Repetto M**, Ruiz GM, Miller AW. 2020. A baitbox for all seasons: Temporal shifts in a vector’s propagule supply characteristics and implications for invasion ecology. Marine Ecology Progress Series 641: 13-24.
  12. Gooding EL**, Kendrick MR, Brunson JF, Kingsley-Smith PR, Fowler AE, Frischer ME, Byers JE. 2020. Black gill increases the susceptibility of white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus, 1767), to common estuarine predators. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 524: 151284.
  13. Hamilton K*, Burnett L, Burnett K, Kalisperis R, Fowler AE. 2020. Physiological impacts of time in holding ponds, biomedical bleeding, and recovery on the Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 239: 110554.
  14. Tepolt CK, Darling JA, Blakeslee AMH, Fowler AE, Torchin ME, Miller AW, Ruiz GM. 2020. Recent introductions reveal differential susceptibility to parasitism across a coevolutionary mosaic. Evolutionary Applications 13: 545-558.

Grad Students

Current Grad Students

Daya Hall-Stratton; PhD; Species Range and Parasite Release in Non-Native Mystery Snails in Atlantic Coast Riverine Systems; 2020-in progress

Lauren Koban; PhD; Active Biomonitoring for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Occoquan River Watershed, Virginia using the invasive Asian clam Corbicula fluminea; 2020-in progress; advanced to candidacy

Alexander Mott; PhD; The novel facilitation of the invasive alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla by a native decorator worm (Diopatra cuprea) in mid-Atlantic estuaries of the United States; 2018-in progress; advanced to candidacy

Darby Pochtar; PhD; Does salinity influence the invasion dynamics and co-evolution between the white-tipped mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) and its castrating parasite (Loxothylacus panopaei)?; 2017-in progress; advanced to candidacy

Sarah Greenberg; Masters; Does salinity influence the spatio-temporal distribution of two parasites (Loxothylacus panopaei & Cancrion sp.) of the white-fingered mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii)? 2020-in progress

Past Grad Students

Julia Czarnecki; Masters; Bioaccumulaiton Of Selected Pharmaceuticals And Personal Care Products Between Primary Producers And Consumers In The Tidal Freshwater Potomac River; 2017-2019