Faculty

Lydia Wassink

Assisstant Professor of Instruction

LWASSINK

CONTACT:
Sarasota- Manatee campus
Email: lwassink@usf.edu

Specialty Area Teaching
Research Key Words: Behavior, Ecology, Physiology, Evolution Marine Biology, Animal Behavior, Biology I, Biomedical Physiology

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Integrative Biology / Evolution, Ecology, and Behavioral Biology (duel degrees), Michigan State University

RESEARCH
Dr. Wassink’s research has explored wildlife behavior within ecological and evolutionary contexts. Her dissertation research at Michigan State University investigated how environmental stressors influence behavior and physiology of lake sturgeon, and how stress-induced phenotypes impact survival for this threatened fish species.

As a teaching-focused faculty member, Dr. Wassink is dedicated to engaging undergraduate students in research experiences. While teaching at Lyman Briggs College, she conducted course-based research projects with students teams on ecology and evolution of cryptobiosis in tardigrades. In addition, she has conducted collaborative research investigating strategies for addressing underrepresentation and increasing inclusivity in STEM classrooms.

Currently, Dr. Wassink is developing a research theme to continue creating research opportunities for undergraduates, focusing on behavioral ecology questions relevant to marine conservation.

Selected Publications:

Wassink L., Huerta B., Li W., Scribner K. Hatchery and wild larval lake sturgeon experience effects of captivity on stress reactivity, behavior, and predation risk. Conservation Physiology (in press)

Wassink, L., Riedy, J. J., Huerta, B., Johnson, G., Larson, D. L., Li, W., & Scribner, K. T. (2021). Early life interactions with aquatic insects elicit physiological and behavioral stress responses in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 1-15.

Wassink, L., Huerta, B., Li, W., & Scribner, K. (2020). Interaction of egg cortisol and offspring experience influences stress-related behaviour and physiology in lake sturgeon. Animal Behaviour, 161, 49-59.

Wassink, L., Bussy, U., Li, W., & Scribner, K. (2019). High-stress rearing temperature in Acipenser fulvescens affects physiology, behaviour and predation rates. Animal Behaviour, 157, 153-165.

Bussy, U., Wassink, L., Scribner, K. T., & Li, W. (2017). Determination of cortisol in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) eggs by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography B, 1040, 162-168.