University of North Dakota
Glacier National Park working in farmer's field Theodore Roosevelt Natinoal Park - ND image processing at UMAC buffalo


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Rodney S. Hanley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept. Earth Systems Science and Policy
University of North Dakota

Address:
     Department of Earth Systems Science and Policy
     John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences
     Box 9007
     University of North Dakota
     Grand Forks, ND 58202-9007

telephone:
fax:
e-mail:
701.777.3909
701.777.2940
rshanley@aero.und.edu


Areas of Interests
Biodiversity, biogeography, environmental science, evolutionary biology, host/parasite interactions

My primary research interests involve the modeling of species' ecological niches and the evolution of insect-host associations.

This work uses recent computational and spatial technologies, including GIS, remotely sensed data, and predictive algorithms, to produce predictive models of species' geographical distributions. I have recently produced predictive distributions of vector-borne infectious diseases, including West Nile Virus and Lyme disease, in addition to noxious invasive weeds, including Leafy Spurge and Salt Cedar. This work provides the basis to examine their extrinsic ecological complexity and assess the risk of outbreaks and spread across geographical landscapes. In the future, I would like to model the distributional responses of species' distributions, including vector-borne infectious diseases, to global climate change.

My work with the evolution of insect-host associations forms an interesting bridge between systematics, ecology, and evolution. To date, this work has dealt with analyses of natural histories, development, immature stages, and patterns of host usage within a group of fungus-associated insects. In the future, I would like to address questions regarding the co-evolutionary processes between these insects and their hosts. For instance, does niche divergence play a role in speciation with speciation taking place in ecological dimensions? Or, are ecological niches conserved over time with speciation taking place in geographic dimensions with ecological differences evolving later?
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Work/Professional Experience
2004-present Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota, Department of Earth System Science and Policy & Earth System Science Institute
2003-present Fellow, Linnean Society of London
2002-2004 Research Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota, Department of Earth System Science and Policy & Earth System Science Institute
2001-2002 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of North Dakota, Earth Systems Science Institute
1996-2001 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center
1999 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Kansas, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (overall rating 4.66/5.00)
1995 Graduate Curatorial Assistant, University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center
1994 Museum Research Technician, Washington State University, James Entomological Museum
1993-1994 Graduate Research Assistant, Washington State University, Department of Entomology
1993-1994 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Washington State University, Department of Entomology (overall rating 3.79/4.00)
1992 Museum Curatorial Assistant, Eastern Illinois University, Spooner-Riegel-Goodrich Insect Collection
1992-1993 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Eastern Illinois University, Environmental Science Program (overall rating 4.57/5.00)
1991 Undergraduate Intern, Rock Springs Center for Environmental Discovery, Decatur, Illinois
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Education
Ph.D. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas. 2001. Honors graduate.
M.S. Environmental Science, Eastern Illinois University. 1993.
B.S. Environmental Science, Eastern Illinois University. 1991.
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Professional Affiliations
American Entomological Society
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Coleopterists Society
Central States Entomological Society (Kansas Entomological Society)
Entomological Society of America
Linnean Society of London (elected Fellow 2003)
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Phi Sigma Honorary Biological Society
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (elected 1996)
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
Society for Systematic Biology
Society for the Study of Evolution
The Willi Hennig Society
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Publications (Peer-reviewed)

*denotes a graduate or undergraduate student coauthor)

In press

Melesse, A. M.,and R. S. Hanley. Artificial neural network application for multi-ecosystem carbon flux simulation. Ecological Modelling.

Hanley, R. S. Book Review: Guía Ilustrada Para Los Géneros de Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) de México (Illustrated Guide to the Genera of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) of Mexico. Coleopterists Bulletin.

Casady, G. M. *, R. S. Hanley, and S. K. Seelan. Detection of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) with the use of multi-date high resolution satellite imagery. Weed Technology.

  2005
    Melesse, A. M., and R. S. Hanley. Energy and carbon flux coupling: Multi-Ecosystem Comparisons using Artificial Neural Network. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2(2): 491-495.
  2004
 

Chatzimanolis, S.*, J. S. Ashe, and R. S. Hanley. Diurnal/nocturnal activity of rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) on Barro Colorado Island, Panama assayed by flight intercept trap. Canadian Entomologist.

Thayer, M. K., J. S. Ashe, and R. S. Hanley. The distinctive larvae of the genus Hoplandria, the first examined immature of the aleocharine tribe Hoplandriini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

  2003

Brookman, D. A.*, B. C. Rundquist, and R. S. Hanley. Prediction of saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima): A risk assessment using the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP). Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 26: 462-470.

Hanley, R. S. Leptandria gen.n., a monophyletic group of Neotropical aleocharine Staphylinidae (Coleoptera). Journal of Natural History, 37(21): 2615-2626.

Hanley, R. S. A generic revision of the aleocharine tribe Hoplandriini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 138(1): 83-140.

Hanley, R. S., and J. S. Ashe. Techniques for dissecting adult aleocharine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research, 93: 11-18.

Hanley, R. S. An annotated taxonomic catalog of the Hoplandriini of the world (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae). Scientific Papers, Natural History Museum, The University of Kansas, 27: 1-41.

2002

Hanley, R. S. The phylogenetics and higher classification of the Hoplandriini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae). Systematic Entomology, 27: 301-321.

Hanley, R. S. Heliconandria: a new genus of aleocharine Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) from Ecuador and Peru. Insect Systematics and Evolution, 33: 121-132.

Hanley, R. S. A new species of Mexican Tinotus from the refuse piles of Atta ants, including an annotated world catalog of Tinotus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Aleocharini). Coleopterists Bulletin, 56: 453-471.

Hwang, W. -S.*, R. S. Hanley, and K. –J. Ahn. Immature stages of Oxyporus germanus Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxyporinae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 75(3): 214-221.

2001

Hanley, R. S. Mandibular allometry and male dimorphism in a group of obligately mycophagous beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 72: 451-459.

1999

Hanley, R. S. Review of the Afrotropical genus Microcephalina Bernhauer (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Athetini), with a discussion of its systematic relationships. Coleopterists Bulletin, 53: 233-243.

Hanley, R. S., and J. P. Lovett*. Behavior and subcaste specialization among workers of the giant tropical ant Paraponera clavata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Byers, G. W., et al. (eds.), Entomological Contributions in Memory of Byron A. Alexander. University of Kansas Natural History Museum Special Publications, 24: 45-50.

Hanley, R. S., and K. –I. Setsuda. Immature stages of Oxyporus japonicus Sharp (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxyporinae), with notes on patterns of host utilization. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 75(2): 94-102.

1998

Hanley, R. S., and J. S. Ashe. A new genus and species of aleocharine rove beetle (Coleoptera Staphylinidae Aleocharinae Hoplandriini) from the New World. Tropical Zoology, 11(1): 183-191.

Hanley, R. S. Corrections to the nomenclature of a species of Neotropical Hoplandria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae: Hoplandriini). Coleopterists Bulletin, 52(4): 386-387.

1996

Hanley, R. S. The immature stages of Scaphisoma castaneum Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae), with observations on natural history, fungal hosts and development. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 98(1): 36-43.

1995

Goodrich, M. A., and R. S. Hanley. Biology, development and larval characters of Oxyporus major (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Entomological News, 106(4): 161-168.

Hanley, R. S., and M. A. Goodrich. Review of mycophagy, host relationships and behavior in the New World Oxyporinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 49(3): 267-280.

1994

Hanley, R. S., and M. A. Goodrich. Natural history, development and immature stages of Oxyporus stygicus Say (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxyporinae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 48: 213-225.

Hanley, R. S., and M. A. Goodrich. The Oxyporinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Illinois. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 67: 394-414.

Hanley, R. S., and M. A. Goodrich. Elytral maculations displayed by Oxyporus stygicus Say (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxyporinae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 48: 380.

1993

Hanley, R. S., and M. A. Goodrich. Biology, life history and fungal hosts of Oxyporus occipitalis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), including a descriptive overview of the genus. Proceedings of the Washington State Entomological Society, 55: 1003-1007.

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Selected Presentations and Invited Talks:
(selected from over 50 total; *denotes a graduate or undergraduate student coauthor)

2005

 

Eggleston, S. *, P. Pettit *, K. Gaffrey *, R. S. Hanley, and J. Tyndall . Insect Populations and the Decline of Threatened Prairie Birds in North America : A Proposed Study from a Student Project in UND’s ESSP Program. University of North Dakota Graduate School Scholarly Activities Forum , February 2005 [poster].

Janke, T. *, N. Aloysius *, R. S. Hanley, and J. Tyndall. Balancing Economic Growth with Habitat Conservation: A Stewardship Plan for a Residential Development near a Forest Remnant in Grand Forks , North Dakota . University of North Dakota Graduate School Scholarly Activities Forum , February 2005 [poster].

2004
 

Hanley, R. S. , and Dahlen, B. F. * Predictive Distributional Modeling of Malaria in Borneo using Remote Sensing and Primary Vector Mosquito Bionomics. Entomological Society of America National Meeting, November 2004 [oral].

Dahlen, B. F. *, and R. S. Hanley. BugHunter: An instrument for unmanned airborne entomological collection. Entomological Society of America National Meeting, November 2004 [oral].

Dahlen, B. F. *, and R. S. Hanley. Remote sensing and predictive distributional modeling of vector-borne malaria. 25th Annual Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, ACRS 2004, Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 2004 [oral, invited].

Hanley, R. S. West Nile virus: Predicting the distributional spread of a pathogen across North America . Annual Meeting of the Central States Entomological Society, April 2004 [oral, invited].

Hanley, R. S. Invasive species: Towards an early warning system. Annual Meeting of the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium, March 2004 [oral, invited].

2003
 

Hanley, R. S. Predicting the geographical spread of West Nile Virus in North America Using Ecological Niche Modeling. Department of Joint Sciences, Claremont Colleges , California , November 2003 [oral, invited].

Brookman, D. A. *, B. C. Rundquist, and R. S. Hanley. Prediction of saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima): a risk assessment using the genetic algorithm for rule-set prediction (GARP) model. Association of Applied Geography Annual Conference, November 2003 [oral].

Hanley, R. S. , and G. M. Casady *. Predicting the spread of West Nile virus in the U.S. using ecological niche modeling of infected mosquitoes. Entomological Society of America North Central Branch Annual Meeting, March 2003 [poster].

Hanley, R. S. , and G. M. Casady *. Predicting the spread of West Nile virus in the U.S. University of North Dakota Graduate School Scholarly Activities Forum , February 2003 [poster].

Casady, G. M. *, R. S. Hanley, S. K. Seelan, C. Shumake *, and T. Sandstrom *. Surveying leafy spurge on the ground and from space. Society for Rangeland Management Annual Meeting, February 2003 [oral].

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