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Suzanne Olyarnik Graduate Student in Population Biology University of California - Davis svolyarnik[a]ucdavis.edu Research interests I am interested in understanding how different species interact with one another and how those interactions impact the larger community. Currently I am focusing on the role positive interactions play in the structure and function of communities. Within this area, some of the topics I would like to explore include the dynamics of habitat structure, species range extensions and expansions, induced response to herbivory or predation, amelioration of abiotic stress, and alteration of niche space. While I find all ecosystems interesting, I have chosen to work in the marine environment for my doctoral research. I feel that the diversity of life strategies found there, particularly among marine invertebrates, is endlessly fascinating. I also feel that we know shockingly little about the ecology of the ocean considering how much we depend on it, and how much we impact it. Current projects |
  Egregia menziesii is a kelp in the Laminariales family. It ranges from Alaska to Baja California and is found along rocky coasts in the low intertidal to subtidal zones. It is comprised of numerous long br anches that have a leathery, straplike axis from which the photosynthetic blades and floats emanate. E. menziesii provides habitat for a large number of species during both high and low tides.  Notoacmaea insessa lives on Egregia menziesii throughout its post-settlement life. Using its radula, N. insessa feeds on the epidermal and cortical tissue of E. menziesii, and in doing so creates a conspicu ous scar (shown above). This scar is believed to weaken the branch and increase its vulnerability to breakage by wave activity (Black 1976). If this is true, N. insessa has the potential to remove a much larger proportion of biomass than it is actually ingesting. |