W. Randolph Hoeh

Research interests are centered on the evolution of bivalved mollusk morphology, mating systems,and gender-associated mitochondrial DNA genomes. The evolution of these systems is studied in the context of phylogenetic hypotheses generated from analyses of morphological and molecular data sets and by the use of population genetic and morphometric tools to evaluate within- and among-population mating system variation. Specific questions that are being addressed include the following: (1) What the directionality and taxonomic distribution of - and F-genome role-reversal events in bivalve lineages with gender-associated mitochondrial DNA genomes?, (2) How frequently did simultaneous hermaphroditism evolve in the predominantly dioecious freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida)?, (3) How often and under what conditions did self-fertilization evolve in the freshwater mussel genus Utterbackia?, (4) What is the evolutionary history of brooding system transitions in unionoid bivalves? The answers to these questions will further document the historical aspects of bivalved mollusk character evolution and facilitate an increased understanding of the evolutionary processes involved in character state transitions.

Publications

Yusa, Y., S. Breton and W.R. Hoeh. 2013. Population Genetics of Sex Determination in Mytilus Mussels: Reanalyses and a Model. Journal of Heredity 104(3): 380-385.

Shepardson, S.P., W.H. Heard, S. Breton and W.R. Hoeh. 2012.Light and Transmission Electron Microscopy of Two Spermatogenic Pathways and Unimorphic Sperm in Venustaconcha ellipsiformis(Conrad, 1836) (Bivalvia: Unionoida). Malacologia 55(2): 263-284.

Chapman, E.G., A.A. Przhiboro, J.D. Harwood, B.A. Foote and W.R. Hoeh. 2012. Widespread and persistent invasions of terrestrial habitats coincident with larval feeding behavior transitions during snail-killing fly evolution (Diptera: Sciomyzidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology 12: 175.

Stanton, L.M., W.R. Hoeh, D.F. McAlpine, A. Hebda and D.T. Stewart. 2012. Mitochondrial DNA and AFLP markers demonstrate limited genetic differentiation within the Pyganodon cataracta/Pyganodon fragilis freshwater mussel complex in Atlantic Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90(11): 1307-1319.

Stewart, D.T., M. Jha, S. Breton, W.R. Hoeh and P.U. Blier. 2012. No effect of sperm interactions or egg homogenate on sperm velocity in the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis (Bivalvia: Mytilidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 90(11): 1291-1296.

Alves, F.A.S., C.R. Beasley, W.R. Hoeh, R.M. da Rocha, L.R.L. de Simone and C.H. Tagliaro. 2012. Detection of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy suggests a doubly uniparental inheritance pattern in the mussel Mytella charruana. Brazilian Journal of Biosciences10(2): 176-185.

Doucet-Beaupré H., P.U. Blier , E.G. Chapman, H. Piontkivska, F. Dufresne, B.E. Sietman, R.S. Mulcrone and W.R. Hoeh. 2012.Pyganodon (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Unionidae) phylogenetics: A male- and female-transmitted mitochondrial DNA perspective.Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 63: 430–444.

Carter, J.G., C.R. Altaba, L.C. Anderson, R.l Araujo, A.S. Biakov, A. Bogan, D.C. Campbell, M. Campbell, Chen J.-h., J.C.W. Cope, G. Delvene, H.H. Dijkstra, Fang Z.-j., V.A. Gavrilova, I. Goncharova, A.V. Guzhov, P.J. Harries, J.H. Hartman, W.R. Hoeh, J. Hylleberg, Jiang B.-y., P. Johnston, L. Kirkendale, K. Kleemann, J. Koppka, J. Kříž,D. Machado,N. Malchus, O. Mandic, A. Márquez-Aliaga, J.-P. Masse, P.U. Middelfart, S. Mitchell, L. A. Nevesskaja, S. Özer, J. Pojeta, Jr., I.V. Polubotko, J.M. Pons, S. Popov, T. Sánchez, A.F. Sartori, R.W. Scott, I.I. Sey, Sha J.-g., J.H. Signorelli, V.V. Silantiev, P.W. Skelton, T. Steuber, J.B. Waterhouse, G.L. Wingard, and T. Yancey. 2011. A Synoptical Classification of the Bivalvia (Mollusca).University of Kansas Publications, Paleontology contributions New Series.

Breton, S., F. Ghiselli, M. Passamonti, L. Milani, D.T. Stewart andW.R. Hoeh. 2011. Evidence for a fourteenth mtDNA-encoded protein in the female-transmitted mtDNA of marine mussels (Bivalvia: Mytilidae). PLoS ONE 6(4): e19365.

Breton, S., D.T. Stewart, S. Shepardson, R.J. Trdan, A.E. Bogan, E.G. Chapman, A.J. Ruminas, H. Piontkivska and W.R. Hoeh. 2011. Novel protein genes in animal mtDNA: a new sex determination system in freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida)? Molecular Biology and Evolution 28(5): 1645-1659.

Breton, S., D.T. Stewart and W.R. Hoeh. 2010. Characterization of a mitochondrial ORF from the gender-associated mtDNAs ofMytilus spp. (Bivalvia: Mytilidae): identification of the "missing" ATPase 8 gene. Marine Genomics 3: 11-18.

Rogers, D.C., S.C. Weeks and W.R. Hoeh. 2010. A new species of Eulimnadia(Crustacea; Branchiopoda; Diplostraca; Spinicaudata) from North America.Zootaxa 2413: 61-68.

Doucet-Beaupré, H., S. Breton, E.G. Chapman, P.U. Blier, A.E. Bogan, D.T. Stewart and W.R. Hoeh. 2010. Mitochondrial phylogenomics of the Bivalvia (Mollusca): Searching for the origin and mitogenomic correlates of doubly uniparental inheritance of mtDNA. BMC Evolutionary Biology 10: 50.

Courses Teaching

Spring 2015

• BSCI 10001 - 001 Human Biology
• BSCI 40163 - 002 Organic Evolution
• BSCI 40600 - 008 Writing In Biological Sciences

Summer 2015

• BSCI 10002 - 002 Life On Planet Earth

Fall 2015

• BSCI 10001 - 004 Human Biology
• BSCI 10002 - 002 Life On Planet Earth