Projects
Our research focuses on using molecular tools to answer ecological and evolutionary questions in both marine and freshwater systems. Currently, the lab has three main central areas of interest:
Environmental DNA
Environmental DNA uses traces of organisms left behind in water in attempt to determine if species, particularly rare, invasive, or hard to find species, are present. We are investigating several species and ecosystems and have received funding for many of these projects. In the Mobile River Basin, we are investigating critically endangered Alabama sturgeon, threatened Gulf sturgeon, and other fishes in this system. In the Gulf of Mexico, we are investigating Lionfish invasions into estuarine and river systems using eDNA and comparing fish structure on artificial reefs. We are also beginning a new project to characterize salt ponds and coastal dune lakes along the northern Gulf Coast.
Microplastics
Microscopic plastics (microplastics) are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans and have become a serious concern as plastic production and use increases. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, can be those that are manufactured at a microscopic size for use in facial cleansers and cosmetics. Alternatively, microplastics can be secondary, in that they are the result of the physical breakdown of larger plastic debris as a result of UV solar radiation, thermal, and chemical degradation. We are currently investigating genetic and epigenetic impacts of microplastics on zooplankton and other marine organisms.
Phylogeography
Laboratory interests also lie in the population genetics and phylogenetic relationships of organisms compared to their geographic distributions. Specifically, we are interested in the evolutionary mechanisms that lead to population differentiation, divergence, and ultimately speciation. We are currently investigating several Gulf of Mexico species using phylogeographic tools such as DNA barcoding and population genetics to investigate distributional patterns within a species and species complexes. In addition to sequence data we also use behavior and morphology to address evolutionary changes. Defining species boundaries in relation to their distribution, migration, and life history is an important aspect in understanding the evolutionary history of biogeographic zonation.
Publications
Whitaker, J.M., Janosik, A.M. (2020) Missing the mark(er): Pseudogenes identified through whole mitochondrial genome sequencing provide new insight into invasive lionfish genetics. Conservation Genetics. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10592-020-01263-9
Friebertshauser, R.**, Shollenberger, K. **, Janosik, A.M. Garner, J.T., Johnston,
C.E. (2019) The effect of bivalve filtration on eDNA-based detection of aquatic organisms. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222830
Johnston, C.E., Janosik, A.M. (2019) Detection of Trispot Darter (Percidae: Etheostoma
trisella) using empirical sampling and environmental DNA (eDNA). Southeastern Naturalist.18 (4):555-560.
Whitaker, J.M., Garza, T.N.*, Janosik, A.M. (2019) Sampling with Niskin bottles and
microfiltration reveals a high prevalence of microfibers. Limnologica. 78: 125711
Roy, M.B.**, Johnston, C.E., Janosik A.M. (2019) A habitat risk assessment and
breeding site projection for Slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschungi) (Percidae) in Alabama and Tennessee USA. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 102: 685-703 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00862-x
VanTassel, N.M.**, Janosik, A.M. (2018) A compendium of Coastal Dune Lakes in
Northwest Florida. Journal of Coastal Conservation. 23: 385-416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-018-0671-4
Varney, R.M., Pomory, C.M, Janosik, A.M. (2017) Telomere elongation in regenerating tissues of
the starfish Luidia clathrata. Marine Biology. 164:195
Jarret, A., Stiles, W., Janosik, A.M, Johansen, R., Johnston, C. (2017) Evidence of
stream capture from the Tallapoosa River drainage by a Chattahoochee River tributary based on fish distributions. Southeastern Naturalist: 16: 117-126
Pfleger, M.O., Rider, S.J., Johnston, C.E., Janosik, A.M. (2016) Saving the doomed: the
importance of detection for conservation of sturgeon (Acpenseridae) Global Ecology and Conservation. 8: 99-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2016.08.008
Janosik, A.M., Johnston C. E. (2015) Environmental DNA as an effective tool for
detection of imperiled fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes: DOI:10.1007/s10641-015-0405-5
Janosik, A.M., Halanych, K.M. (2013) Seeing stars: a molecular and morphological
investigation into the evolutionary history of Odontasteridae (Asteroidea) with description of a new species from the Galapagos Islands. Marine Biology 160: 821-841.
Janosik, A.M., Mahon, A.R., and Halanych, K.M. (2011) Evolutionary history of
Southern Ocean seastar species separated by the Drake Passage (Odontasteridae; Asteroidea). Polar Biology 34: 575-586.
Janosik A.M., Halanych, K.M. (2010) Unrecognized Antarctic biodiversity: a case study
with Odontaster (Odontasteridae; Asteroidea). Integr Comp Biol 50: 981-992. Cover photograph
Janosik, A.M., Mahon, A.R., Scheltema, R.S., and Halanych, K.M (2008). Short Note:
Larval identification by barcoding of the Antarctic sea star Labidiaster annulatus (Labidiasteridae: Asteroidea) with notes on life history. Antarctic Science 20 (6): 563-564.
Halanych, K.M., and Janosik, A.M. (2006). The state of Annelid Phylogenetics.
Integrative and Comparative Biology 46: 533-543.
Friebertshauser, R.**, Shollenberger, K. **, Janosik, A.M. Garner, J.T., Johnston,
C.E. (2019) The effect of bivalve filtration on eDNA-based detection of aquatic organisms. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222830
Johnston, C.E., Janosik, A.M. (2019) Detection of Trispot Darter (Percidae: Etheostoma
trisella) using empirical sampling and environmental DNA (eDNA). Southeastern Naturalist.18 (4):555-560.
Whitaker, J.M., Garza, T.N.*, Janosik, A.M. (2019) Sampling with Niskin bottles and
microfiltration reveals a high prevalence of microfibers. Limnologica. 78: 125711
Roy, M.B.**, Johnston, C.E., Janosik A.M. (2019) A habitat risk assessment and
breeding site projection for Slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschungi) (Percidae) in Alabama and Tennessee USA. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 102: 685-703 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00862-x
VanTassel, N.M.**, Janosik, A.M. (2018) A compendium of Coastal Dune Lakes in
Northwest Florida. Journal of Coastal Conservation. 23: 385-416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-018-0671-4
Varney, R.M., Pomory, C.M, Janosik, A.M. (2017) Telomere elongation in regenerating tissues of
the starfish Luidia clathrata. Marine Biology. 164:195
Jarret, A., Stiles, W., Janosik, A.M, Johansen, R., Johnston, C. (2017) Evidence of
stream capture from the Tallapoosa River drainage by a Chattahoochee River tributary based on fish distributions. Southeastern Naturalist: 16: 117-126
Pfleger, M.O., Rider, S.J., Johnston, C.E., Janosik, A.M. (2016) Saving the doomed: the
importance of detection for conservation of sturgeon (Acpenseridae) Global Ecology and Conservation. 8: 99-107. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2016.08.008
Janosik, A.M., Johnston C. E. (2015) Environmental DNA as an effective tool for
detection of imperiled fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes: DOI:10.1007/s10641-015-0405-5
Janosik, A.M., Halanych, K.M. (2013) Seeing stars: a molecular and morphological
investigation into the evolutionary history of Odontasteridae (Asteroidea) with description of a new species from the Galapagos Islands. Marine Biology 160: 821-841.
Janosik, A.M., Mahon, A.R., and Halanych, K.M. (2011) Evolutionary history of
Southern Ocean seastar species separated by the Drake Passage (Odontasteridae; Asteroidea). Polar Biology 34: 575-586.
Janosik A.M., Halanych, K.M. (2010) Unrecognized Antarctic biodiversity: a case study
with Odontaster (Odontasteridae; Asteroidea). Integr Comp Biol 50: 981-992. Cover photograph
Janosik, A.M., Mahon, A.R., Scheltema, R.S., and Halanych, K.M (2008). Short Note:
Larval identification by barcoding of the Antarctic sea star Labidiaster annulatus (Labidiasteridae: Asteroidea) with notes on life history. Antarctic Science 20 (6): 563-564.
Halanych, K.M., and Janosik, A.M. (2006). The state of Annelid Phylogenetics.
Integrative and Comparative Biology 46: 533-543.