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Andrea
Crowther
Postal address:
6028 Haworth Hall
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
United States
| Email address:
andreac@ku.edu
Telephone number:
1-785-864-5234 (office)
1-785-864-4607 (lab)
Fax number:
1-785-864-5321 |
Present Position
Graduate Student and Graduate Research Assistant within Dr
Daphne Fautin’s laboratory.
Nationality : Australian
Education
• 2003-2005: Griffith University, Nathan Campus,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Graduate Certificate
of Environmental Management.
• 2000-2001: The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Bachelor of Science (Honours).
• 1997-2000: The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Bachelor of Science.
Research and Employment Experience
• January 2005 – May 2006: Museum of Tropical Queensland,
Townsville, Queensland, Australia (http://www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au/).
Research Officer.
Research officer on an ABRS (Australian Biological Resource Study http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/)
funded project entitled “Sea Anemones of Australia”. The project
involves searching and collecting specimens from the field, as well as
studying specimens deposited at various museums around Australia. Specimens
were examined taxonomically, working towards identification. This process
involved looking at macroscopic morphological characters, as well as preparing
histological slides for microscopic characters. My duties also involved
management of specimens within a museum collection.
• November 2001 – December 2004: Queensland Museum, Brisbane,
Queensland, Australia (http://www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au/).
Research Assistant.
Involved in the identification of sponges (Phylum Porifera) using
taxonomic keys and other reference material. Duties included organizing
and participating in field trips to collect sponge samples, organizing
delivery and identification of sponge samples for various consultancies,
implementing sponge identification workshop for colleagues and histological
slide preparations of sponge samples used for identification.
• November 2001 – April 2002: Department of Primary Industries,
Queensland Government, Fire Ant Control Centre, Wacol, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia (http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants/).
Technical Assistant.
The ongoing research and monitoring of the invasive fire ants (Solenopsis
invicta) was undertaken by a group of researchers within the DPI.
I was involved with the monitoring team and assisted in setting up
pit fall traps to catch invertebrates within the site. These traps
were then collected and the contents were sorted, and the ant species
identified and counted. I was involved with all levels of this process,
including entering the results into the database. The identifications
of ants were done using dichotomous taxonomic keys based on morphological
features.
• July 2001: Symbiosis study of sea anemones and shrimp, Dunwich,
North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.
Research Assistant.
This project involved a team of researchers locating and observing
two species of sea anemones (Stichodactyla haddoni and Macrodactyla
doreensis), in relationships with several symbiotic species of shrimp
(Periclimenes holthuisi, P. brevicarpalis and Thor amboinensis). These
specimens were collected and transported to laboratory tanks, where
observations and experiments were undertaken. These experiments were
primarily to determine sea anemone species preference by the shrimp;
spatial preference of the shrimp on the sea anemone; and competition
between the shrimp. Results reported in two publications: Khan et
al. (2003) and Khan et al. (2004); details listed below.
• June 2000 -July 2001: Honours Research, the University of Queensland,
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Student project.
My research project involved a taxonomic study of a Cerianthid tube
anemone, which was commonly referred to as Cerianthus sp. In local
field guides. My study showed that this species was in fact a different
genus, Pachycerianthus. This research allowed me to fine tune skills
such as literature searches and reviews, critical thinking, report
writing, and project creation. I also became proficient in the use
of taxonomic keys to identify the tube anemone, using morphological
characters. Dissection of organisms and cnidae squashes were done
to reveal characters.
Scientific publications:
Crowther, A.L. (2001) The investigation of a symbiosis
between a Cerianthid Tube-Anemone and a Phoronid worm in Moreton Bay,
Queensland. Honours report, The University of Queensland.
Khan, R.N., Becker, J.H.A., Crowther, A.L., and Lawn,
I.D. (2003) Sea anemone host selection by the symbiotic saddled shrimp
Periclimenes holthuisi. Marine and Freshwater Research. 54:
653-656.
Khan, R.N., Becker, J.H.A., Crowther, A.L., and Lawn,
I.D. (2004) Spatial distribution of symbiotic shrimps (Periclimenes
holthuisi, P. brevicarpalis, Thor amboinensis) on the sea anemone
Stichodactyla haddoni. Journal of the Marine Biological Association
of the United Kingdom. 84: 201-203.
Popular publications:
Crowther, A.L. and Wallace, C.C. (2005) Australia’s
Sea Anemones. Biologue (an ABRS Publication) 30: 14-15.
Other:
Radio interview at local North Queensland radio station in the regular
segment “Science on the Radio”. Interviewed on Wednesday,
26th October 2005, by David Cussons. Discussed what sea anemones are
and what my work involved. http://www.abc.net.au/northqld/stories/s1489819.htm
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