Kazik Więski
 Photo: Solidarity with the Polish people!
Photo: Solidarity with Daphnia, some of which have inducible defenses against fish predators!
Photo: Solidarity with the Pennings lab at the 2006 ESA meetings!
Photo: Solidarity with Paria beetle eating Iva frutescens (and inducing defenses?)! |
Academic History: 2005-present: Postdoc in Pennings Lab, Dept. of Biology and Biochemistry, UH 2004: FPS Fellow at the Department of Hydrobiology, University of Warsaw, Poland (3 months) 2003: visiting researcher at the Environmental Group, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland (3 months) 2000-present: Assist. Professor at the Dept. of Fish Biology, Agric.University of Szczecin PhD in Fisheries, 1999, Agric.University of Szczecin, Poland M.Sc. in Fisheries, 1994, Agric.University of Szczecin, Poland
Research Interests: I am interested in the ecology of induced defenses in exploitative systems. In contrast to constitutive defenses, induced defenses are triggered in organisms only in the presence of a cue associated with risk, thus minimizing the overall cost of defense and releasing resources for other purposes (e.g., growth or reproduction). Studying predator-prey interactions, I focused on behavioural and demographical reactions of predation-risk induced prey using as models systems of freshwater zooplankton and their fish predators. Here in Houston I have a double challenging opportunity to work on new (to me) ideas related to geographical consequences of induced defenses in herbivore-plant systems.
Although I have moved to a different field of research, I haven’t completely lost my initial interest in fisheries biology, and am currently working on morphometrics of fish parasites.
Publications: Kempter J., Piasecki W., Więski K., Krawczyk B. 2006: Systematic position of copepods of the genus Achtheres (Crustacea: Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) parasitizing perch, Perca fluviatilis L., and zander, Sander lucioperca (L.). Journal of Fish Diseases 2006, 29, 1–11 Franiel I., Więski K., 2005: Leaf features of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). Variability within and between two populations (uncontaminated vs Pb-contaminated and Zn-contaminated site). Trees - Structure and Function 19(1). 81-88
Więski K. 2002. Chemical body composition of roach from the Odra
river estuary. Bulletin of the Sea Fisheries Institute 3(157). 33-46 Więski K., Zalachowski, W. 2000. Nutritional status of roach (Rutilus rutilus (L.)) in the River Odra estuary. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 30(1). 19-38 Szypuła, J, Więski K., Rybczyk A., 2001: Practice in Fish Biology with MS Excel (in Polish). 150 p. Agric. Univ. Szcz. Press.
Manuscripts in review or preparation: Beckerman A., Więski K., Baird D. Kairomones, density dependence and performance – scaling from physiology to life history. Functional Ecology Więski K., Szałkiewicz A. Hydrobiologia: Changes in the locomotoric activity of Gammarus lacustris (L.) in the presence of chemical cues of rainbow trout. Śmietana P., Więski K., Ostrowska K. Bulletin Français de la Pêche et de la Pisciculture: Changes in the locomotoric activity of yoy spiny-cheeked crayfish (Orconectes limosus) in the presence of kairomones of some freshwater fish In preparation, together with Mirosław Ślusarczyk: Escape of the innocent from slaughter: diapause in Daphnia magna in the presence of predatory chemical cues
Funding: 2006 GEAR (PI: Steven Pennings) 2004 In-country Outgoing Fellowship (2004 edition) awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science 2003-4 Agric.University of Szczecin Internal Grant 2003 European Commision IHP Grant, Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Scotland
Updated 1/08 |
