University of Kentucky College of Agriculture

University of Kentucky Invertebrate Ecology Laboratory

 

Julie A. PetersonJulie A. Peterson

Graduate Research Assistant; Ph.D. Candidate

 

Department of Entomology
S-225 Agricultural Science Center N
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
Ph: 859.257.2759
Fax: 859.323.1120
Email: julie.peterson@uky.edu

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Education

  • Ph.D., Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. Expected completion: May 2012. Thesis title: Delineating the influence of genetically modified crops and non-prey food resources on generalist predator food webs.
  • B.A., Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH. May 2007.

 

Research Interests

I am broadly interested in biological control, risk-assessment of genetically engineered crops, ecology and behavior of generalist predators, and food webs in agroecosystems. My Ph.D. thesis focuses on the ecology of generalist predators, such as spiders (Araneae) and ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), in agricultural systems, with an emphasis on food-web interactions in transgenic crops. These natural enemies can provide biological control of invertebrate pests, as well as other ecosystem services, potentially allowing for a reduction in pesticide use. Arthropod predators are therefore an essential part of environmentally sustainable agriculture. Spiders have often been over-looked in the context of biological control, yet communities of Araneae are capable of having large impacts on pest populations in agricultural fields. The use of genetically modified crops, including Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn (which made up 65% of all corn grown in the United States in 2011), has dramatically changed the face of agriculture. As genetically modified organism technology is so widespread, risk-assessment is necessary in order to study the compatibility of transgenic crops with biological control. My project uses a multi-faceted approach, utilizing antibody-based and DNA-based technology with field and laboratory studies, which provides a significant advance in understanding the movement of Bt-corn proteins in invertebrate food-webs and aids in the risk-assessment of genetically modified organisms in the environment.  Additionally, my research examines the potential for linyphiid spiders to utilize corn pollen as a supplementary resource in their diets. My thesis has examined these issues by addressing the following objectives:

 

1) Examining the potential for pollen consumption by linyphiid spiders

 

2) Elucidating food webs and feeding biology of generalist predators in transgenic corn fields

 

3) Quantifying and tracking Bt-endotoxin uptake in non-target arthropods

 

Research Publications

  • Peterson JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2012. “Transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Crops: Environmental Risk-assessment” In: Encyclopedia of Environmental Management. Taylor & Francis, London, UK. Invited book chapter, in press.

  • Peterson JA, JG Lundgren & JD Harwood. 2011. Interactions of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crops with spiders (Araneae). Journal of Arachnology, 39(1): 1-21. View PDF

  • Peterson JA, SA Romero & JD Harwood. 2010. Pollen interception by linyphiid spiders in a corn agroecosystem: implications for dietary diversification and risk-assessment. Arthropod-Plant Interactions,4(4): 207-217. View PDF

  • Peterson JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2009. Quantification of Bt-endotoxin exposure pathways in carabid food webs across multiple transgenic events. Biocontrol Science & Technology, 19(6): 613-625. View PDF

 

Selected Presentations

  • Peterson JA & JD Harwood. 2011. Generalist predator food webs in transgenic maize and the influence of non-prey food resources. International conference on understanding and managing ecological novelty: towards an integrative framework of the socio-ecological risks of novel organisms, Monte Verita, Switzerland.

  • Peterson JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2011. Pollen and prey consumption as routes for uptake of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins by generalist predators (Araneae). NCB-ESA, Minneapolis, MN. Awarded 2nd Place, Student Paper Competition.

  • Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2010. Uptake of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins by a community of generalist predators (Araneae) and their prey. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), San Diego, CA.

  • Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2010. Uptake of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins by a community of generalist predators (Araneae) and their prey. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (ESA), San Diego, CA.
  • Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2010. Transgenic crop risk-assessment: uptake of Bacillus thuringiensis proteins in the non-target spider community. Annual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society, Greenville, NC.
  • Peterson, JA & JD Harwood. 2010. The dietary significance of pollenivory in spiders. In: “Symposium: Non-prey consumption by natural enemies and implications for biological control.” North Central Branch Meeting of the ESA, Louisville, KY.
  • Peterson, JA, SA Romero, JG Lundgren & JD Harwood. 2009. Effect of anthesis on prey availability at linyphiid spider webs and implications for transgenic crop risk-assessment. Annual Meeting of the ESA, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Peterson, JA, SA Romero & JD Harwood. 2009. Pollen interception by linyphiid spiders: effect of anthesis on dietary supplementation and prey availability. International Congress of Ecology, Brisbane, Australia.
  • Peterson, JA, SA Romero & JD Harwood. 2009. Pollen interception by linyphiid spiders: effect of anthesis on dietary supplementation and prey availability. Annual Meeting of the American Arachnological Society, Russellville, AR.
  • Peterson, JA, SA Romero & JD Harwood. 2009. Pollen interception by linyphiid spiders: effect of anthesis on dietary supplementation and prey availability. North Central Branch Meeting of the ESA, St. Louis, MO. Awarded 1st Place, Student Paper Competition.
  • Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2008. Quantifying exposure pathways in generalist predator food webs: uptake of Bt-endotoxins across multiple transgenic events. Annual Meeting of the ESA, Reno, NV. Awarded 1st Place, Student Competition for the President’s Prize.
  • Peterson, JA & JD Harwood. 2008. Fate and exposure pathways of Bt-endotoxins in terrestrial food webs. In: “Symposium: Evaluation of Agriculturally-Related Chemicals: Impacts and Benefits on Environmental, Animal and Human Health.” American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2008. Quantifying exposure pathways in carabid food webs: uptake of Bt-endotoxins from multiple transgenic events. North Central Branch Meeting of the ESA, Columbus, OH. Awarded 1st Place, Student Paper Competition.
  • (Poster) Peterson, JA, JJ Obrycki & JD Harwood. 2007. Uptake of Bt-endotoxins by generalist predators (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in transgenic corn fields. Annual Meeting of the ESA, San Diego, CA. Awarded 2nd Place, Student Competition for the President’s Prize.

 

Professional Affiliations

Entomological Society of America
International Organization for Biological Control
American Arachnological Society
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
Phi Sigma

 

Major Advisor

James D. Harwood

 

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