Dianne B. Seale Associate Professor B.S., Univ. of Alabama 1967 Ph.D., Washington Univ. 1973 Postdoctoral Fellow in Interdisciplinary Studies (National Endowment for Humanities) Pennsylvania State Univ., 1973-74	Office:Lapham 396 Phone: 414-229-6331 CGLS: 414-382-1713 FAX: 414-229-3926 Email: dbseale@uwm.edu Electronic Reserve Materials:
Animal Ecology, Physiological Ecology

Research Interests

My independent research is concerned with comparative aspects of amphibian ecology and energetics, including the ecological "interphases" related to the temperate anuran's "complex life cycle" (Fig. from "Amphibia", ref. below). A primary focus is on suspension feeders (such as the aquatic, larval phase of anurans--the tadpole): 1) regulation of feeding and 2) the impact of feeding on aquatic ecosystems, e.g. regulation of primary production by grazed phytoplankton. Recent research considers temporal variability in the main energetic "cost" in both adult and larval anurans, using a computer-controlled respirometer. Current research focuses on the use of replicated microscosms (constructed at the UW-Milwaukee Field Station) to examine the impact of anuran larvae on aquatic ecosystems, particularly water quality and productivity in ponds and lakes which provide water for wildlife. Recent indications of an apparent decline in amphibians has focused international attention on their ecological significance. The complex life cycles of anurans imparts a unique role in nutrient cycling and energy flow, between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and within them (see figure). Specific water quality effects being examined in the mesocosms include: plankton densities (bacteria, protozoa, phytoplankton), photosynthetic efficiencies (using an existing "photosynthetron"), oxygen levels, and nutrients (e.g. ammonia and organic nitrogen). The results demonstrate that larval anurans are "regulatory consumers" in small pond habitats, playing a pivotal role in overall productivity and community structure. Collaborative research focuses on aquatic ecology, including population dynamics and effects of toxins on a variety of organisms, especially phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Selected Publicatons

J.N. McNair, M.E. Boraas, and D.B. Seale. 1998. Size-structure dynamics of the rotifer chemostat: a simple physiologically structured model. Hydrobiologia 387/388: 469-476. M.E. Boraas, D.B. Seale, J.E. Boxhorn, and J.N. McNair. 1998. Rotifer size distribution changes during transient phases in open cultures. Hydrobiologia 387/388: 477-482. Martin E. Boraas, Dianne B. Seale, and Joseph E. Boxhorn. Phagotrophy by a flagellate selects for colonial prey: a possible origin of multicellularity. Evolutionary Ecology 19: 153-164, 1998. Seale DB, Boraas ME, and Horton B. Use of semi-continuous culture methods for examining competitive outcome between two freshwater rotifers (genus Brachionus growing on a single algal resource. In: Plankton regulation dynamics: experiments and models in rotifer continuous cultures. N. Walz, Editor, Elsevier Press. Pp. 161-177, 1993. Seale DB, Boraas ME, and Buchholz, L. Use of rotifer continuous cultures in ecotoxicology. 1993. In: Plankton regulation dynamics: experiments and models in rotifer continuous cultures. N. Walz, Editor, Elsevier Press. Pp. 243-252, 1993. Abel D, Seale DB, and Boraas ME. Periodicities and transient shifts in anuran (Xenopus laevis, Rana clamitans) oxygen consumption revealed with flow-through respirometry. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 101A:425-432, 1992. Weber DN, Russo A, Seale DB, and Spieler RE. Waterborne lead affects feeding abilities and neurotransmitter levels of juvenile fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Aquatic toxicology 21:71-80, 1991. Boraas ME, Seale DB, and Horton, JB. Resource competition between two rotifer species (Brachionus rubens and B. calyciflorus): an experimental test of an explicit model. J. Plankton Research 12:77-87, 1990. Seale DB. Amphibia. In: T.J. Pandian and F.J. Vernberg. Animal energetics. Academic Press, New York, pp. 467-552, Chapter 8, Vol. 2. 1987.