GARY R. HUXEL, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Arkansas

Email:ghuxel@uark.edu
Phone:479-575-3220

Education
Ph. D., University of Tennessee, 1995
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California - Davis, 1995-2000
Research Associate, University of California - Davis, 2000-2001

Academic Positions
Assistant Professor, University of South Florida, 2001-2005

Research Interests and Current Projects
Colleagues and I study a range of topics in ecology and conservation biology. Currently there are several major projects that we are working on. For more information on any project click on the title.

Ecology and Conservation of Box Turtles
Box turtles are a model species indicative of species’ responses to global change including climate and landscape changes.

Multiple Predators in Food Webs
The interaction among predators potentially has strong influence on the structure and stability of food webs.  I am studying these interactions using various approaches including theoretical models (Huxel 2007; Holt and Huxel 2007); laboratory microcosms; and field studies.

Stream food webs and ecosystem processes
I am collaborating with Dan Magoulick and his student Matt Dekar on stream food web structure and dynamics and ecosystem processes.  In particular we are interested in the affects of stream drying on community composition, species’ interactions and ecosystem processes.

Habitat Connectivity
I have been examining the influence of habitat connectivity and the exchange of organisms and nutrients across habitats using theoretical models and field research.  Theoretical models have focused on the influence of allochthonous inputs on food web stability (Huxel and McCann 1998; McCann, Hastings and Huxel 1998; Huxel, McCann, and Polis 2002).

Pictures from Bahía de los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico

Ecosystem Response to Elevated Arsenic Concentrations

I am also part of a NSF funded Biocomplexity grant entitled - BE/CBC: Ecosystem Response to Elevated Arsenic Concentrations - with collaborators: PI - Thomas Pichler, Co-PIs - James Garey, Gary Huxel, Pam Muller, Jan Amend.  In this study, the major questions are how does arsenic influence biological diversity, in what ways do food web structures differ among high arsenic, low arsenic, and control sites; and how do differences in food web structure influence ecosystem processes and functioning.  The first sampling occurred in November of 2003 and the second in May of 2005.  Early results show that significant differences occur in the identity and number of species along a gradient of arsenic concentrations.  Food web models are being constructed based upon initial data. 

Pictures from Papua New Guinea

Mentoring
Former Postdoctoral Fellows
Current Students
Former Students

Teaching
Community Ecology
Conservation Biology
Biometry (Special Problems)
Mathematical Biology

Recent publications
Holt, R.D. and G.R. Huxel.  2007.  Alternative prey and the dynamics of intraguild predation: Theoretical perspectives.  Ecology. In press.

Huxel, G.R. 2007. Antagonistic and synergistic interactions among predators. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 69:2093-2104.

Talley, D.M. G.R. Huxel, and M. A. Holyoak. 2006. Habitat connectivity at the land-water interface. In: Sanjayan M. and Crooks K. (Eds.), Connectivity in Conservation. Cambridge University Press.

Polis, G. A., M. E. Power and G. R. Huxel, editors. 2004.  Food webs at the landscape level. University of Chicago Press.

For a more complete list of publications click here.

Back to Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Arkansas

Email me: ghuxel@uark.edu

More information on opportunities for Graduate Study in Biological Sciences at UA

More information on the Ecology and Evolution Group in Biological Sciences at UA