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CURRICULUM  VITAE
LINDA SUSAN FINK

May 2004

EDUCATION

1989  Ph.D. University of Florida, Dept. of Zoology
1984  M.S. University of Florida, Dept. of Zoology
1980  B.A. Amherst College, Amherst MA

TEACHING/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2001-present   Professor of Biology, Sweet Briar College
2000-2003       Chairman, Department of Biology, Sweet Briar College
1995-2001       Associate Professor of Biology, Sweet Briar College
1990-1995       Assistant Professor of Biology, Sweet Briar College
1990              Pratt Postdoctoral Fellow, Mountain Lake Biological Station, University of Virginia (summer)
1989-1990       Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology, Middlebury College
1989              Lecturer, Department of Zoology, University of Florida

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES AT SWEET BRIAR

Current courses
BIOL 101   Introductory Biology Lab I
BIOL 111   Introduction to Organisms
BIOL 218   Field Natural History
BIOL 222   Animal Behavior
BIOL 224   General Ecology
BIOL 3XX  Seminar in Conservation Biology

Other courses
BIOL 102   Introductory Biology Lab II
BIOL 310   Evolution
HNRS  Science and Nature Writers, Spring 2003 (with J. Brice)
FYS  Blue Ridge Environmental Issues, Fall 2000, 2001
INTD  Nature Journals (with L. Pharis), Winter 1997 and Spring 1998
HNRS  Laboratory Investigations in Environmental Science (with S. Piepho), Winter 1998


RECENT PAPERS PRESENTED (* = undergraduate author, presenter)

Tannahill, C.* and L. Fink.  2004. The effects of Japanese stilt grass, Microstegium vimineum, on earthworm abundance and diversity in central Virginia.  Annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, 14-17 April, Memphis TN.

 

Chilton, R.*, Tannahill, C.*, Stassi, A.*, and L. Fink. 2003. The effects of logging on the occurrence of an invasive exotic grass, Microstegium vimineum.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Assocation of Southeastern Biologists, Arlington VA, 11 April 2003. 

2002 Kellogg, S.K.*, L.S. Fink, and L.P. Brower. Parasitism of luna moths by the non-native tachinid fly, Compsilura concinnata, in central Virginia. The Lepidopterists' Society meeting, Charleston, S.C.

2002 Basten, C.S.B.*, L.S. Fink, and L.P. Brower. Changes in appetite of female migratory monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). The Lepidopterists' Society meeting, Charleston, S.C.

2000 Perault, D. and L.S. Fink. GIS and GPS technology in forest research and management [lecture and workshop] Managing to Create the Ancient Forest conference, Sweet Briar College, 18 May


PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed   (* Sweet Briar undergraduate)

Fink, L.S., C.S.B. Basten* and L.P. Brower.  In preparation. Seasonal changes in appetite and fat accumulation by migratory female monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus (L.)). To be submitted to Ecological Entomology.

Kellogg, S.K.*, Fink, L.S., & Brower, L.P. 2003. Parasitism of native luna moths, Actias luna (L.) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) by the introduced Compsilura concinnata (Meigen) (Diptera:  Tachinidae) in central Virginia, and their hyperparasitism by trigonalid wasps (Hymenoptera: Trigonalidae). Environmental Entomology 32: 1019-1027. download pdf reprint

Fink, L.S. 1997. Using video production in teaching natural history. The American Biology Teacher 59(3): 142-146.

Fink, L.S. 1995. Foodplant effects on colour morphs of Eumorpha fasciata caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 56(3): 423-437.

Brower, L.P., Fink, L.S., Brower, A.V.Z., plus 11 additional authors. 1995. On the dangers of interpopulational transfers of monarch butterflies. BioScience 45(8): 540-544.

Brower, L.P., Ivie, M.A., Fink, L.S., Watts, J., & R.A. Moranz. 1993. Life history of Anetia briarea and its bearing on the evolutionary relationships of the Danainae. Tropical Lepidoptera 3(2): 64-73.

Brower, L.P., Nelson, C.J., Seiber, J.A., Fink, L.S., and Bond, C. 1988. Exaptation as an alternative to coevolution in the cardenolide-based chemical defense of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) against avian predators. In: Chemical Mediation of Coevolution (Ed. K.C. Spencer), pp. 446-475. Pergamon Press.

Fink, L.S. 1987. Green lynx spider egg sacs: sources of mortality and the function of female guarding. J. Arachnology 15: 231-239.

Fink, L.S. 1986. Costs and benefits of maternal behaviour in the green lynx spider (Oxyopidae, Peucetia viridans). Animal Behaviour 34: 1051-1059.

Brower, L.P. and Fink, L.S. 1985. A natural toxic defense system: cardenolides in butterflies versus birds. In: Experimental Assessments and Clinical Applications of Conditioned Food Aversions (Ed. by N.S. Braveman and P. Bronstein), pp. 171-188. New York, New York Academy of Sciences.

Fink, L.S. 1984. Venom spitting by the green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans. J. Arachnology 12: 372-73.

Fink, L.S., Brower, L.P., Waide, R.B. and Spitzer, P.R. 1983. Overwintering monarch butterflies as food for insectivorous birds in Mexico. Biotropica 15: 151-153.

Fink, L.S. and Brower, L.P. 1981. Birds can overcome the cardenolide defense of monarch butterflies in Mexico. Nature 291: 67-70.

Other publications

Brower, L.P., Fink, L.S., Brower, A.V.Z., plus 11 additional authors. 1996. Reply to Keiper (Letter to the editor). BioScience 46(8): 563-564.

Fink, L.S. 1994. Book review of: Caterpillars: Ecological and Evolutionary Constraints on Foraging (1993). N.E. Stamp & T.M. Casey, eds. Chapman and Hall. Animal Behaviour 47(6): 1493-1494.

Fink, L.S. 1994. The Pond in the Dell. Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine (Fall): 8-9.

Fink, L.S. 1987. Behavioral differences among color morphs of sphingid caterpillars (abstract). Amer. Zoologist 27(4).


GRANTS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES

2004 (pending) National Science Foundation, DEB (Population Biology): "Overwintering requirements of the monarch butterfly in Mexico: habitat selection versus habitat availability."  PI: Lincoln Brower, co-PIs: Linda Fink, David Perault (Lynchburg College)

2000 National Science Foundation, CCLI Adaptation and Implementation Program, for "Implementation of a new interdisciplinary Environmental Science curriculum" (Co-PI with David Orvos)

2000 W.Alton Jones Foundation, to the Montebello Clean Mountain Coalition for "Pesticide awareness and state rule reform" (Co-director of project with S.L. Smith and K. Cash) [MCMC dissolved, and returned the grant to WAJ]

1998 Mednick Fellowship, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, for "A Field Guide to Sweet Briar"

1998 VFIC Minority Summer Research Fellowship for Julissa Yabar ‘00 (Co-supervisor with Lincoln P. Brower)

1992 National Science Foundation, Instrumentation & Laboratory Improvement Program, for "Student film production: A new approach to field biology"

GRANTS FROM SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE

2004 Faculty grant, "Digital Sweet Briar: Creating an electronic atlas of Sweet Briar's archaeological and natural history" (with Lynn Rainville)

2003 Lectures and Events, to bring in Elizabeth Howard, director of Journey North

2003 Lectures and Events, "Nature and Science Writers Series" (with Jennifer Brice)

1999 Faculty grant, Summer curriculum development stipend, incorporating the Sweet Briar GIS into the Sweet Briar curriculum

1998 Juliet Halliburton Davis fund for Environmental Studies, purchase of aerial photographs of Sweet Briar College

1998 Faculty grant, course release to continue GIS/GPS work

1998 Faculty grant to attend a workshop, "GIS and Remote Sensing for Wildlife Managers," Smithsonian Institution Conservation and Research Center, Front Royal VA, 14-18 September

1998 DuPont Scholar in Residence for 1998-99, faculty sponsor for Dorothy Allard

1997 Juliet Halliburton Davis fund for Environmental Studies, establishment of a butterfly research garden (with Lincoln P. Brower)

1997 Faculty grant, spring-summer 1998, development of field guides to Sweet Briar (//nature.sbc.edu)

1996 Faculty grant, summer field experiment on frequency-dependent predation by birds

STUDENT RESEARCH SUPERVISION (SINCE 1995)

Biology Senior research

2004 Lisa Moore, The effects of algae on spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) egg development
2004 Kelly Robinson, The effects of the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) on spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) eggs and larvae
2004 Stacey Maddox, Why isn't there an HIV vaccine? (library project)
2003 Christina Tannahill, The effects of Japanese stilt grass, Microstegium vimineum, on earthworm abundance and diversity
2003 Laurel Speilman, The role of fungal competition and tannin chemistry in chestnut and oak resistance to Cryphonectria parasitica (Honors thesis)
2002 Michi Krohn, The mating ecology of the northern walkingstick, Diapheromera femorata: does size matter?
2002 Lizzy Meyer, Pain in dogs and cats (Library project)
2002 Megan Ogilvie, The effect of Vinca minor on microhabitat selection by Peromyscus mice (Environmental Science senior research)
2001 Shelly Kellogg, Effects of an exotic tachinid fly parasitoid on luna moth caterpillar survival, Summer Honors Research Fellowship
2001 Serena Basten, On the ability of migratory and overwintering female monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) to convert sucrose to lipids (Honors thesis)
2001 Salina Woodard, The status of the wood roach, Cryptocercus punctulatus, in the forests of Sweet Briar College
2001 Lorna Brod, The evolution of animal consciousness (library project)
2000 Tricia Hamilton, The effects of stocked trout on macroinvertebrates in Virginia mountain streams
2000 Kim Leach, The effects of abiotic factors on the calling intensities of the Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) and the American Toad (Bufo americanus)
2000 Marlena Koper, The effect of Vinca minor on the population density of Peromyscus mice
1999 Julissa Yabar, Monarch butterfly flight orientation, Summer VFIC minority fellowship
1999 Andrea Capano, The effects of Hurricane Hazel on Quercus alba, Quercus prinus and Liriodendron tulipifera in central Virginia
1999 Sara Seyfarth, White-tailed deer use of various habitat and edge types
1997-98 Heather Thomas, Hide and seek: the effects of light quality and background on prey visibility
1997 Leigh Wilson, Diversity of microorganisms in the forest floor of Boone-Prior Sanctuary
1996 Amy Campbell, The effect of Vinca minor on Quercus alba in four sites on the Sweet Briar College campus
1996 Michelle Janiak, Determination of apple feeding preferences in wasps
1995-96 Juli Bechard, Automimicry and the palatability spectrum (Honors thesis)
1995 Rachel Cooper, The cutting activity and behavior of beavers at Sweet Briar College
1995 Gigi Ostrow, Will birds hunt behaviorally dimorphic prey in a frequency-dependent manner?

Independent, Directed, Special Study, and Summer Research

2003 Rachael Chilton and Christina Tannahill, The effects of logging on the occurrence of an invasive exotic grass, Microstegium vimineum, Independent study
2002 Christy Pitts, Effects of tannins on the growth of chestnut blight in liquid culture, Junior Honors
2001 Laurel Speilman, Resistance of chestnut trees to chestnut blight, Independent study and Summer Honors Research Fellowship
2000 Tricia Hamilton, Behavioral responses of mayfly nymphs to trout "odor", Summer Honors Research Fellowship
1999 Andrea Capano, A dendrochronologic study of two hardwood forests, Summer Honors fellowship
1998 Adefunmi Omisade, A study of links between algae, chlorine demand and trihalomethanes
1997 Fionna Matheson, Dosage-dependent behaviors in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator when injected with the venom of Glycera dibranchiata
1996 Gigi Ostrow, Frequency-dependent bird predation, Summer Honors fellowship

 

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Last edited 15 May 2004

by Professor Linda S. Fink
Department of Biology
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar VA 24595
lfink@sbc.edu