| Faculty
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| Vonnie Shields, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Biological Sciences Towson University Towson, MD 21252 USA
Office: Smith 357 Lab: Smith 363 Phone: 410-704-3130 Fax: 410-704-2405
email: vshields@towson.edu
Education:
Ph.D. University of Regina B.S. University of Regina
Courses Taught:
BIOL 213 / 214 Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II BIOL 360 / 560 Histology
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Research Interests: All animals detect and react to chemicals in their external environment. Recent evidence suggests that the basic processing of chemosensory information is similar in invertebrates and vertebrates. Consequently, using insects as model systems has implications for chemosensory research on species in diverse animal phyla and allow us to gain insights into the fundamental processing of sensory information in the brain. Chemosensory cues, such as odor and taste stimuli, play pivotal roles for insects in selecting food sources, mates, and oviposition sites. One main line of research in my lab is directed towards exploring the importance of gustatory cues in the selection of food sources by carrying out feeding behavioral and electrophysiological studies on larval insects (Order Lepidoptera). In addition, the structural organization of these gustatory organs is being examined using transmission electron- and scanning electron microscopy. One potential outcome of this research is to find novel biocontrol techniques against insect pests. Another avenue of research is being directed toward understanding the sensory mechanisms by which insects detect plant-associated volatiles and how this information is processed by the olfactory system of the insect. My overall research aim is to increase our understanding of how and what chemosensory information is processed in the insect brain and to contribute to the knowledge of how nervous systems analyze, recognize, and respond to complex sensory stimuli. Topics of research and methods applied in my lab include the following:
Publications:
Shields, Vonnie D.C. 2003. Ultrastructure of Insect Sensilla. Encyclopedia of Entomology, Kluwer Academic Press (in press).
Shields, Vonnie D.C., Broomell, Brian P., and Salako, Jelilat O.B. 2003. Host selection and acceptability of selected tree species by gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 96:920-926.
Shields, Vonnie D.C. and Hildebrand, John G. 2001. Recent advances in insect olfaction, specifically regarding the morphology and sensory physiology of antennal sensilla of the female sphinx moth Manduca sexta. Micros. Res. Tech. 55:307-329.
Shields, Vonnie D.C. and Hildebrand, John G. 2001. Responses of a population of antennal olfactory receptor cells in the female moth Manduca sexta to plant-associated volatile organic compounds. J. Comp. Physiol. A. 186:1135-1151.
Shields, Vonnie D.C. and Hildebrand, John G. 1999. Fine structure of antennal sensilla of the female sphinx moth, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae): I. Trichoid and basiconic sensilla. Can. J. Zool. 77:290-301.
Shields, Vonnie D.C. and Hildebrand, John G. 1999. Fine structure of antennal sensilla of the female sphinx moth, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). II. Auriculate, coeloconic, and styliform complex sensilla. Can. J. Zool. 77:302-313.
Hildebrand, J.G., Christensen, T.A., Heinbockel, T., Roche King, J., Mechaber, W., Rössler, W., Selchow, K., and Shields, V.D.C. 1999. The olfactory neurobiology of host- and mate-attraction in moths. In: Elsner, N. and Wehner, R. (eds). From Molecular Neurobiology to Clinical Neuroscience. Proc. 27th Göttingen Neurobio. Conf., Göttingen, Germany, Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1: 56-67. (Authors appear in alphabetical order).
Research Students Mentored2004 Teresa Holland (undergraduate) (Fall 2004) Mooketsi Koma (undergraduate) (Fall 2004) Stephanie Galanie (high school) (Summer 2004) Reza Shams (undergraduate) (Spring 2004) Candice Osborne (undergraduate) (Spring 2004) 2003 Don Bunney (undergraduate) (Fall 2003) Aubrey Siebert (undergraduate) (Summer 2003) Kimberly Delauder (undergraduate) (Summer 2003) Katherine “Grace” Magruder (high school) (Summer 2003) Theanne Griffith (high school) (Spring 2003) 2002 Nicole Arnold (undergraduate) (Fall 2002-present) Denise Williams (undergraduate) (Fall 2002-present) Erin Rodgers (undergraduate) (Summer 2002) Lukas Goodmuth (high school) (Summer 2002) Mikaela Walker (high school) (Summer 2002) Leila Dodson (undergraduate) (Fall 2002) Kismet-Gerald Agbasi (undergraduate) (Fall 2002) Leila Navab (undergraduate) (Spring 2002) 2001 Brian Broomell (undergraduate) (Summer 2001-Spring 2002) Mark Moody (graduate) (Fall 2001-Spring 2002) Jelilat Salako (undergraduate) (Spring 2001-Spring 2002) Sushma Arramraju (undergraduate) (Fall 2001)
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