Kirsten M. Prior
Department of Biology
University of Florida
411 Carr Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
Phone: (574) 302-1558
Email: priorkm@gmail.com
Website: kmprior.weebly.com
Professional Appointments
Postdoctoral Associate, 2013 – Current
Department of Biology, University of Florida
Dr. Todd Palmer, advisor
Postdoctoral EEB Department Fellow, 2011 – 2013
Postdoctoral Ontario Ministry of Economic Development Fellow, 2011-2013
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto
Dr. Megan Frederickson, advisor
Education
Ph.D., Biological Sciences, 2005-2011
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame
Dissertation title: Novel community interactions following species’ range expansions
Dr. Jessica Hellmann, advisor
B.Sc., Biology, 1999
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario
Publications
1
Undergraduate co-author; 2Authors contributed equally; 3Recommended by Faculty of 1000
(11 published and in press publications; 7 first-author publications; 1 first-author publications in review)
Submitted (manuscript available upon request)
Prior, K. M., 1Robinson, J. M., 1Meadley Dunphy, S. A., Frederickson, M. E. Networking between cointroduced mutualists facilitates invasion and changes plant community structure. In revision
(after review): Proceedings of the Royal Society B. (RSPB-2014-2246).
Published and in press
[11] Prior, K. M., Powell, T. H. Q., 1Joseph, A., Hellmann, J. J. In press. Insights from community
ecology into the role of enemy release in causing invasion success: the importance of native
enemy effects. Biological Invasions.
[10] Powell, T. H. Q., Prior, K. M. In press. Parasitism and predation. The Encyclopedia of
Evolutionary Biology. Elsevier.
[9] Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. In press. Does enemy release contribute to the success of invasive
species? A review of the enemy release hypothesis. In R. Keller, M. Cadotte, and G. Sandiford,
editors: Invasive Species in a Globalized World. University of Chicago Press. pp. 252 (peer-
reviewed book chapter).
[8] Prior, K. M., 1 Saxena, K., Frederickson, M. E. 2014. Seed handling behaviors of native and
invasive seed-dispersing ants differentially influence seedling emergence in an introduced
plant. Ecological Entomology 39:66-74.
[7] Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. 2013. Does enemy loss cause release? A biogeographical comparison
of parasitoid effects on an introduced insect. Ecology 94:1015-1024.
[6] Hellmann, J. J., Prior, K. M., Pelini, S. L. 2012. The influence of species interactions on geographic
range change under climate change. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1249:1828.
[5] Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. 2010. Impact of an invasive oak gall wasp on a native butterfly: a test
of plant-mediated competition. Ecology 91:3284-3293.
[4] 3Pelini, S. L., Dzurisin, J. D., Prior, K. M., Williams, C. M., Marsico, T. D., Sinclair, B. J., Hellmann, J.
J. 2009. Translocation experiments with butterflies reveal limits to enhancement of poleward
populations under climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
106:11160-11165.
[3] Prior, K. M., Dzurisin, J. D., Pelini, S. L., Hellmann, J. J. 2009. Biology of larvae and adults of
Erynnis propertius at the northern edge of its range. The Canadian Entomologist 141:161-171.
[2] 2Pelini, S. L., 2Prior, K. M., Parker, D. J., Dzurisin, J. D., Lindroth, R. L., Hellmann, J. J. 2009. Climate
change and temporal and spatial mismatches in insect communities. In T. M. Letcher, editor:
Climate Change: Observed Impacts on Planet Earth. Elsevier, The Netherlands. pp. 215-231.
[1] Hellmann, J. J., Pelini, S. L., Prior, K. M., Dzurisin, J. D. 2008. The response of two butterfly species
to climatic variation at the edge of their range and the implications for poleward range shifts.
Oecologia 157:583-592.
In preparation
1
Meadley Dunphy, S. A., Prior, K. M., Frederickson, M. E. Elaiosome-robbing by an invasive slug
and its consequences for myrmecochory.
Grants and Fellowships
2011 University of Toronto, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
Postdoctoral Fellowship, $80,000
2011 Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation, Postdoctoral Fellowship, $20,000
2009 Center for Environmental Sciences and Technology, University of Notre Dame,
Bayer Fellowship, $10,100
2008 Sigma Xi, Grants-in-Aid of Research, $1,000
2007 The Xerces Society, Joan M. DeWind Award, $3,750
2006 University of Notre Dame, Downes Travel Grant, $550
Teaching Experience
Co-instructor, Ecology of East African savannahs (3 week field course)
University of Florida, Mpala Research Centre
Teaching Assistant, Biostatistics (2 semesters)
University of Notre Dame
Teaching Assistant, General Ecology (3 semesters)
University of Notre Dame
Teaching Assistant, Introductory Biology (3 semesters)
University of Notre Dame
Guest Lecturer, General Ecology
University of Notre Dame
Mentoring Experience
Kenya Wildlands Program (1 student, 6 weeks)
University of Florida, Mpala Research Centre
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award Program (3 students, 8 months)
University of Toronto, Koffler Scientific Reserve
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (3 students, 4 semesters)
University of Toronto, Koffler Scientific Reserve
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduate Program (1 student, 4 months)
University of Notre Dame
Undergraduate Research Credit (4 students, 8 semesters)
University of Notre Dame
Additional Research Experience
Managed relocation: expert opinion on adaptation management strategies to climate change
Research Assistant: D. Javelin and J. Hellmann (Univ. of Notre Dame) (2010)
Geographic shifts under climate change: examining the limits of biodiversity
Project Manager: J. Hellmann (Univ. of British Columbia, Univ. of Notre Dame) (2003-05)
Abstracts and Invited Presentations
Invited and Keynote Presentations
2014 Prior, K. M. Enemy release and invasional meltdown: the role of friends and foes in
facilitating the success and impacts of invasive species. Terrestrial Plant Invasive Species
Conference, Mississauga ON. Keynote presentation.
2012 Prior. K. M. Community context of range-expanding species. University of Toronto
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Seminar Series.
2010 Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. Does enemy loss cause release? A test of the enemy release
hypothesis in a range-expanding insect. 95th Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting,
Pittsburgh, PA.
2010 Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. Plant-mediated impact of an invasive oak gall wasp on a native
specialist butterfly: Erynnis propertius. Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team, Research
Colloquium, Victoria, BC.
2009 Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. Enemy release as a mechanism of invasion success of the
Jumping gall wasp, Neuroterus saltatorius. Environmental Science Advisory Committee,
Canadian Forest Service Annual Meeting, Victoria, BC.
2006 Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. 2006. Butterfly restoration implications: lessons from a model
species, Erynnis propertius. Garry Oak Restoration Workshop, Victoria, BC.
2005 Prior, K. M, Hellmann, J. J. 2005. Building conservation practices for butterflies using a
threatened indicator species, Erynnis propertius. Symposium on Invertebrate Species at Risk
in B.C., Victoria, BC.
Contributed Presentations
2013 Prior, K. M., Frederickson, M. E. Invasive ant alters an ecosystem service: the impact of cointroduced partners on seed dispersal mutualisms. 97th Ecological Society of America Annual
Meeting, Milwaukee, MN.
2013 Prior, K. M., Frederickson, M. E. Invasive ant alters and ecosystem service: ant identity I
important in a supposedly diffuse mutualism. University of Toronto, Department Ecology
and Evolutionary Biology, Attwood Colloquium.
2008 Prior, K. M., Hellmann, J. J. Plant-mediated interactions between and invasive oak gall wasp
and a native butterfly. 93rd Ecological Society of America AnnualMeeting, Milwaukee, WI.
Select Synergistic Activities
Participant, Mentorship Day for Daraja Academy School (girls high school in rural Kenya),
Mpala Research Centre, Kenya
Organized a field excursion activity for a Grade 12 Biology class; included a class lecture and
multiple days in the field with high school students
Organizer, Oral Session at 97th Ecological Society of America Meeting in Portland, Oregon, (2012)
“Novel community associations in response to biological invasions and climate change”
Peer reviewer, manuscripts from: African Journal of Biotechnology, American Midland Naturalist,
American Naturalist, Botany, Ecology, Environmental Entomology, Ecological Entomology,
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Ecology, Molecular
Ecology, Peer J
Participant, GLOBES (NSF IGERT) program
Hosted seminar speakers for Notre Dame Biology Department’s Seminar Series
Participant, graduate student selection committee for faculty hires at Notre Dame
Additional Professional Experience
2000-2002 Victoria Bug Zoo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Position: Entomology Educator, Insect Technician
Additional Coursework
2010 Designing and Teaching your first Biology Course, Univ. of Notre Dame
2008 GLOBES (NSF IGERT) Policy and the Environment Workshop, COMPASS
2007 GLOBES (NSF IGERT) Science Communication Workshop, COMPASS
2006 Fundamentals of Ecosystem Ecology, Institute of Ecosystem Studies
2001-2002 Ecological Methods, Conservation Biology, Entomology, Univ. of Victoria
2001 Behavioral Ecology, Bamfield Marine Station