Smith, Geoff - Denison University

Dr. Geoff Smith

Affiliation:	Faculty
Title:	Associate Professor and Henry Chisholm Chair in the Natural Sciences, Amphibian Ecologist
Office:	513 Talbot Hall
Email:	smithg@denison.edu
Phone:	740-587-6374
Fax:	740-587-5634

Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1995

B.A. in Biology from Earlham College, 1990

Academic Positions

Associate Professor, Department of Biology at Denison University, 2006 - present

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at Denison University, 2000 - 2006

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at William Jewell College, Liberty, MO, 1997 - 2000

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at Earlham College, Richmond, IN, 1996 - 1997

Research

Broadly speaking, my research lies within the realm of ecology. In particular, I am interested in how individuals, populations, and communities are affected by their interactions with their environment, both the living and physical components. Much of my research program focuses on these questions as they pertain to reptiles and amphibians, and so some would identify me as a herpetologist. My research program also has become increasingly concerned with understanding how anthropogenic, or human-induced, alterations of the environment influence amphibians and reptiles. I am especially interested in examining how the introduction of non-native species and chemical pollutants affect amphibian and reptile individuals and communities.

I also collaborate with a colleague at the Universidad Nacional Autonomia de Mexico to study the ecology of Mexican reptiles and amphibians, and with a colleague at Earlham College (John Iverson) to study the ecology of turtles in Dewart Lake in northern Indiana and iguanas in Bahamas.

I am very interested in including students in my research.

Publications

Ballinger, R.E., J.D. Lynch, and G.R. Smith. 2010. Amphibians and Reptiles of Nebraska. Rusty Lizard Press, Oro Valley, AZ.

Lemos-Espinal, J.A., G.R. Smith, and G.A. Woolrich-Piña. 2012. The Family Xenosauridae in Mexico. ECO Herpetological Publishing, Rodeo, NM.

Smith, G.R., and C.J. Dibble. 2012. Effects of an invasive fish (Gambusia affinis) and anthropogenic nutrient enrichment on American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) tadpoles. Journal of Herpetology. v. 46 p. 198-202

Smith, G.R., and A.A. Burgett. 2012. Interaction between two species of tadpoles mediated by nutrient enrichment. Herpetolgica. v. 68 p. 174-183

Li, Y., Z. Ke, S. Wang, G.R. Smith, and X. Liu. 2011. An exotic species is the favorite prey of a native enemy. PLoS ONE. v. 6 no. 9 p. e24299

Krishnamurthy, S.V., and G.R. Smith, and X. Liu. 2010. Growth, abnormalities, and mortality of free feeding tadpoles of American toad Bufo americanus exposed to combinations of malathion and nitrate. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. v. 29 no. p. 2777-2782

Smith, G.R., A. Boyd, C.B. Dayer, M.E. Ogle, A.J. Terlecky, and C.J. Dibble. 2010. Effects of sibship and the presence of mulitple predators on the behavior of green frog (Rana clamitans) tadpoles. Ethology. v. 116 no. p. 217-225

Iverson, J.B., S.J. Converse, G.R. Smith, and J.M. Valiulis. 2006. Long-term trends in the demography of the Allen Cays Rock Iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata): Human disturbance and density-dependent effects.. Biol. Conserv. . v. 132 no. p. 300-310

Smith, G.R., H.A. Dingfelder, and D.A. Vaala. 2004. Asymmetric competition between Rana clamitans and Hyla versicolor tadpoles. Oikos. v. 105 no. p. 626-632

Presentations

Burger, A.C., G.R. Smith, and J.E. Rettig. . 2011. Competition between invasive mosquitofish and native bluegill sunfish. . Ecological Society of America meeting. Austin, TX

Rettig, J.E. and G.R. Smith. 2008. Double duty courses: Using an ecology course to fulfill a general education requirement for oral communication. Ecological Society of America annual meeting. Milwaukee, WI

Smith, G.R.. 2008. Ecology's role in solving environmental problems: A module-based environmental science course for non-majors. . Ecological Society of America meeting. Wilwaukee, WI

Smith, G.R., C.J. Dibble, and J.E. Rettig. 2008. Small fish, big effects: The impacts of mosquitofish and ammonium nitrate on tadpoles, zooplankton, and phytoplankton. Ecological Society of America. Milwaukee, WI

Dayer, C.B., C.J. Dibble, and G.R. Smith. 2007. Variation in American toad tadpole and metamorph performance among three ponds.. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. St. Louis, MO

Involvement

Professional Memberships

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

British Herpetological Society

Ecological Society of America

Herpetologists’ League

International Reptile Conservation Foundation

Natural History Society of Maryland

Phi Beta Kappa

Sigma Xi

Societas Europae Herpetologica

Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Southwestern Association of Naturalists

Fellowships and Honors

National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship
Presidential Fellowship, University of Nebraska

Professional Service

Editor, Journal of Herpetology 2006 - 2008, 2010 (Associate Editor from 1998-2005, 2010-present)

Reviewer: Acta Oecologica, American Midland Naturalist, Amphibia-Reptilia, Animal Biology, Animal Conservation, Applied Herpetology, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Behavioral Ecology, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Biologia, Biological Conservation, Biological Invasions, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Biopesticides International, BIOS, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Caribbean Journal of Science, Chemosphere, Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiolog, Conservation Biology, Contemporary Herpetology, Copeia, Cuadernos de Herpetologia, Ecological Applications, Ecology, Environmental Pollution, Environmental Science and Technology, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Ethology, Ethology, Ecology & Evolution, Functional Ecology, Fundamental and Applied Limnology, Global Change Biology, Hamadryad, Herpetologica, Herpetological Conservation and Biology, Herpetological Journal, Herpetological Natural History, Herpetological Review, Hydrobiologia, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Comparative Psychology, Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A, Journal of Herpetology, Journal of Natural History, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Journal of Zoology, Marine & Freshwater Research, Northeastern Naturalist, Oecologia, Ohio Journal of Science, Oikos, Phyllomedusa, Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, Revista de Biologia Tropical, Southwestern Naturalist, Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry, Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, Western North American Naturalist, Zoological Science