Bryan R Helm

Bryan R Helm, B.A.

  • Position:
    Graduate Student - Ph.D.

    Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

    University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

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  • Advisors:

    Judith L Bronstein, Goggy Davidowitz

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  • Degrees:
     
    B.A., Biology, DePauw University (Greencastle, IN)
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  • Past Advisors:
     
    Wade N Hazel (as Undergraduate Student)
     
    Goggy Davidowitz (as Visiting Student)
     
    Dana Dudle (as Undergraduate Student)
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  • Research:
    I am interested in the determination and consequences of body size in insects.

    I am currently researching the proximate causes for the cessation of larval growth in Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm, Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), using experimental surgerical techniques to test hypotheses concerning how and why organisms stop growth. Life history paradigms assume that an organism stops growth when it has enough resources to reproduce; however, the mechanistic trigger for cessation of growth remains unknown. My work is investigating if nutritional accumulation is the ultimate cause for the cessation of growth in M. sexta. Specifically, whether or not the fat bodies (centers of nutritional accumulation in insects) are involved in signalling the critical weight (or weight at which the organism commits to metamorphosis, and thus stops growth). I am also interested in understanding how different diet quality influences the organism and its physiology.

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  • Other Experience:

    2004-2006 Information Technology Help Desk Associate

    2003-2004 Information Technology Associates Program - DePauw University - Apprentice

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  • Honors:

    2008 National Science Foundation - Graduate Fellowship Program - Honorable Mention

    2007-2008 Science Foundation of Arizona Graduate Fellowship

Life Sciences
Communities:

Bryan Helm's Genealogy

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Bryan Helm's Posters and Presentations (6)

  • Ecological Stoichiometry of a host-plant/herbivore system: Effects of age, size, and nutrient conditions on plant nutritional value (presentation)

    Bryan R Helm

    DePauw University - Chemistry Lecture Series, Local Presentation; 04/2007
  • The Timing of Diapause in Swallowtail Butterflies. (poster)

    Bryan R Helm, Kyra Reed

    Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Regional Conference; 03/2007
  • Ecological Stoichiometry of a host-plant/herbivore system: Effects of age, size, and nutrient conditions on plant nutritional value. (poster)

    Bryan R Helm, Goggy Davidowitz, Greg Barron-Gafford

    DePauw University - Science Research Fellows Off-Campus Internships 2007, Local Presentation; 02/2007
  • The Evolution of Life History Strategies in Swallowtail Butterflies: The Timing of Diapause (poster)

    Bryan R Helm, Lauren Hoffmann, Ashley Amodeo, Ashley Maire

    Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Regional Conference; 03/2006
  • The Evolution of Life History Strategies in Swallowtail Butterflies: Trade-off Between Body Size and Larval Growth Period. (poster)

    Bryan R Helm, Lauren Hoffmann, Ashley Amodeo, Ashley Maire

    Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Regional Conference; 03/2006
  • Examining the Potential for Local Adaptation of Apocynum cannabinum at an Abandoned Limestone Quarry (poster)

    Bryan R Helm, Dana Dudle, Vanessa Artman, Aaron Rudolph, David Pope

    Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Regional Conference; 03/2005

One Figure

One Figure for Bryan R Helm

Dissection of fat bodies in M. sexta


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