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Alyssa Demko

Course Title: Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Marine Invertebrates

Alyssa Demko is a PhD candidate in Marine Biology. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology and Chemistry from Roger Williams University and a Master's Degree in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston. Her research interests include: extracting DNA from culture-dependent and culture-independent sampling methods and illumina next-generation sequencing to assess relative diversity and community composition. Her research for her Master's thesis was: the effect of latitude and phylogeny on seaweed palatability to generalist marine herbivores.

  • BS in Marine Biology and a BA in Chemistry, Roger Williams University
  • MS in Marine Biology, College of Charleston
  • PhD Candidate in Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego

Alyssa taught Marine Invertebrates for UC San Diego Academic Connections in Summer of 2016. Previously she served as a Teaching Assistant in Genetics, Parisitology and Introduction to Biology at the College of Charleston.

Demko, A. M., Amsler, C. D., Baker, B. J., Hay, M. E., Long, J. D., McClintock, J. B., Paul, V.J. and Sotka, E.E. Phylogenetic and latitudinal patterns in seaweed palatability toward generalist marine herbivores. Oral Presentation for the Western Society of Naturalists (WSN) Annual Meeting, November 2015.

Demko, A. M., Amsler, C. D., Baker, B. J., Hay, M. E., Long, J. D., McClintock, J. B., Paul, V.J. and Sotka, E.E. Phylogenetic and latitudinal patterns in seaweed palatability toward generalist marine herbivores. Oral Presentation for Master’s Defense, College of Charleston, May 2015.

Demko, A. M., Amsler, C. D., Baker, B. J., Hay, M. E., Long, J. D., McClintock, J. B., Paul, V.J. and Sotka, E. E. Phylogenetic and latitudinal patterns in seaweed palatability toward generalist marine herbivores. Oral Presentation at the Graduate Program in Marine Biology Annual Student Colloquium, College of Charleston, September 2014.

Demko, A. M., Amsler, C. D., Baker, B. J., Hay, M. E., Long, J. D., McClintock, J. B., and Sotka, E.E. Phylogenetic and latitudinal patterns in seaweed palatability toward generalist marine herbivores. Poster Presentation at the Benthic Ecology Meeting, University of North Florida, March 2014.

Demko, A. M., Paul, V. J., & Sotka, E. E. 2013.Are tropical urchins more tolerant of tropical chemically-­‐defended seaweeds than temperate urchins? A comparison of populations of Arbacia punctulata. Poster Presentation at College of Charleston Graduate Student Poster Session, January 2013, Charleston, SC.

Demko, A. M., Paul, V. J., & Sotka, E. E. 2013.Are tropical urchins more tolerant of tropical chemically-­‐defended seaweeds than temperate urchins? A comparison of populations of Arbacia punctulata. Poster Presentation at College of Charleston Graduate Colloquium, September 28, 2013, Charleston, SC.

Demko, A. M., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A. L. 2012. Is the banded coral shrimp a globally distributed species? A test of reproductive isolation in Atlantic and Pacific populations of Stenopus hispidus (Decapoda: Stenopodidae). Oral Presentation at Roger Williams University Senior Thesis Seminar, 13 April 2012, Bristol, RI.

Demko, A. M. & Milke, L. 2012. Impact of diet on digestive enzyme activity in larval eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Poster presentation at National Shellfisheries Association Annual Meeting, 25-­‐29 March 2012, Seattle, WA.

Demko, A. M. & Milke, L. 2012. Effect of diet on digestive enzyme activity in larval eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Poster presentation at the NOAA Fisheries Milford Aquaculture Seminar, 12-­‐14 March 2012, Westbrook, CT.

Murray, K., Demko, A. M., Ward, B., DeLillo, C., Balazadeh, K., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A.L. 2012. The absence of male features and functionality in the monotypic shrimp genus Lysmatella, a simultaneous hermaphrodite. Poster Presentation at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, 3-­‐7 January 2012, Charleston, SC.

Demko, A. M. & Milke, L. 2011. Impact of diet on digestive enzyme activity in larval and post-­‐ larval bivalves. Oral presentation at the NOAA Hollings Scholars Symposium, 1-­‐5 August 2011, Silver Springs, MD.

Demko, A. M., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A. L. 2011. Is Stenopus hispidus a globally distributed species? A test of reproductive isolation in Atlantic and Pacific populations. Oral Presentation at the Crustacean Society Summer Meeting, 6-­‐9 June 2011, Honolulu, HI.

Ward, B. K., Demko, A. M., DeLillo, C., Balazadeh, K., Murray, K., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A. L. 2011. Sex change and hermaphroditism in the monotypic Caridean shrimp genus Lysmatella. Poster Presentation at the Crustacean Society Summer Meeting, 6-­‐9 June 2011, Honolulu, HI.

Demko, A. M., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A. L. 2010. Is Stenopus hispidus a globally distributed species? A test of reproductive isolation in Atlantic and Pacific populations. Oral Presentation at Roger Williams University Marine and Natural Science Seminar Series. April 2010, Bristol, RI.

Demko, A. M., Bourque, B. D. & Rhyne, A. L. 2010. Is Stenopus hispidus a globally distributed species? A test of reproductive isolation in Atlantic and Pacific populations. Poster Presentation at the Benthic Ecology Meeting, March 2010, Wilmington, NC. Atlantic and Pacific populations, ($500).