Research interests:
One of my interests is the connection between structural complexity and density of generalist predators addressing questions such as: how do levels of habitat structure influence density and foraging patterns, is habitat complexity acting as a spatial resource or a trophic resource or can we truly distinguish the two? My interest is motivated by the fact that cursorial predators, such as wolf spiders, occur at highly variable densities; understanding the impact of various habitat structures on density patterns is important for generating and designing more substainable agricultural programs to sustain high densities of beneficial predators.
A second line of research that I am pursuing in collaboration with James Harwood at the University of Kentucky, is the influence of prey availability on consumption of target economicaly important prey groups. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a diptera specific monoclonal antibody, I am currently looking at the changes in the consumption of this alternative prey group as related to the availability of other potential prey, habitat type, and seasonality. My goal is to use this protein assay as an indicator of changes in consumption of target groups such as leafhoppers to better understand how prey switching impacts ecosystem function.
Professional presentations:
Schmidt, J. M., K. J. Haynes, T.O. Crist & A. L. Rypstra. 2007. Interactive effects of landscape structure and prey on density of spider guilds. Ecological Society of American Annual Meeting.
Schmidt, J. M. & A. L. Rypstra. 2006. Structural complexity reduces foraging success in the leopard spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae). Ecological Society of America.
Schmidt, J. M. & A. L. Rypstra. 2006. Structural complexity elevates density and reduces foraging efficiency in the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae). American Arachnological Society Annual Meeting.
Schmidt, J. M., J. DeVito, M. Persons, & A. L. Rypstra. 2005. Habitat choice and an intraguild predator lead to a reduction in foraging efficiency in the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae). American Arachnological Society Annual Meeting.
Schmidt, J. M. & A. L. Rypstra. 2005. Effects of predators and habitat complexity on foraging efficiency in a species of wolf spider Pardosa milvina. Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference.
Publications:
Rypstra, A. L., J. M. Schmidt, B. D. Reif, J. DeVito, and M. H. Persons. 2007. Tradeoffs involved in site selection and foraging in a wolf spider: effects of substrate structure and predation risk. Oikos 116:853-863.
Teaching experience:
Miami University - Spring 2005 - Fall 2008
Head Teaching Assistant, Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates - ZOO201
Teaching Assistant, Comparative Anatomy of Vertebrates - ZOO201
Teaching Assistant, Biological Concepts - ZOO115/ZOO116
Ivy Tech State College - Fall 2003 - Spring 2005
Introductory Biology
Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology
Introduction to Mathematetics
Introduction to Algebra
Laboratory sections for Anatomy and Physiology