Lab News

June 24, 2026

I had a chance to talk with a Vox reporter, Benji Jones, about the algal bloom issues at the Reflecting Pool in D.C. He included our research on chemical treatments as well as biomanipulation (i.e., zooplankton) to control HABs in his story.

https://www.vox.com/climate/492909/why-trump-is-losing-his-war-against-algae

June 22, 2026

Strand published his second Ph.D. chapter focused on our research in west AL catfish ponds! Nice job.

Kong, X., S. E. Rice, H. S. Kramer-Dew, A. R. Zimmerman, C.J. Martyniuk, Y. G. Her, E. Bean, J. D. Judy, Y. Li, A. E. Wilson, and D. Wang. Multiphase coupling of phosphorus and organic matter across water–particle interaction in aquaculture ponds. Journal of Hazardous Materials.

Summer is finally here! Lots to do. We have gotten some good news about some manuscripts that were in review. First, Keven’s meta-analysis class project (2025 class) was just published in Footwear Science. Nice job, Keven. This is the 71st paper from my class. And, Matt’s field experiment that examined how eutrophication influences the transcriptomic effects in Microcystis was just published in Journal of Phycology. Good work, Matt.

Santamaria-Guzman, K., M. Meyer-Vega, B. M. Peoples, K. D. Harrison, A. E. Wilson and J. A. Roper. In press. Conventional footwear shows the largest effects on gait speed and stride length in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Footwear Science

Gladfelter, M. F., H. R. Baylous, A. E. Wilson, and M. M. Steffen. In press. Nutrient disturbance in a shallow aquaculture pond impacts Microcystis gene expression but does not impact bacterial community function during bloom conditions. Journal of Phycology.

May 4, 2026

The lab is thrilled to start a busy and productive summer 2026. We have added some new undergraduate team members, Hannah Jones, Emma Bierbauer, Anna Claire Wright, and Ben Stewart (Davidson College), to help keep the machine running.

May 3, 2026

Congratulations to our recent graduate students in Fisheries who completed their degrees, including our lab’s very own Dr. Matt Gladfelter (below) and Jenifer Howell!

April 29, 2026

Pierce was recently honored with the Comer Medal for Excellence in Biological Sciences, which is one of the highest honors to an undergrad at Auburn University, before heading to the University of Alabama at Birmingham to start his PhD in microbiology. Congrats, Pierce!

April 21, 2026

More exciting news. Our paper describing counter-intuitive effects of alkalinity of copper sulfate toxicity in phytoplankton has been accepted for publication. These data highlight the importance of not overdosing copper to control algal blooms.

Mollica, A. C., M. T. Wesche, M. F. Gladfelter, M. B. McDonald, A. V. Hennessey, P. P. Johnson, K. L. Merrill, and A. E. Wilson. 2026. Higher alkalinity increases copper toxicity in phytoplankton: the importance of pH flux when treating algal blooms. Harmful Algae 156:103123.