News – WilsonLab

November 10, 2025

The Gulf of America Alliance posted a nice press release about our new EPA project focused on using engineering approaches to reduce eutrophication of important coastal systems around the Gulf.

November 5, 2025

I am psyched to report that students in my meta-analysis class have produced three more papers. Amazing group of students!

Mahas, J. W., A. E. Wilson, T. D. Steury, and A. L. Jacobson. In press. Association of plant pathogen vectors and vector-borne plant pathogens with landscape composition: a meta-analysis. Environmental Entomology.

Folorunso, T. R., M. Sundaram, N. Potnis, L. Stevison, L. G. Eckhardt, and J. R. Willoughby. In press. Quantifying the influence of genetic factors and life cycle strategies on plant pathogens virulence and disease severity. Journal of Plant Pathology.

Mwema, T., S. Zohdy, M. Sundaram, C. A. Lepczyk, L. Narine, and J. R. Willoughby. 2024. A quantitative and systematic analysis of Anopheles stephensi bionomics and control approaches. Acta Tropica 260: 107431.

September 29, 2025

Michael has just published his second chapter looking at the effects of repeated copper sulfate treatments on water quality. Low dose copper supports healthy zooplankton communities that can control phytoplankton!

McDonald, M. B., A. V. Hennessey, P. P. Johnson, M. F. Gladfelter, K. L. Merrill, S. E. Tenison, S. S. Ganegoda, T. C. Hoang, H. A. Torbert, B. H. Beck, and A. E. Wilson. 2025. Repeated low-dose copper algaecide treatments promote beneficial phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. Journal of Environmental Management 394: 127502.

August 20, 2025

The lab is growing again and we finally got our new MS students out to sample some aquaculture ponds. Welcome to Auburn, Sydney, Ava, and Maddy.

August 19, 2025

Strand’s published his first paper from our new USDA project focused on understanding how particle size influences nutrient availability in aquaculture and estuarine systems. Nice job, Strand!

Kong, X., C. Wang, S. E. Rice, I. M. Radwan, C. J. Martyniuk, A. E. Wilson, and D. Wang. In Press. Particle size-dependent partitioning of phosphorus in aquaculture pond and estuarine systems. Water Research.

August 13, 2025

Persistence has paid off once again – Isabel has published her NSF REU project! Her mentor, Matt, got this one over the finish line. Nice job.

Gladfelter, M. F., I. G. Bela, and A. E. Wilson. In press. Influence of trace metal additions on the longevity of algal blooms across a productivity gradient. Journal of Phycology

July 28, 2025

Peyton has led two practical publications focused on important changes in hydrated lime when improperly stored as well as the value of forests for water quality. Good job, Peyton and others.

Johnson, P. P., M. F. Gladfelter, A. C. Mollica, R. A. Wright, and A. E. Wilson. 2025. Could my hydrated lime actually by calcium carbonate? Alabama Fish Farming Center 1:12-13.

Johnson, P. P., A. C. Mollica, A. Warren, M. F. Gladfelter, L. A. Wilson, E. G. Fernandez-Figueroa, and A. E. Wilson. 2025 Forested watersheds improve water quality. The Forestry Source 30(8):1-3.

June 30, 2025

June has been a productive month for the lab. Michael’s first chapter from his MS just got published. These data highlight some super interesting patterns regarding how environmental variation influences copper toxicity to phytoplankton.

McDonald, M. B., A. V. Hennessey, P. P. Johnson, M. F. Gladfelter, K. L. Merrill, S. E. Tenison, S. S. Ganegoda, T. C. Hoang, H. A. Torbert, B. H. Beck, and A. E. Wilson. In press. Reevaluating copper algaecide dosing to manage water quality: A multiple linear regression approach. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

June 19, 2025

Ashley’s second MS chapter has been published! This is included a large number of other students in the lab and our USDA collaborators. Great work, team.

Hennessey, A. V., M. B. McDonald, P. P. Johnson, M. F. Gladfelter, K. L. Merrill, S. E. Tenison, S. S. Ganegoda, T. C. Hoang, H. A. Torbert, B. H. Beck, and A. E. Wilson. 2025. Lowering pH enhances copper toxicity: A novel strategy for controlling harmful algal blooms and off-flavors. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 302:118549.