Geoffrey Trussell

Research Description

My research interests encompass a broad variety of issues in evolutionary and community ecology. Although my work is principally conducted on temperate rocky intertidal shores, I must emphasize that important conceptual issues in ecology and evolutionary biology drive my research. Hence, I am particularly in students that are motivated to use empirical approaches to address theory. I also should point out that research in my lab is often highly collaborative and currently involves scientists from Brown University, the University of New Hampshire, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of South Carolina. Below, I provide a brief description of the major areas of research in my lab.

The Evolution of Inducible Defenses and the Role of Life History Trade-offs:

This work has examined how chemical risk cues from a common crab predator (the green crab, Carcinus maenas) induce plastic changes in the shell morphology of intertidal snails (Littorina obtusata, Littorina littorea, Nucella lapillus). Our work in this area is unique because we have examined this issue over very broad spatial scales and across several taxa. For example, recent data demonstrate that such inducible defenses may partly explain patterns of significant morphological change in space and time. Currently, I am particularly interested in obtaining a better understanding of the role that life history trade-offs play in the evolution of inducible defenses in marine snails and how the variability in the risk of predation shapes the evolution of reaction norms in snail shell morphology.

Trait-mediated Indirect Interactions (TMIIs) and Algal Diversity on Rocky Intertidal Shores:

This work examines how predator effects on prey traits influence rocky intertidal community structure. The classical view of community dynamics on rocky shores is that they are strongly influenced by the density-based consequences of species interactions. While we agree that such processes are certainly operating, we think that trait-mediated interactions also are important. Preliminary results indicate, for example, that green crab risk cues suppress snail-feeding rates to a degree that ultimately affects the abundance of several species of intertidal algae. We are currently focusing on two areas: (1) determining the relative importance of density and trait-mediated effects to algal diversity on large spatial scales in tide pool communities, and (2) how TMIIs may influence important ecological processes such as competition and facilitation.

Alternate Stable Community States on Rocky Intertidal Shores:

A highly influential idea in ecology is that community types may represent alternative stable states. That is, community types are stable and stochastic processes drive transitions to alternatives. More specifically the type of community present in a system is dependent on disturbance dynamics (size and frequency) and propagule availability after a disturbance event. This idea is conceptually appealing and has been suggested as an explanation of alternating community types on coral reefs and tropical grasslands. In collaboration with Dr. Mark Bertness, we have found that mussel beds and Ascophyllum canopy community types are likely deterministic rather than stochastic community types. Moreover, our results suggest that consumer pressure (predatory crabs, herbivorous and carnivorous snails) are critically important in determining the rate of community recovery after a disturbance event.

Selected Publications - reprints provided upon request (g.trussell@neu.edu)

Edgell, T.C.*, B.R. Lynch*, G.C. Trussell*, A.R. Palmer.  Revision in review.  Experimental evidence for the rapid evolution of behavioral canalization in natural populations.  American Naturalist (* denotes equal contribution).

Peacor, S.D., B.L. Peckarsky, G.C. Trussell, J.R. Vonesh.  In review.  A graphical model to predict and elucidate nonconsumptive predator effects on prey.  Oecologia. (after first author order is alphabetical).

Kishida, O., G.C. Trussell*, K. Nishimura, T. Ohgushi.  2009.  Predator-induced changes in prey morphology intensify predator cannibalism.  Ecology (in press). (*denotes corresponding author). 

Altieri, A.H., G.C. Trussell*, P.J. Ewanchuk, G. Bernatchez, M.E.S. Bracken. 2009. Consumer effects on diversity indirectly influence marine ecosystem functioning.  PLoS ONE 4(4): e5291. Open Access  (*denotes corresponding author).

Long, J.D., G.C. Trussell, T. Elliman. 2009. Linking invasions and island biogeography: isolation and area effects on exotic and native plant diversity.  Ecology 90(4): 863-868.  (Cover article).

Kishida, O., G.C. Trussell, K. Nishimura.  2009.  Top down effects on antagonistic inducible defense and offense.  Ecology (in press).

Schmidt, P.S., E.A. Serrao, G.A. Pearson, C. Riginos, P.D. Rawson, T.J. Hilbish, S.H. Brawley, G.C. Trussell, E. Carrington, D.S. Wethey, J.W. Grahame, F. Bonhomme, D.M. Rand.  2008.  Ecological genetics in the North Atlantic intertidal: environmental gradients and adaptation at specific loci.  Ecology 89: s91-s107.

Phifer-Rixey, M., M. Heckman, G.C. Trussell, P.S. Schmidt.  2008.  Temperature mediated selection on shell color phenotype in the flat periwinkle Littorina obtusata.  Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 21: 966-978

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, C.M. Matassa.  2008.  Resource identity modifies the influence of predation risk on ecosystem function.  Ecology 89: 2798-2807.

Peckarsky, B.L., P.A. Abrams, D. Bolnick, L.M Dill, J.H. Grabowski, B. Luttbeg, J.L. Orrock, S.D. Peacor, E.L. Preisser, O.J. Schmitz, G.C. Trussell.  2008.  Rewriting the textbooks: Considering non-consumptive effects in classic studies of predator-prey interactions.  Ecology  89: 2416-2425 (after first author order is alphabetical). 

Schmitz, O.J., J.H. Grabowski, B.L. Peckarsky, E.L. Preisser, G.C. Trussell, J.R. Vonesh.  2008.  From individuals to ecosystem function: toward an integration of evolutionary and ecosystem ecology.  Ecology 89: 2436-2455 (after first author order is alphabetical).

Kishida, O., G.C. Trussell, K. Nishimura.  2007.  Geographic variation in a predator-induced defense and its genetic basis.  Ecology 88: 1948-1954.  (Featured in ESA Bulletin).

Long, J.D., G.C. Trussell.  2007.  Geographic variation in seaweed induced responses to herbivory.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 333: 75-80.

Trussell, G.C., M.P. Lesser, M.R. Patterson, S.J. Genovese.  2006.  Depth-specific differences in the growth of the sponge Callyspongia vaginalis: the role of bottom-up effects.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 323: 149-158.

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, C.M. Mattassa.  2006a.  The fear of being eaten reduces energy transfer in a simple food chain.  Ecology 87: 2979-2984.

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, C.M. Mattassa.  2006b.  Habitat effects on the relative importance of trait and density mediated indirect interactions.  Ecology Letters 9: 1245-1252. (Cover article).

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, M.D. Bertness, B.R. Silliman.  2004.  Trophic cascades in rocky shore tide pools: distinguishing lethal and nonlethal effects.  Oecologia 139: 427-432.

Bertness, M.D., G.C. Trussell, P.J. Ewanchuk, B.R. Silliman, C. Mullan. 2004b. Consumer controlled alternate community states on Gulf of Maine rocky shores.  Ecology 85: 1321-1331.

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, M.D. Bertness.  2003.  Trait-mediated interactions in rocky intertidal food chains: predator risk cues alter prey feeding rates.  Ecology 84: 629-640.

Bertness, M.D., G.C. Trussell, P.E. Ewanchuk, B.R. Silliman.  2002.  Do alternate stable states exist in the Gulf of Maine rocky intertidal zone?  Ecology 83: 3434-3448.

Trussell, G.C., M.O. Nicklin.  2002.  Cue sensitivity, inducible defense, and trade-offs in a marine snail.  Ecology 83: 1635-1647.

Trussell, G.C., P.J. Ewanchuk, M.D. Bertness.  2002.  Field evidence of trait-mediated indirect effects in a rocky intertidal food web.  Ecology Letters 5: 241-245.

Trussell, G.C.  2000a.  Phenotypic clines, plasticity, and morphological trade-offs in an intertidal snail.  Evolution 54: 151-166.

Trussell, G.C.  2000b.  Predator-induced morphological trade-offs in latitudinally-separated populations of Littorina obtusata.  Evolutionary Ecology Research 2: 803-822.

Trussell, G.C., L.D. Smith.  2000.  Induced defenses in response to an invading crab predator: An explanation of historical and geographic phenotypic change.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 97: 2123-2127.

Trussell, G.C.  1997a.  Phenotypic plasticity in the foot size of an intertidal snail.  Ecology 78: 1033-1048.

Trussell, G.C.  1997b.  Phenotypic selection in an intertidal snail: The effects of a catastrophic storm.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 151: 73-79.

Trussell, G.C.  1996a.  Phenotypic plasticity in an intertidal snail: The role of a common crab predator.  Evolution 50: 448-454.

Trussell, G.C., A.S. Johnson, S.G. Rudolph, E.S. Gilfillan.  1993.  Resistance to dislodgement: Habitat and size-specific differences in morphology and tenacity in an intertidal snail.  Marine Ecology Progress Series 100: 135-144.

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