Positions

Overview

  • Being retired, I mostly advise graduate students these days. I have been involved, with students and colleagues, in numerous studies using the mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as a model organism for evaluating the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. I have collaborated with Drs. McClintock and Amsler and graduate students on the effects of lowered seawater pH, due to elevated levels of atmospheric CO2, on the fitness of antarctic invertebrates that make calcareous shells.

    I have also worked with Dr. Marion and several graduate students to study the effects of urban development in a watershed on aquatic habitat quality and biological diversity in rivers. These studies employed EPA-recommended methods to assess the quality of the aquatic habitat and biological diversity (fish and macroinvertebrates) at numerous sites on rivers in the Birmingham vicinity.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2022 Variation in Trace Element Concentrations with Size in Sea Urchin Skeletal Components 2022
    2021 MgCO3 levels in skeletal components of crinoids across various depths and latitudes.  Cahiers de biologie marine.  62:27-35. 2021
    2018 Near-future temperature reduces Mg/Ca ratios in the major skeletal components of the common subtropical sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.  509:1-7. 2018
    2018 Inter and intraspecific comparisons of the skeletal Mg/Ca ratios of high latitude Antarctic echinoderms.  Antarctic Science.  30:160-169. 2018
    2017 Ocean warming and acidification alter Antarctic macroalgal biochemical composition but not amphipod grazer feeding preferences 2017
    2017 A comparison of MgCO3 in individual sub-components of major skeletal structures of the common temperate sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.  Cahiers de biologie marine.  58:99-106. 2017
    2016 Seawater acidification more than warming presents a challenge for two Antarctic macroalgal-associated amphipods 2016
    2016 Antarctic crustacean grazer assemblages exhibit resistance following exposure to decreased pH 2016
    2016 Testing antarctic resilience: The effects of elevated seawater temperature and decreased pH on two gastropod species 2016
    2016 Climate change confers a potential advantage to fleshy Antarctic crustose macroalgae over calcified species..  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.  474:58-66. 2016
    2015 Climate change impacts on overstory Desmarestia spp. from the western Antarctic Peninsula 2015
    2014 Multiple stressor effects of near-future elevated seawater temperature and decreased pH on righting and escape behaviors of two common Antarctic gastropods.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.  457:90-96. 2014
    2013 Demographic Comparisons between Reservoir-Dwelling and Stream-Dwelling Populations of a Threatened Turtle (Sternotherus depressus Tinkle and Webb).  Southeastern Naturalist.  12:684-691. 2013
    2011 Regenerative capacity and biochemical composition of the sea star Luidia clathrata (Say) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) under conditions of near-future ocean acidification.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.  407:266-274. 2011
    2011 Growth of the flattened musk turtle, sternotherus depressus tinkle and webb.  Southeastern Naturalist.  10:399-408. 2011
    2011 The Mg-calcite composition of Antarctic echinoderms: Important implications for predicting the impacts of ocean acidification 2011
    2011 Endocrine-disrupting effects of spironolactone in female western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  30:1376-1382. 2011
    2010 Triclosan has endocrine-disrupting effects in male western mosquitofish, gambusia affinis.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  29:1287-1291. 2010
    2009 Rapid dissolution of shells of weakly calcified Antarctic benthic macroorganisms indicates high vulnerability to ocean acidification.  Antarctic Science.  21:449-456. 2009
    2009 Effects of ocean acidification over the life history of the barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite 2009
    2009 An evaluation of sponge-associated amphipods from the Antarctic Peninsula.  Antarctic Science.  21:579-589. 2009
    2008 Intraspecific agonistic arm-fencing behavior in the Antarctic keystone sea star Odontaster validus influences prey acquisition 2008
    2008 A laboratory study of behavioral interactions of the Antarctic keystone sea star Odontaster validus with three sympatric predatory sea stars 2008
    2007 Abundance, diversity and fidelity of macroinvertebrates sheltering beneath rocks during tidal emersion in an intertidal cobble field: Does the intermediate disturbance hypothesis hold for less exposed shores with smaller rocks?.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology.  352:351-360. 2007
    2007 Effects of sonication and advanced chemical oxidants on the unicellular green alga Dunaliella tertiolecta and cysts, larvae and adults of the brine shrimp Artemia salina: A prospective treatment to eradicate invasive organisms from ballast water.  Marine Pollution Bulletin.  54:1777-1788. 2007
    2007 In vivo assessment of the capacity of androstenedione to masculinize female mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) exposed through dietary and static renewal methods.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  26:920-926. 2007
    2006 Paper manufacture and its impact on the aquatic environment.  Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.  185:67-92. 2006
    2006 Elevated fluctuating asymmetry in eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from a river receiving paper mill effluent.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  25:1026-1033. 2006
    2005 Effects of 17α-ethynylestradiol on sexual development of male western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) 2005
    2004 Production of androgens by microbial transformation of progesterone in vitro: A model for androgen production in rivers receiving paper mill effluent.  Environmental Health Perspectives.  112:1508-1511. 2004
    2003 Androstenedione and progesterone in the sediment of a river receiving paper mill effluent.  Toxicological Sciences.  73:53-59. 2003
    2003 Natural growth rates of Ambystoma maculatum in Alabama.  Journal of Herpetology.  37:608-612. 2003
    2002 Reproductive characteristics of male mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) inhabiting a small southeastern U.S. River receiving treated domestic sewage effluent.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  21:1404-1409. 2002
    2001 Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) vitellogenin: identification, purification, and immunoassay. 2001
    2001 Gonopodium development in normal male and 11-ketotestosterone-treated female mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): A quantitative study using computer image analysis.  General and Comparative Endocrinology.  123:222-234. 2001
    2001 Identification of androstenedione in a river containing paper mill effluent.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  20:1325-1331. 2001
    2001 Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) vitellogenin: Identification, purification, and immunoassay 2001
    2000 Historical changes in the ichthyofaunal assemblages of the upper cahaba river in alabama associated with extensive urban development in the watershed.  Journal of Freshwater Ecology.  15:47-63. 2000
    1999 Quantification of the expression of a temperature-sensitive pigment allele in sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) by image analysis.  Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research.  12:126-130. 1999
    1998 Comparison of a small-mesh seine and a backpack electroshocker for evaluating fish populations in a north-central alabama stream.  North American Journal of Fisheries Management.  18:361-373. 1998
    1998 Longitudinal variations in the ichthyofaunal assemblages of the upper cahaba river: Possible effects of urbanization in a watershed.  Journal of Freshwater Ecology.  13:139-154. 1998
    1997 Tractional force generation by porcine muller cells: Stimulation by growth factors in human vitreous 1997
    1995 The use of feather meal as a replacement for fish meal in the diet of Oreochromis niloticus fry.  Bioresource Technology.  54:291-295. 1995
    1991 Genetic basis of the gold phenotype in sailfin mollies.  Journal of Heredity.  82:425-428. 1991
    1991 Pigments and Ultrastructures of Pigment Cells in Xanthic Sailfin Mollies (Poecilia latipinna).  Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research.  4:240-246. 1991
    1989 Inheritance of melanistic pigmentation in the eastern mosquitofish.  Journal of Heredity.  80:387-392. 1989
    1988 A computer program that calculates various similarity coefficients between electropherograms..  Journal of Heredity.  79:74-75. 1988
    1986 Population frequencies of carbonic anhydrase II (CA II), esterase D (EsD), and glyoxalase I (GLO) in the Metropolitan Birmingham, Alabama area.  Journal of Forensic Sciences.  31:1366-1372. 1986
    1983 A computer program for randomizing toxicity bioassays.  Water Research.  17:593-594. 1983
    1983 A program in BASIC for estimating the number of genes contributing to quantitative character variation.  Journal of Heredity.  74:386. 1983
    1983 Genetic analysis of melanistic spotting in salifin mollies.  Journal of Heredity.  74:81-84. 1983
    1983 Phenol tolerance in populations of mosquito fish from polluted and nonpolluted waters.  Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.  112:794-799. 1983
    1982 Quantifying fluctuating asymmetry: Not all methods are equivalent.  Growth.  46:337-342. 1982

    Research Overview

  • Presence and biological effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in local water.
    Effects of ocean acidification on marine invertebrates.

    • Teaching Overview

  • Statistics, Scientific Method/Environmental Endocrine Disruptors, Ocean Acidification

    • Teaching Activities

  • BY210 - Genetics (Summer Term 2008)
  • BY210 - Genetics (Summer Term 2009)
  • BY210 - Genetics (Summer Term 2010)
  • BY245 - Fundamental Scientific Invest. (Fall Term 2012)
  • BY245 - Fundamental Scientific Invest. (Fall Term 2013)
  • BY245 - Fundamental Scientific Invest. (Fall Term 2014)
  • BY245 - Fundamental Scientific Invest. (Spring Term 2009)
  • BY245 - Fundamental Scientific Invest. (Spring Term 2011)
  • BY429 - Evolution and Population Bio (Spring Term 2008)
  • BY429 - Intro to Evolutionary Process (Spring Term 2010)
  • BY501 - Adv Biology for Teachers I (Summer Term 2008)
  • BY501 - Genetics for Teachers (Summer Term 2009)
  • BY501 - Genetics for Teachers (Summer Term 2010)
  • BY555 - Prin of Scientific Investig (Fall Term 2012)
  • BY555 - Prin of Scientific Investig (Spring Term 2009)
  • BY555 - Prin of Scientific Investig (Spring Term 2011)
  • BY629 - Evolution (Spring Term 2010)
  • BY629 - Evolution and Population Bio (Spring Term 2008)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Fall Term 2007)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Fall Term 2008)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Fall Term 2009)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Fall Term 2010)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Spring Term 2012)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Spring Term 2013)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Spring Term 2014)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Spring Term 2015)
  • BY655 - Biometry (Spring Term 2016)
  • BY689 - Seminar in Genetics (Spring Term 2011)
  • BY698 - Nonthesis Research (Fall Term 2013)
  • BY699 - Thesis Research (Spring Term 2014)
  • BY699 - Thesis Research (Summer Term 2014)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Fall Term 2007)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Fall Term 2008)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Fall Term 2009)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Fall Term 2010)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Spring Term 2012)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Spring Term 2013)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Spring Term 2014)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Spring Term 2015)
  • BY755 - Biometry (Spring Term 2016)
  • BY789 - Seminar in Genetics (Spring Term 2011)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Fall Term 2013)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Fall Term 2014)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Spring Term 2014)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Spring Term 2015)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Summer Term 2014)
  • BY799 - Dissertation Research (Summer Term 2015)

    • Education And Training

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology / Animal Biology, University of Connecticut 1977

    • Full Name

  • Robert Angus