Dr. Anthony M. Rossi

Associate Professor 

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Office: Building 3, Room 2214 Phone: (904) 620-1934 E-mail: arossi@unf.edu    B.A. (Biology) Univ. of Missouri at St. Louis (1984) M.S. (Biology) Univ. of Missouri at St. Louis (1986) Ph.D. (Biology) Florida State Univ. (1991)   Joined UNF faculty in 1998

Teaching:

General Biology I, Current Applications in Biology: The debate between evolution and creation “science", Ecology, Conservation Biology, Plant Anatomy and Physiology, Entomology, Quantitative Ecology, Methods in Ecological Restoration  and Readings in Ecology and Evolution

Research:

In general, my research focuses on the ecology and evolution of plant-insect interactions. I am especially interested in the factors that affect host range expansion and sympatric divergence between host-associated populations of herbivorous insects. Specifically, my students and I are investigating whether plant-specific differences in larval development time are capable of producing genetic divergence in the gall midge, Asphondylia borrichiae. Such a scenario is possible if gene flow is greatly reduced between temporally-isolated sympatric host-associated populations of the gall midge. This project is conducted using native populations of Asphondylia along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the southeastern U.S.

In addition, my students and I are investigating the effects of insect herbivory on the production of tannins (inducible polyphenolics) in turkey oak (Quercus laevis). This work focuses on the relationships between the intensity and timing of insect damage on the wounding response of turkey oak. In particular, I am interested in whether the response is localized to the site of damage or whether the trees produce elevated levels of tannins systemically. We are also are also studying the causes responsible for the inter-population differences in the survival, performance and recruitment of the hooded pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor. The overall objective of the study is to determine if this ecologically threatened carnivorous plant can serve as a useful indicator species. We are developing a growth response model of S. minor under variable environmental conditions, which will be tested as an index for wetland quality. Both of these projects are being conducted at UNF, which consists of a central core campus surrounded by large expanses of semi-natural ecosystems that are characteristic of north Florida.

 

Relevant Publications:

 Lauer, N.T. and A.M. Rossi. 2011. Effects of manual damage on turkey oak (Fagales: Fagaceae) foliar tannin concentration and subsequent herbivorous insect abundance. Florida Entomologist 94:467-471. 

 Rossi, A.M., R.C. Meyer, D.C. Moon and K. Stokes. 2011. Effects of thinning and clearing on plant abundance, diversity and community composition in former pine tree (Pinus elliottii) farms in northeast Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 10:741-750.

 Rossi, A.M., D.C. Moon, D. Casamatta, K. Smith, C. Bentzien, J. McGregor, A. Norwich, E. Perkerson, R. Perkerson, J. Savinon, K. Stokes and D. Dobberfuhl. 2010. Pilot study on the effects of partially restored riparian plant communities on habitat quality and biodiversity along first-order tributaries of the Lower St. Johns River. Journal of Water Resource and Protection 2:771-782. 

Moon, D.C., A.M. Rossi, J. Depaz, L. McKelvey, S. Elias, E. Wheeler and J. Moon. 2010. Ants provide nutritional and defensive benefits to the carnivorous plant Sarracenia minor. Oecologia 164:185-192. 

 Stiling P., D.C. Moon, A.M. Rossi, B. Hungate and B. Drake. 2009. Seeing the forest for the trees: long-term exposure to elevated CO₂ increases some herbivore densities. Global Change Biology 15:1895-1902. 

 Moon, D.C., A.M. Rossi, K. Stokes and J. Moon. 2007. Effects of the pitcher mining moth, Exyra semicrocea, on the hooded pitcher plant, Sarracenia minor. American Midland Naturalist 59:321-326. 

 Rossi, A.M., M. Murray, K. Hughes, M. Kowtowski, D.C. Moon and P. Stiling. 2006. Non-random distribution among a guild of parasitoids: implications for community structure and host survival. Ecological Entomology 31:557-563.

Rossi, A.M., P. Stiling, D.C. Moon, M.V. Cattell and B.G. Drake. 2004. Induced defensive response of myrtle oak to herbivory in ambient and elevated CO2. Journal of Chemical Ecology 30:1143-1152.

Stiling, P., A.M. Rossi and M.V. Cattell. 2003. Associational resistance mediated by natural enemies. Ecological Entomology 28:587-592.

Stiling, P., D.C. Moon, M.D. Hunter, J. Colson, A.M. Rossi, G.J. Hymus and B.G. Drake. 2002. Elevated CO2 lowers relative and absolute herbivore density across all species of a scrub-oak forest. Oecologia 134:82-87.

Rossi, A. M., and D. R. Strong. 2001. Seasonal distribution of the leafhopper Carneocephala floridana (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in north Florida salt marshes. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 94: 871-876.

Stiling, P., A. M. Rossi, and D. Gordon. 2000. The difficulties of single factor thinking in Restoration: replanting a rare cactus in the Florida Keys. Biological Conservation 94: 327-333.