Joe B. Keiper, Ph.D., Curriculum Vitae

Joe B. Keiper, Ph.D.
Director of Science & Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767 USA
phone (216) 231-4600 x3315
e-mail: jkeiper@cmnh.org
 

Education

Kent State University: Ph.D., 1998
Slippery Rock University: M.S., 1993
Bloomfield College: B.S., 1991
Raritan Valley Community College: A.S., 1989

Professional Experience

Graduate Assistant, Slippery Rock University, 1991-1993
Graduate student assistant to department chair.

Volunteer Field Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, summers of 1992 and 1993
Participated in management of the federally endangered piping plover (Chadrius melodius) through surveys, nest searches, monitoring of behavior, predator control, and data analysis.  Student Conservation Association (SCA)

Aquatic Insect Taxonomist, EnviroScience (1994), BSA Environmental (1998)
Sorted and identified aquatic macroinvertebrates (90% Chironomidae) for water   quality assessments.

Teaching Assistant, Lecturer, and Doctoral Candidate, Kent State University, 1993-1998. Laboratory instructor and lecturer.

Student Representative, Graduate Studies Committee, Kent State University, 1996-1997. Participated in decisions regarding departmental policies and selection of incoming graduate students.

Search Committee Member, Assistant Professor: Environmental Science, Kent State Univ., 1997. Participated in selecting new faculty member for position of Environmental Biologist.

Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of California - Riverside, 1998 - 2000.
Department of Entomology
Research in areas of ecology, aquatic entomology, and ecological control of  mosquitoes in constructed wetlands; taxonomy of Diptera and Trichoptera.

Curator and Head of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 2000-present
Curatorial: Entomology, Malacology, General Invertebrate Zoology

Research: Biodiversity and population ecology studies of aquatic insects.
Biology and immature stages of Diptera and Trichoptera.
Forensic Entomology.
Wetlands ecology and conservation.

Editorial: Associate Editor, Kirtlandia, February 2001 - 2002.
Co-Editor, Kirtlandia, January 2003 - present.
Subject Editor (Aquatic Insects), Annals of the Entomological
Society of America, March 2002 - February 2004
Editor-in-Chief, Annals of the Entomological Society of America,
March 2004 - present.
Peer-review of professional papers
American Entomological Society, Annales Zoologici Fennici, Ecological Entomology, Entomological Society of America, Entomological Society of Michigan, Entomological Society of Washington, Ohio Journal of Science, Society for Wetlands Scientists, Zootaxa.
 
Peer-review of professional grant proposals
American Zoo and Conservation Assocociation –
Conservation Endowment Fund (AZA-CEF).
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Staff Research Committee.
National Science Foundation.
State Committee for Scientific Research, Warsaw, Poland.

Consultation: Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office, April 2001- present
- 21 cases as of Spring 2006
- includes homicides, accidents, and death by natural causes
- Consulted Akron Police Department on murder investigation August, 2005

Leadership: Director, Ohio Conservation Alliance
Formation, direction, and coordination of consortium of   
Cleveland area professionals dedicated to research,   
conservation, and education.  2001 - 2005
Coordinator of Research, CMNH, August 2003 - present
Act as liason between Museum researchers and other
Museum personnel, board of trustees, and public.
Member, Planning Committee, Biodiversity, Inc., the Cleveland alliance for global conservation.  2005 - present.

Committees: Member of CMNH Judicial Committee, April 2002 - present
Member of CMNH Conservation Team, 2002-2003
Member of CMNH Development Team, 2002-2003
Member of CMNH Search Committee, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Winter/Spring 2004
Chair, Diversity Hall Exhibit Committee, February - December 2004.
Member of CMNH Collections Committee, 2004 - present
Member of CMNH Search Committee, Coordinator of Adult Programming, Fall 2005

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, September 2002-present.

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Department of Biology,
June 2003-present.

Teaching Experience

Primary Laboratory Instructor

- Principles of Biology II, Principles of Biology, Honors I & II, Ornithology, Invertebrate Zoology, General Entomology (Kent State University)

Guest Lecturer/Team Teaching

- Kent State University:  Principles of Biology II (Insect general biology), Principles of Biology II Honors (Plant-insect coevolution), Invertebrate Zoology
(Introduction to protozoan life cycles)
- Case Western Reserve University: Principles of Ecology (Invertebrate diversity comparison in lakes and streams).  2003, 2004, 2005

Lecturer

- Invertebrate Zoology, 1997 (Kent State University)
- The Hidden Life of Ohio’s Lakes and Streams, 2001 (CMNH / Cleveland State University)
- Insect Biology and Identification – an informal class taught through Cleveland State University at CMNH, Delta Institute of Natural History, and Acadia National Park, spring/summer 2006

Research Interests, Grants, Publications

Aquatic Insect Biology:
Keiper and his students have been involved in work at Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, a large Lake Erie coastal wetland.  Historically, some populations of ducks have been declining. Insects inhabiting the marsh provide an important food source, and work has been conducted since 2004 to determine how wetlands management influences the types of plants that grow at Winous Point, and the quality of insect habitat imparted by these plants.

Effects of Global Climate Change on Insects:
In collaboration with Dr. Andrew Swanson of Case Western Reserve University, Keiper has examined by elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (a primary greenhouse gas) affects the biochemistry of freshwater algae. Swanson has shown that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will cause these algae to become less nutritious and more toxic (that is, they produce higher levels of “secondary compounds” which are defensive chemicals that deter grazing). Keiper has applied these algae to laboratory grazing trials, including grazing caddisflies and mosquitoes.  In some cases, the insects grow more slowly, exhibit smaller size in the adult stage, and show lower survival when fed algae grown under high carbon dioxide atmospheres.

Forensic Entomology:
Keiper provides a supporting role to the Cuyahoga County Coroner’s Office by examining insect trace evidence during investigations of death under mysterious or suspicious circumstances.  He examines the insects mostly to estimate the time of a victim’s death.  To support this work, he and his students conduct work on the basic biology of insects of forensic importance (mostly blow flies, or Calliphoridae).  They also approximate unusual crime scenes to help interpret insect evidence when situations are unconventional, such as when a body is concealed.

Grants

My lab at CMNH has been funded for the following since 2001:
1. Discover Life in America, 2001 - Selected families of acalyptrate Diptera from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. J. B. Keiper and B. A. Foote, co-PIs. $1,630
2. United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2002 - Testing floral and faunal indicators of ecosystem health in Lake Erie coastal wetlands. F. A. de Szalay, J. B. Keiper, M. Kershner, and K. Krieger. $40,000
3. National Science Foundation, 2002 - Acquisition of a computer-enhanced specimen analysis station for multidisciplinary museum research. J. B. Keiper, J. T. Hannibal, B. M. Latimer, and T. O. Matson. $52,300
4. ERM Group Foundation, 2003 - Management of created and natural woodland vernal pool wetlands. J. B. Keiper (for the Ohio Conservation Alliance). $5,000
We have also been funded through other agencies and foundations, including the George Gund Foundation, Geauga Park District, and Winous Point Marsh Conservancy.

Professional Publications

1. Keiper, J.B. 1996. Monarch transfers: A real concern? BioScience 46: 562.
2. Keiper, J.B. and B.A. Foote. 1996. A simple rearing chamber for lotic insect larvae. Hydrobiologia 339: 137-139.
3. Keiper, J.B., E.G. Chapman, and B.A. Foote. 1997. Midge larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) as indicators of postmortem submersion interval of carcasses in a woodland stream: a preliminary report. Journal of Forensic Sciences 42: 1072-1077.
4. Collier, A., J.B. Keiper, and L.P. Orr. 1998. The invertebrate prey of the northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens, in a northeastern Ohio population. Ohio Journal of Science 98: 39-41.
5. Keiper, J.B., P.L. Brutsche, and B.A. Foote. 1998. Acalyptrate Diptera associated with water willow, Justicia americana (Acanthaceae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 576-587.
6. Keiper, J.B., D.A. Casamatta, and B.A. Foote. 1998. Incorporation of Batrachospermum gelatinosum (Rhodophyta) into cases of Ochrotrichia wojcickyi (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Entomological News 109: 256.
7. Keiper, J.B., D.A. Casamatta, and B.A. Foote. 1998. Use of algal monocultures by larvae of Hydroptila waubesiana and Oxyethira pallida (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Hydrobiologia 380: 87-91.
8. Keiper, J.B. and B.A. Foote. 1998. Biological notes on Ochrotrichia xena (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae), a species newly recorded for Ohio. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 100: 594-595.
9. Foote, B.A., L.V. Knutson, and J.B. Keiper. 1999. The snail-killing flies of Alaska (Diptera: Sciomyzidae). Insecta Mundi 13: 45-71.
10. Keiper, J. B. 1999. Morphology of final instar Ochrotrichia xena (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Entomological News 110: 231-235.
11. Keiper, J.B. and B.A. Foote. 1999. Biology and immature stages of two species of Hydroptila (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae) which consume Cladophora (Chlorophyta). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 101: 514-521.
12. Keiper, J.B., J. Jiannino, J. Beehler, and W.E. Walton. 1999. Distribution and abundance of Culicidae and Chironomidae (Diptera) following storm damage in a southern California constructed wetlands. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California 67: 47-54.
13. Keiper, J.B. and W.E. Walton. 1999. Biology and morphology of the mature larva of Oxyethira arizona Ross (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 75: 212-220.
14. Walton, W.E., K. Chan, L.H. Gould, and J.B. Keiper. 1999. Mosquito production from three wetland management practices for constructed treatment wetlands: preliminary findings. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California 67: 18-21.
15. Walton, W.E., P.D. Workman, and J.B. Keiper. 1999. An inexpensive collapsible pyramidal emergence trap for the assessment of wetland insect populations. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California 67: 15-17.
16. Keiper, J.B. and E.M. Espeland. 2000. Spatial distribution and larval behavior of Glyptotendipes lobiferus (Diptera: Chironomidae). Hydrobiologia 427: 129-133.
17. Keiper, J.B. and B.A. Foote. 2000. Biology and larval feeding habits of coexisting Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera) from a small woodland stream in northeastern Ohio. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 93: 225-234.
18. Keiper, J.B., M. Sanford, J. Jiannino, and W.E. Walton. 2000. Invertebrates colonizing monocots damaged by lepidopteran herbivory. Entomological News 111: 348-354.
19. Keiper, J.B. and W.E. Walton. 2000. Biology and immature stages of Ochrotrichia quadrispina Denning and Blickle (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae), a spring-inhabiting scraper. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 102: 183-187.
20. Keiper, J.B. and W.E. Walton. 2000. Biology and immature stages of Brachydeutera sturtevanti (Diptera: Ephydridae), a hyponeustic generalist. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 93: 468-475.
21. Keiper, J.B. and D.A. Casamatta. 2001. Benthic organisms as forensic indicators. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 20: 311-324.
22. Keiper, J.B., J. Jiannino, M. Sanford, and W.E. Walton. 2001. Biology and immature stages of Typopsilopa nigra (Williston) (Diptera: Ephydridae), a secondary consumer of damaged stems of wetland monocots. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 103: 89-97.
23. Heiser, J. D., R. Bowers, and J. B. Keiper. 2002. Listing of the freshwater mussels (Unionoida) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Kirtlandia 53:47-54.
24. Keiper, J. B. 2002. Biology and immature stages of coexisting Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera) from northeastern Ohio lakes. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95: 608-616.
25. Keiper, J.B., D. L. Deonier, J. Jiannino, M. Sanford, and W.E. Walton. 2002. Biology, immature stages, and redescriptions of Hydrellia personata Deonier (Diptera: Ephydridae), a Lemna miner. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 104: 458-467.
26. Keiper, J.B. and S.C. Harris. 2002. Biology and immature stages of Ochrotrichia footei (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae), a new microcaddisfly from a torrential mountain stream. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 104: 291-299.
27. Keiper, J. B., J. A. Jiannino, M. R. Sanford, and W. E. Walton. 2002. Effect of vegetation management on the abundance of mosquitoes at a constructed treatment wetlands in southern California. Proceedings of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California 70: 35-43.
28. Keiper, J. B. and W. E. Walton. 2002. Effects of three vegetation management strategies on shore flies (Diptera: Ephydridae) in newly constructed treatment wetlands. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95:570-576.
29. Keiper, J.B., W.E. Walton, and B.A. Foote. 2002. Biology and ecology of higher Diptera from freshwater wetlands. Annual Review of Entomology 47: 207-232.
30. Merritt, R. W., G. W. Courtney, and J. B. Keiper. 2003. Diptera (Flies, Mosquitoes, Midges, Gnats). Pages 324-340, in R. T. Carde and V. H. Resh (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Insects. Academic Press, San Diego.
31. Sanford, M. R., J. B. Keiper, and W. E. Walton. 2003. The impact of wetland vegetation drying time on abundance of mosquitoes and other invertebrates. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 19:361-366.
32. Coleman, B. K., J. K. Bissell, J. Ciha, P. MacKiegan, and J. B. Keiper. 2004. The moths (Lepidoptera) and associated flora of Kelleys Island, Lake Erie. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 106:217-232.
33. Foote, B. A. and J. B. Keiper. 2004. The snail-killing flies (Insecta: Diptera: Sciomyzidae) of Ohio. Kirtlandia 53:43-88.
34. Keiper, J. B. and R. Bartolotta. 2004. Taxonomic and ecological notes on Leucotrichia pictipes (Trichoptera: Hydroptilidae), a microcaddisfly newly recorded for Ohio. Entomological News  114: 255-259.
35. Keiper, J. B., M. Stanczak, and W. E. Walton. 2004. Adult Chloropidae (Diptera) associated with constructed treatment wetlands modified by three different vegetation management techniques. Entomological News  114:205-210.
36. Pucci, T., J. Lynch, and J. B. Keiper. 2004. Insect composition of the Mosquito Magnet Pro trap in northeastern Ohio. Great Lakes Entomologist.
37. Stanczak, M. and J. B. Keiper. 2004. Benthic invertebrates in adjacent created and natural wetlands in northeastern Ohio, USA. Wetlands 24:212-218.
38. Swanson, A. K., S. Hrinda, and J. B. Keiper.  SUBMITTED.  Effects of altered
atmospheric carbon dioxide on green algal (Chlorophyta) nutritional quality and caddisfly (Trichoptera) growth and survival.  Hydrobiologia.