Kimberly N. Russell

University Lecturer, NJIT
Masters Program Coordinator, Federated Department of Biological Sciences

Contact Info

Office/Lab: 431 Colton Hall
Phone: TBA
E-mail: krussell@njit.edu

Personal/Lab Web Sites

http://web.njit.edu/~krussell

http://research.amnh.org/invertzoo/spida


Educational Background

Year Degree Institution Field of Study
1993 BA Colgate University Biology
1998 PhD University of Tennessee Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Research Interests

My research interests span the fields of ecology, behavior, and evolution, and revolve around identifying the most efficient and accurate methods to conserve biodiversity in terrestrial systems. I am particularly interested in urban systems and the promotion of biodiversity within human dominated landscapes. Specifically, I seek to explore the potential of arthropod taxa as biological indicators to serve as the basis for decisions about the design, construction and maintenance of biodiversity-promoting habitats. In addition to using arthropods as tools in conservation planning, I am interested in understanding the specific needs of the arthropod fauna and how these needs may differ from the needs of vertebrate species from a conservation perspective. This will require a more complete understanding of terrestrial arthropod ecology at the assemblage or community level, including the functional significance of arthropod groups in ecosystems.

Selected Publications

  • Do, M.T., J.M. Harp and K.C. Norris. (Maiden name) 1999. A test of a pattern recognition system for identification of spiders. Bulletin of Entomological Research 89, 217-224.
  • Norris, K.C. (Maiden name) 1999. Quantifying change through time in spider assemblages: sampling methods, indices, and sources of error. Journal of Insect Conservation 3(4), 311-327.
  • Russell, K.N., H. Ikerd, and S. Droege. 2005. The potential conservation value of unmowed powerline strips for native bees. Biological Conservation 124: 133-148.
  • Russell, K.N., M.T. Do, J.C. Huff and N.I. Platnick. 2007. Introducing SPIDA-web: wavelets, neural networks and Internet accessibility in an image-based automated identification system. In N. MacLeod (ed), Automated Object Identification in Systematics: Theory, Approaches, and Applications. Springer Verlag.