Mark A. Beekey, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department of Biology
Sacred Heart University


Office: SC217A

Address:  Department of Biology.  Sacred Heart University.  5151 Park Avenue.  Fairfield, CT 06825

Phone:  203-371-7783,   Fax: 203-365-4785,   E-mail: beekeym@sacredheart.edu

Curriculum Vitae

 

Teaching:

 

Fall:
BI 111  Concepts in Biology I Tuesday/Friday 8:00am - 9:15am
              Discussion Tuesday 9:30am - 10:30am
BI 113  Concepts in Biology I Laboratory Monday/Friday 2:00pm - 5:00pm
BI 399  Senior seminar Wednesday 10:00am - 12:00pm
Office hours:  Monday (12:00pm - 2:00 pm); Tuesday (11:00am - 1:00pm); Friday (10:00am - 12:00pm)

 

Spring:
BI 240 Invertebrate Zoology    
     
BI 114  Concepts in Biology II Laboratory    
     
     

 

Spring (Alternative Years):
BI 260 Marine Biology    

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

My research encompasses two broad scopes using benthic invertebrates as model organisms:

1.  The evolution of life histories - I am primarily interested in how life history strategies evolve under various environmental and physical constraints.  I am currently studying the evolution of brooding in the small freshwater bivalve Sphaerium striatinum.

2.  Community interactions - I am interested in how benthic invertebrate communities respond to physical and biological disturbances with respect to community composition, stability, and function.  I am currently studying the impact of zebra mussels on benthic community structure and function.

 

Current projects (Click on a project to find out more):


 

Reproductive strategies of the freshwater brooding bivalve Sphaerium striatinum.

                

Impact of zebra mussels on benthic communities in Lake Champlain.


  Peer-reviewed Publications

 		 

 

Sphaeriid research

 

Article

  • Beekey, M.A. and R.H. Karlson.  2004.  Apparent sibling rivalry in the freshwater clam Sphaerium striatinum.  Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.  57:17-22.
 

Article

  • Beekey, M.A. and D.J. Hornbach.  2004.  The effect of size-limited brood capacity on reproductive output in a freshwater bivalve.  American Midland Naturalist.  151:274-285.
 

Article

  • Beekey, M.A. and R.H. Karlson.  2003.  The effect of food availability on zygote production and brood size in a freshwater bivalve.  Canadian Journal of Zoology.  81: 1168-1173.
 

Article

  • Beekey, M.A., R.H. Karlson, and A.R. Greenberg.  2000.  Parental care in Sphaerium striatinum (Lamarck):  Evidence for retention of competent offspring.  Canadian Journal of Zoology.  78: 1697-1701.

 

Dreissena research

 

 
  • McCabe, D. J., M. A. Beekey, and J.E. Marsden.  In press.  Effect of zebra mussel colonization of soft sediments on foraging success by juvenile lake sturgeon. Aquatic Conservation.
 

Article
  • Beekey, M. A., D.J. McCabe, and J.E. Marsden. 2004.  Zebra mussels affect benthic predator foraging success and habitat choice on soft sediments.  Oecologia  141:164-170.
 

Article
  • Beekey, M. A., D.J. McCabe, and J.E. Marsden. 2004.  Soft sediment colonization by zebra mussels facilitates invertebrate communities.  Freshwater Biology 49:1-11

 

Links to Biological Societies:

Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology

Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society

Society for Conservation Biology

North American Benthological Society

Malacological Society of London

American Malacological Society

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography

National Association of Marine Laboratories

Society of Wetland Scientists

American Fisheries Society

Link to E-Scribe, a site devoted to questions, answers, and comments about ecology