EDUCATION
- Ph.D., 2003, Entomology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
- “Milkweed leaf photosynthesis responses to insect herbivory: photosynthetic rate impairment of injured leaves ”
- Minor in Biological Science
- M.S., 1997, Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati (UC)
- “Species and sex recognition in the contexts of courtship and aggression in two ethospecies of wolf spider”
- B.S., 1993, Biology, Indiana University at Bloomington (IU)
- Minors in Anthropology and Psychology
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
3/2009 - present: Research Scientist, Montana State University
12/2006 - 3/2009: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Montana State University
Interests: plant physiological ecology, plant-insect interactions, chemical ecology, insect ecology
Projects:
- Examine hard red spring wheat physiological and yield responses to wheat stem sawfly herbivory with solid and hollow stem varieties, and under different environmental conditions.
- Determine whole wheat plant responses to wheat stem sawfly.
- Compare photosynthesis, volatile organic compound, and head mass responses of wheat with other wheat stem sawfly grass hosts.
- Examine how wheat stem sawfly population and wheat variety influence sawfly post-diapause emergence in temperature controlled incubators, infestation and yield loss under common garden field conditions, and how sawfly growth and female fecundity are affected.
10/2005 - 6/2006: Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology, University of Washington-Seattle
- Teach sociobiology, plant physiology lab, & senior seminars (sexual selection; plant-insect interactions)
- Prepare materials for biodiversity related modules to help underrepresented minority and EOP students to learn general biology (UW biology HHMI grant)
8/2003 - 9/2005: Assistant Professor, Biology, Xavier University of LA (XULA), New Orleans, LA
- Teach both semesters of majors general biology lecture and lab (2 lec & 4-5 lab sections / semester)
- Academic advisor to 25 (2003-4) and 55 (2004-5) biology majors
- Summer field research: milkweed and oleander ecophysiological responses to herbivory
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-Review Journal Articles
- K.J. Delaney, D.K. Weaver, and R.K.D. Peterson (In Press) Wheat Photosynthesis and Yield Reduction: Wheat Stem Sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) Herbivory Interacts with Abiotic Conditions and Host Plant Resistance. Journal of Economic Entomology.
- K.J. Delaney, F.J. Haile, R.K.D. Peterson, and L.G. Higley (2009) Seasonal patterns of leaf photosynthesis after insect herbivory on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca: reflection of a physiological cost of reproduction, not defense? The American Midland Naturalist 161, 224-238.
- K.J. Delaney, F.J. Haile, R.K.D. Peterson, and L.G. Higley (2008) Impairment of leaf photosynthesis after insect herbivory or mechanical injury on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Environmental Entomology 37, 1332-1343.
- K.J. Delaney, J. Perez-Mendoza, and D.K. Weaver (2008) A comparison of wheat stem sawfly adult emergence from material overwintered in the field and in the laboratory. The Canadian Entomologist 140, 569-572.
- K.J. Delaney (2008) Injured and uninjured leaf photosynthetic responses after mechanical injury on Nerium oleander leaves, and Danaus plexippus herbivory on Asclepias curassavica leaves. Plant Ecology 199, 187-200. DOI 10.1007/s11258-008-9423-0
- K.J. Delaney, J.A. Roberts, and G.W. Uetz. (2007) Male signaling behavior and sexual selection in a wolf spider (Araneae: Lycosidae): a test for dual functions. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology 62, 67-75. DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0438-7
- K.J. Delaney and L.G. Higley. (2006) An insect countermeasure affects plant physiology: midrib vein cutting, defoliation, and leaf photosynthesis. Plant, Cell, and Environment 29, 1245-1258.
- A.L. Basolo and K.J. Delaney (2001) Male biases for male characteristics in females in Priapella olmecae and Xiphophorus helleri (family Poeciliidae). Ethology 107, 431-438
Book Chapters
- K.J. Delaney and T.B. Macedo (2001) The impact of herbivory on plants: yield, fitness, and population dynamics. In: Biotic Stress and Yield Loss (R.K.D. Peterson & L.G. Higley, eds), pp. 135-158. CRC Press.
In Review
- A.L. Cady, K.J. Delaney, and G.W. Uetz. Energetic costs of courtship signaling in two wolf spider species with divergent courtship behaviors. (to Journal of Arachnology)
In Preparation
- K.J. Delaney. Variation in Nerium oleander leaf photosynthesis impairment sensitivity after mechanical injury or by an insect generalist herbivore, Spodoptera eridania.
- K.J. Delaney and L.G. Higley. Drought, competition, and simulated herbivory effects on injured and uninjured leaf photosynthesis of common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca.
- K.J. Delaney, D.K. Weaver, and R.K.D. Peterson. Solid and hollow stemmed spring wheat varieties: photosynthesis and yield responses to water stress and phosphorus deficiency.
- D. Piesik, D. Panka, K.J. Delaney, R. Lamparski, A. Wenda- Piesik, and D.K. Weaver. Influence of mechanical injury, insect herbivory and Fusarium crown rot disease on semiochemical production by wheat, oat, and barley.
- K.J. Delaney, J. Perez-Mendoza, and D.K. Weaver. Population, wheat variety, temperature, and relative humidity effects on wheat stem sawfly (Hymentoptera: Cephidae) post-diapause larval development and adult emergence.
GRANTS
Pending
K.J. Delaney, D.K. Weaver, and R.K.D. Peterson “Physiological and Metabolic Consequences of Stem-Mining Herbivory in a Grass with Distinct Morphological and Developmental Characteristics”
Submitted 7/10/09: NSF, BIO Directorate, IOS (Integrative and Organismal Systems), Physiological and Structural Systems, Organism-Environment Interactions $189,342
K.J. Delaney and D.K. Weaver “ Field comparison of spring wheat, durum wheat and barley host plant resistance to wheat stem sawfly” Submitted 9/04/09: USDA, CREESS, Western Integrated Pest Management Center $68,975
AWARDS, HONORS, SMALL GRANTS, & FELLOWSHIPS
- XULA Faculty Travel Grant
- UNL (IANR) C.S. Holling Graduate Student Excellence in Teaching Award
- UNL Initiative in Ecological and Evolutionary Analysis (IEEA)
- Summer Research Grant $1,000 in 2001; $1,407 in 2002
- Travel Grant $400 in 2002
- UNL (IANR) Hardin Fellowship (Plant Ecophysiology)
- $2,000 (& $1,000 travel) in 2001
- UNL (IANR) Shear-Miles Fellowship (Agriculture)
- UNL Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant
- UNL 2 nd Place Linnean Games Team: 2000 Entomological Society of America Conference
- UNL Special Funds from School of Biol. Sciences
- AMNH Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Research Grant
- Nebraska Behavioral Biology Group Research Grant
- UC Outstanding Masters Student in Biological Sciences
- American Arachnological Society Research Grant
- UC Dept. of Biol. Sciences Weiman Fellowship
PRESENTATION SUMMARY
Oral
H.P. Camara ¥, K.J. Delaney, R.K.D. Peterson, and D.K. Weaver (2009) Spodoptera frugiperda Herbivory and Mechanical Injury on Cereal Grasses A. Volatile Organic Compound Induction is Uncoupled with Injured Leaf Photosynthetic Responses- Day 1. Western Section Annual Meeting of the American Society of Plants Biologists at Tucson, Arizona. ¥- undergraduate
K.J. Delaney and D.K. Weaver (2008) Wheat stem sawfly on hollow and solid stem wheat: photosynthesis and yield loss. 4 th International Wheat Stem Sawfly Conference at Sidney, MT.
D.K. Weaver and K.J. Delaney* (2007) Coupling antixenosis and antibiosis in pest management using the wheat stem sawfly as a model system. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at San Diego, CA. *-presenting author
K.J. Delaney, J. Perez-Mendoza, D.K. Weaver, and J. Marquez (2007) Varietal influences on emergence patterns in Montana wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Norton) populations. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at San Diego, CA.
K.J. Delaney (2007) A cost of defense? Impairment of leaf photosynthesis following insect defoliation. Montana State University Entomology Group (Invited seminar).
K.J. Delaney, F.J. Haile, R.K.D. Peterson, and L.G. Higley (2005) Herbivory & milkweed leaf photosynthesis: different responses & phenology. Joint Ecological Society of America Annual Conference and INTECOL’s 8th International Conference at Montreal, Quebec.
K.J. Delaney and L.G. Higley (2002) Cardenolide induction in common milkweed? International Plant Resistance to Insects 15 th Biennial Conference in Baltimore, MD.
K.J. Delaney and G.W. Uetz (1998) Mating behavior in wolf spiders: male signal rates and female receptivity. Animal Behavior Society Annual Conference at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
K.J. Delaney and G.W. Uetz (1997) Species and sex recognition in wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae). Animal Behavior Society Conference at University of Maryland-College Park.
K.J. Delaney (1997) Communication in the contexts of courtship and aggression in two ethospecies of wolf spider. Ohio Spider Web Meeting at Miami University at Oxford, OH.
K.J. Delaney and G.W. Uetz (1996) Size and aggressive behavior in male-male contests among wolf spiders. American Arachnological Society Annual Conference at University of Arizona in Tuscon.
K.J. Delaney (1996) Male-male interactions in two wolf spider ethospecies (Araneae: Lycosidae): size, signaling behavior, and aggression. Midwest Animal Behavior Society Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington.
K.J. Delaney and G.W. Uetz (1995) A comparison of aggressive behavior during male-male interactions of two closely related wolf spider species, Schizocosa ocreata and S. rovneri. American Arachnological Society Conference at University of Missouri in Columbia.
Poster
H.P. Camara ¥, K.J. Delaney, R.K.D. Peterson, and D.K. Weaver (2009) Mechanical injury and Spodoptera frugiperda herbivory on cereal grasses: volatile organic compound induction is uncoupled with injured leaf photosynthetic responses. Montana State University Student Research Celebration. ¥- undergraduate
K.J. Delaney and D.K. Weaver (2008) Wheat stem sawfly larval stem mining causes photosynthetic impairment by early senescence in host grasses. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at Reno, NV.
K.J. Delaney and L.G. Higley (2002) A seasonal pattern to photosynthetic rate impairment and positive cardenolide induction are not coupled following herbivory in multiple milkweed species. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at Fort Lauderdale, FL.
K.J. Delaney and L.G. Higley (2001) Differential effects of insect herbivory injury on remaining leaf tissue photosynthesis of pre- and post- reproductive common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at San Diego, CA.
K.J. Delaney, T.B. Macedo, P. Nabity, R. Madsen, and T. Heng-Moss (2000) Black cutworm leaf consumption and cutting of corn and soybean: initial estimates. Entomological Society of America Annual Conference at Montreal, Quebec.
K.J. Delaney (2000) Male and female premating behavior sequence differences in two species of wolf spider. Entomological Society of America North Central Branch Conference at Minneapolis, MN.
A.L. Basolo and K.J. Delaney* (1999) Examining the state of a preexisting bias in two species of poeciliid fishes. Animal Behavior Society Conference at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.
A.L. Basolo and K.J. Delaney* (1998) Male sword bias in poeciliid fishes. Nebraska Behavioral Biology Group Fall Retreat, Mahoney State Park, NE. (*- presenting author)
K.J. Delaney and G.W. Uetz (1996) Species recognition and aggression: male-male competition in two wolf spider species (Araneae: Lycosidae). Animal Behavior Society Conference at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.
TEACHING SCHOLARSHIP
- Course Portfolio Workgroup (XULA) Fall 2004 & Spring 2005
Select a problem I see with a course I will teach more than once, develop a solution, implement solution in 2 nd semester, and evaluate solution’s effectiveness. Discuss with colleagues from sciences, arts, social sciences, and humanities to gain broad perspectives on issues related to teaching, and seeing different approaches to a variety of different problems across these varied disciplines.
SERVICE, OUTREACH, & LEADERSHIP
XULA Biology Club Co-advisor January 2004-August 2005
XULA Mellon Environmental Infusion Committee: Review Proposals December 2003-May 2005
Leader of Predator-Prey Station (Annual Bug Bash Outreach Program) Sept. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
(UNL Entomology, Lincoln Public School Science Focus Program, & Lincoln Zoo)
Bruner Club for Entomology Graduate Students (UNL)
Offices: Vice-President; Student Representative to Faculty; Chair of Social Committee
Biological Sciences Graduate Student Club (UC)
Offices: President; Chair of Recycling Committee
Specific Event Service
CASNR-hosted SE Nebraska Regional Science Fair- Poster Judge March 2002
Ruth Hill Elementary School Science Fair- Poster Judge March 2000
Zeman Elementary School Science Fair- Poster Judge March 2000
Morley School 2nd Grade Insect Day- Teach insect diversity station October 1999
Biology Bowl II ( Cincinnati Area High School event)- Scorekeeper April 1996
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
- Ecological Society of America 2005 - Present
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society 2000 - Present
- Entomological Society of America 2000 - 2004; 2007 - Present
- Animal Behavior Society 1995 - 2000
- American Arachnological Society 1994 - 1997
PREVIOUS RESEARCH INTERESTS
Xavier University of Louisiana
- To study injured & uninjured leaf photosynthetic responses after Spodoptera eridania (southern armyworm moth) larval & manually imposed defoliation on common oleander (Nerium oleander), and Danaus plexippus (monarch butterfly) larval feeding on milkweed (Asclepias curassavica).
- Canceled: use HPLC to examine chemical (cardenolide) defense induction after insect herbivory on both oleander and milkweed leaves (samples rotted after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans).
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- To examine how Asclepias syriaca phenology, plant competition, water supplementation, and % tissue removal from a leaf, influence whether leaf photosynthetic impairment occurs after injury.
- To compare and contrast effects of gross tissue defoliation and midrib vein cutting on leaf photosynthesis of A. syriaca, other milkweeds & dogbanes, and other species.
- To examine whether male green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, and guayaca olmecae, Priapella olmecae, fish have a bias to favor sword ornaments artificially attached to conspecific females.
University of Cincinnati
- To study whether male signal behaviors of the brush-legged wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata, and a tuftless congener, S. rovneri, influence winning male-male contests &/or acquiring female mates.
- To examine consistency of focal male and female behaviors of both study species when paired with a male or female partner from both species (to infer species and sex recognition)
Molecular Diagnostic Lab as Research Technician [APHIS, USDA (Otis ANGB in MA)]
- Prepare tissue samples of gypsy moths, Lymantria dispar, for PCR, and run agarose gels after PCR; part of project to assess global distribution of RAPD markers to distinguish European/American strain of gypsy moths (females can fly) from Asian strain (females can fly), and for screening when Asian strain females escape near U.S. ports.
Indiana University
- To study whether females of the livebearing mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, release a pheromone after giving birth, and if so, whether the pheromone affects male sexual and/or aggressive behavior.
