Ingi Agnarsson Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Curator of Invertebrate Collections, Department of Biology, University Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405-0086 E-mail: ; Web: http://theridiidae.com/ and http://www.islandbiogeography.org/; Phone: (+1) 802-656-0460
CURRICULUM VITAE
Summary
PhD: 2004. Total pubs: 85. H-index: 26. Covers: 8. Grants: >$1.000.000. Patents: 1. Media: e.g. Science, BBC.
Personal
· Born: Reykjavík, Iceland, 11 January 1971
· Citizenship: Icelandic
· Languages: (speak/read) – Icelandic, English, Spanish; (read) – Danish; (basic) – German
Education
· George Washington University, Washington DC, 1998-2004, Ph.D.
· The University of Iceland, Reykjavík, 1992-1995, B.Sc.
Professional Affiliations
· University of Vermont, Burlington VT, Assistant Professor, 2012-present.
· National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 2004-2007, 2010-present. Research Associate.
· University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Assistant Professor and Director of Zoological Museum, 2008-2012.
· Center for Applied Tropical Ecology and Conservation (CATEC), UPR, 2008-2012, Research Fellow.
· National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 2007-2010. Research Collaborator.
· Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, 2007-2009. Research Associate.
· University of Akron, Ohio, 2007-2008. Postdoctoral Research Scholar.
· University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2004-2006. Killam Postdoctoral Fellow.
· National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1998-2004. Pre-doctoral Fellow.
· Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavík, 1995-1998. Researcher (Icelandic invertebrates).
· Institute of Biology, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, 1993-1994. Research Assistant (rocky shore ecology).
GRANTS
· Smithsonian Institution 2013 SI Barcode Network, 2013-present, PI with Jonathan A. Coddington, ($20,000): Barcoding a Mega-diverse Group in a Biodiversity Hotspot – Diversity and Biogeography of Arachnids in the Caribbean.
· National Science Foundation (DEB-1314749, transfer of DEB-1050187 from UPR to UVM), 2013-present, PI, ($543,632): “Collaborative Research: the generation of a biodiversity hotspot - paleobiogeography of the Caribbean inferred from multiple arachnid lineages with differing dispersal abilities”
· National Science Foundation (DEB-1050187-1050253), 2011-2012, PI, ($833,000): “Collaborative Research: the generation of a biodiversity hotspot - paleobiogeography of the Caribbean inferred from multiple arachnid lineages with differing dispersal abilities” (with PI G. Binford and co-PI P. Selden).
· National Geographic Society Global Exploration Fund (GEFNE29-11), 2011-2013, PI, ($21,100): “Islands on islands: biogeography of spider web parasites and their hosts in the Indian Ocean”
· National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration (8655-09), 2009-2010, PI, ($23,750): “Casting spider webs across Malagasy rivers: extraordinary silk in giant orb webs”
· Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS 207-26), collaborator on a postdoctoral grant, PI Helen Smith (198.000AUD), current.
· Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS Z1-9799-0618-07) research fellowship (~140.000$), 2007-2009.
· Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship (~85.000$), University of British Colombia, 2004-2006.
· The Biodiversity of the Guianas, 2005, (8.000$, with J. Coddington, J. Miller, and M. Kuntner), for fieldwork in French Guiana
· Smithsonian Small Grants Program, 2005, (4.000$, with J. Coddington, J. Miller, and M. Kuntner), for fieldwork in French Guiana
· Fulbright Student Grant for Foreign Students (IIE 159 85610; 12.000$), 1998-2003.
· Doctoral fellowship, 1998-2004, funded by a National Science Foundation PEET grant to Gustavo Hormiga and Jonathan Coddington (DOEB 9712353).
· Sallee Charitable Trust, 2000, (7.000$, with M. Kuntner) fieldwork in S. Africa and Madagascar
Awards
· “Top Ten” new species Award, for the discovery of the remarkable new species Caerostris darwini. The International Institute for Species Exploration, May 23, 2011.
· Best Student Paper Competition, first place, American Arachnological Society, 2003.
· Best Student Paper Competition, second place, American Arachnological Society, 1999.
· Tuition award, George Washington University 1998-2004.
Patent
· UA 737 PCT, Humidity Responsive Materials and Systems and Methods Using Humidity Responsive Materials. USA application in process.
Academic services and public outreach
· Editorial Board, Zookeys (2013-present), ISRN Evolutionary Biology, 2012-present, Conference Papers in Biology, 2012-present Hacquetia, 2007-present. Associate Editor, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013-present, Journal of Arachnology (Systematics and Taxonomy) 2007-2012.
· Reviewing for: Acta Oecologica, Acta Theriologica Sinica, Arthropoda Selecta, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Biodiversity and Conservation, Biology Letters, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Bulletin of the Entomological Society of Washington, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Cladistics, Ethology, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, European Journal of Entomology, Fauna of Arabia, Frontiers in Zoology, GENE, Genetica, GREENART, Hacquetia, Insectes Sociaux, Invertebrate Systematics, ISRN Evolutionary Biology, Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Journal of Arachnology, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Ethology, Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Experimental Zoology A, Journal of Insect Behavior, Journal of Molecular Evolution, Journal of Natural History, Journal of Zoology, Molecular Ecology, Molecular Ecology Resources, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, National Science Foundation, Nature Communications, Naturwissenschaften, Oecologia, Pacific Science, Palaios, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B, Revista Ibérica de Aracnología, Spider Genera of North America, Systematic Biology, Tuhinga, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoological Science, Zoology, Zookeys, Zootaxa.
· Interactive Key, Agnarsson I. 2003a. Interactive Key to the World Genera of Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae), version 1.0 beta. George Washington University, online at http://www.gwu.edu/~spiders/keys.htm.
· Press coverage and interviews (selection):
August 2006: New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9820-societyfocused-spiders-live-and-hunt-together.html, Science 360 http://news.science360.gov/archives/20090616_breaking_story.aspx.
December 2006: Science (314: 1516).
April 2009: Journal of Zoology “podcast” http://www.wiley.com/bw/podcast/jzo.asp.
May 2009: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8064000/8064075.stm, Inside JEB (J. Exp. Biol. 2009, 212: ii), Teheran Times.
June 2009: weirdscience.ca, New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227135.800-spider-silk-could-yield-superpowerful-muscle.html, Science News ScienceShots http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/science-shots/.
July 2009: Cosmos Magazine http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2842/how-sticky-too-sticky.
November 2009: “Inspirations” interview in The Systematics 29, online: http://systass.org/newsletter/TheSystematist29-cover.pdf, BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8383000/8383070.stm.
December 2009: YouTube on Nakanai spiders, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvPPITjcHnw.
September 2010: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9001000/9001866.stm, Science News http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/09/malagasy-spiders-spin-the-worlds.html, National Geographic http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/photogalleries/100917-darwins-bark-spider-new-species-spider-webs-madagascar-science-pictures-strongest/?now=2010-09-17-00:01#/huge-spider-webs-kid_26176_600x450.jpg, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin's_bark_spider, EoL, The Sun, Time Magazine, Live Science, various media worldwide.
October 2010: Science (330: 21), Science News http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/10/new-species-slideshow.html, New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn19531-new-species-discovered-in-papua-new-guinea, BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_9060000/newsid_9064700/9064756.stm, Conservation International http://www.conservation.org/FMG/Articles/Pages/200_new_species_png_expedition_muller_nakanai.aspx, Live Science, Reuters, Time Magazine, AFP, Scientific American, various media worldwide.
May 2011: BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/13500847, The Wall Street Journal http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2011/05/24/top-10-new-species, MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43140816/?gt1=43001,
Cosmos magazine http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/4343/top-10-new-species-2011-announced, Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=most-interesting-discovered-species-11-05-25, various media worldwide.
November 2011: New Scientists http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21124-zoologger-the-biggest-spider-web-in-the-world.html
November 2011: Nature http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7372/full/479152e.html
July 2012: International Innovation http://www.research-europe.com/magazine/ENVIRONMENT/2012-12/index.html
· Taxonomic service. Identification of theridiid, linyphiid, and synotaxid spiders for both public and scientists (on all continents) doing research on behavior, ecology, and evolution involving spiders.
· Contributions to Wikipedia
International collaboration (selection, total of over 50 coauthors)
· Dr. Matjaz Kuntner (Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts): spider biology, taxonomy, and phylogenetic theory.
· Dr. Jonathan A. Coddington (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution): spider biology, phylogenetic theory, and biodiversity estimation.
· Dr. Todd A. Blackledge (University of Akron); silk biomechanics and phylogenetics of spiders.
· Dr. Laura J. May-Collado (University of Puerto Rico): Mammalian phylogenetics and acoustic evolution.
· Dr. Leticia Avilés (University of British Columbia): spider sociality and inbreeding.
· Dr. Wayne P. Maddison (University of British Columbia): phylo- and population genetics of spiders.
· Dr. Ali Dhinojwala (University of Akron): silk biomechanics, humidity regulated fibers.
· Dr. Jeremy A. Miller (Naturalis): spider taxonomy.
· Dr. Miquel Arnedo (University of Barcelona): theridiid phylogeny.
· Dr. Rosemary G. Gillespie (University of California, Berkeley): spider phylogenetics.
· Dr. William G. Eberhard (University of Costa Rica): spider webs.
Graduate Students
Primary Advisor
· Federico Lopez-Osorio (PhD) – systematics of Vespidae wasps
· Heine Kiesbuy (PhD) – spider systematics and biogeography
· Sohath Zamira Yusseff Vanegas (PhD) – systematics and biogeography of Calliphoridae dipterans
· Anne McHugh (Ms) – biogeography of spiders
· Lourdes Gonzalez (Ms) – evolution of acoustic communication in cetaceans
· Ximena Velez-Zuazo (PhD, 2012, UPR) – shark phylogeny and conservation
Committee member
· Sean Kelly (Ms - UPR) – ecology of riverine spiders
· Oscar Ospina (PhD – UPR) – systematics of Caribbean lizards
· Pablo Gutie (PhD – UPR) – Impact of pH on aquatic insect communities
· Arian Avalos (PhD – UPR) – learning in social bees
· Luisa Otero (PhD – UPR) – Impacts of climate change on Anolis populations
· Victor Jose Vega Lopez (PhD – UPR) – Fungal endophytes in Caribbean plants
· Fabiola Areces (PhD – UPR) – Systematics of Thespesia
· Yadira Ortiz-Ruiz (PhD – UPR) – Genetic variation in feral goats and pigs on Mona Island
· Wilfredo Falcon Linero (Ms, 2013 – UPR) – Population genomics of orchid invasions
· Seth Rifkin (Ms, 2012, UPR) – Floral morphology and pollination syndromes
· Isis Lopez (Ms, 2012, UPR) – Spatial distribution of Potyvirus in Puerto Rico
· Branko Hije (Ms, 2011, UPR) – Recovery of amphibian species in secondary forests in Costa Rica
Teaching Experience
· University of Vermont, VT, 2012. Adapted and taught upper level course in Biology: Field Zoology: Conservation Biology (undergraduate).
· University of Vermont, VT, 2012. Developed and taught graduate colloquia: Phylogenetic methods and applications (graduate).
· University of Puerto Rico, PR, 2010 and 2011. Participated in group-taught core graduate courses in UPR Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity track: Advanced Evolution and Advanced Ecology (graduate)
· University of Puerto Rico, PR, 2011. Designed, coordinated, and co-taught a new core course in UPR Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity track: Conservation Biology (graduate).
· University of Puerto Rico, PR, 2010 and 2011. Participated in group-taught core graduate courses in UPR Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity track: Advanced Evolution and Advanced Ecology (graduate)
· University of Puerto Rico, PR, 2010, 2011. Developed and taught Evolution (undergraduate).
· University of Puerto Rico, PR, 2009. Designed and taught Phylogenetic Systematics (graduate).
· George Washington University, Washington DC, 2003-04. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Introductory Biology labs for science majors (undergraduate).
· George Washington University, Washington DC, 2001. Teaching Assistant. Graduate level course: Phylogenetic Systematics (graduate).
· Field course resource person, Universidad de Costa Rica and Organization for Tropical Studies, San Jose. OTS 2002-3.
· Supervision of undergraduate students assisting with research (University of Akron).
Field Experience
· Spiders: Seychelles, March 2013; Mozambique, March 2013; Dominican Republic, June 2012; Cuba, March 2012; Puerto Rico and Mona, 2010-12; Madagascar, May 2001, March-April 2008, February-March 2010; Panama, April 2010; Papua New Guinea, September 2009, PNG - New Britain, March 2009; USA, 2007; French Guiana, November 2005; Singapore, Malaysia, May-June 2005; Ecuador, July 2004; Costa Rica, January-March 2001, June 2002, July 2004, September 2005; Mayotte, Mauritius, Rodriguez, Reunion, March-April 2008; South Africa, March-April 2001; Chile, November-December 2000; Hawaii, April 2000; Guyana, July 1999; Uganda, May 1997; Iceland, 1995-1998.
· Terrestrial invertebrate inventories: Iceland, 1988-1998.
· Intertidal invertebrate ecology: Iceland, 1988-1994.
· Dolphin photo-ID and acoustics: Panama, June 2004; Costa Rica, August 2006.
Field courses
· Organization for Tropical Studies and Universidad de Costa Rica OTS 2001-1: Tropical Biology – An Ecological Approach, Costa Rica, February-March 2001
· University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. The Biology of Spiders, Highlands, USA. July 1998.
· Tropical Biology and Association Makarere University. Darwin course in Tropical Ecology, Kibale forest, Uganda. June-July 1997.
Publications (peer reviewed journals and books) [Impact factor 2012; rank (category)]
2013
80. Agnarsson I, Rayor L. 2013. A molecular phylogeny of the Australian huntsman spiders (Sparassidae, Deleninae): implications for taxonomy and social behaviour. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69: 895-905 [4.07; 15/47 (Evolutionary Biology)]
79. Majer M, Agnarsson I, Svenning JC, BildeT. 2013. Social species in the spider genus Anelosimus occur in wetter, more productive habitats than non-social species. Naturwissenschaften in press.
78. Kuntner M, Arnedo M, Trontelj P, Lokovšek T, Agnarsson I. 2013. A molecular phylogeny of nephilid spiders: Evolutionary history of a model lineage. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69: 961-979. [4.07; 15/47 (Evolutionary Biology)]
77. Gregorič M, Kiesbüy HC, Quiñones Lebrón SG, Rozman A, Agnarsson I, Kuntner A. 2013. Optimal foraging, not biogenetic law, predicts spider orb web allometry. Naturwissenschaften 100: 263-268. [2.14; 12/56 (Multidiciplinary sciences)]
76. Peng P, Blamires SJ, Agnarsson I, Lin HC, Tso I-M. 2013. A colour-mediated mutualism between two arthropod predators. Current Biology 23: 1-5. [9.49; 22/183 (Multidiciplinary sciences)]
75. Agnarsson I, Coddington JA, Kuntner M. 2013. Systematics – progress in the study of spider diversity and evolution. In: Spider Research in the 21st Century (Ed. Penney D) chapter 2, pp 58-111.
74. Agnarsson I, Avilés L, Maddison WP. 2013. Loss of genetic variability in social spiders: genetic and phylogenetic consequences of population subdivision and inbreeding. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26: 27-37 [3.48; 17/47 (Evolutionary Biology)]
73. Agnarsson I, Gregorič M, Blackledge TA, Kuntner M. 2013. The phylogenetic placement of Psechridae and the convergent origin of orb-like spider webs. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 51: 100-106. [1.80; 37/149 (Zoology)]
2012
72. Grinsted L, Agnarsson I, Bilde T. 2012. Mixed-species colonies of theridiid spiders show extended maternal care and interspecific brood adoption. Naturwissenschaften 99: 1021-1030 [2.14; 12/56 (Multidiciplinary sciences)]
71. Blackledge TA, Kuntner M, Agnarsson I. 2012. Biomaterial evolution parallels behavioral innovation in the origin of orb-like spider webs. Scientific Reports 2: 833 [2.93; 8/56 (Multidiciplinary sciences)]
70. Agnarsson I, Kuntner M. 2012. The Generation of a Biodiversity Hotspot: Biogeography and Phylogeography of the Western Indian Ocean Islands. In Kesara Anamthawat-Jonsson (Ed.): Current Topics in Phylogenetics and Phylogeography of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems. Rijeka: In Tech Publishers, pp. 33-82. ISBN 978-953-51-0217-5
69. Agnarsson I. 2012. Systematics of new subsocial and solitary Australasian Anelosimus species (Araneae, Theridiidae). Invertebrate Systematics 26: 1-16. [1.94; 31/149 (Zoology)]
68. Agnarsson I. 2012. A new phylogeny of Anelosimus and the placement and behavior of Anelosimus vierae n. sp. from Uruguay (Araneae: Theridiidae). Journal of Arachnology 40: 78-84. [0.73; 43/74 (Entomology)]
67. Agnarsson I, Kuntner M, Blackledge TA. Darwin’s bark spider. 2012. In: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. V. 11. New York, McGraw-Hill, pp. 52-54.
2011
66. Blackledge TA, Kuntner M, Agnarsson I. 2011. The form and function of spider orb webs: evolution from silk to ecosystems. In Jérôme Casas, editor: Advances in Insect Physiology 41: 175-262, Burlington: Academic Press. [5.25; 2/74 (Entomology)]
65. Gregorič M, Agnarsson I, Blackledge TA, Kuntner M. 2011. How did the spider cross the river? Behavioral adaptations for river-bridging webs in Caerostris darwini (Araneae: Araneidae). PLoS One 6(10): e26847. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026847 [3.73; 7/56 (Multidiciplinary sciences)]
64. Kuntner M, Agnarsson I. 2011. Phylogeography of a successful aerial disperser: the golden orb spider Nephila on Indian Ocean islands. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11: 119. [4.29; 10/44 (Evolutionary Biology)]
63. May-Collado LJ, Agnarsson I. 2011. Phylogenetic analysis of conservation priorities for aquatic mammals and their terrestrial relatives. PLoS One 6(7): 1-10, e22562. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022562