Research Interests | Publications | Professional Experience | Extension Projects

Gail Langellotto
Assistant Professor

Office: Email: Phone: Area of responsibilty:

Department of Horticulture 4017 Ag. and Life Sciences Bldg. Corvallis, Oregon 97331-7304 langellg@hort.oregonstate.edu Phone: 541-737-5175 Fax: 541-737-3479 • Urban and Community Horticulture Specialist • Master Gardener State Program Coordinator

Research Interests
I have broad interests in the community ecology of insects, and have previously studied: cannibalism in wolf spiders, facultative hyperparasitism in parasitoid wasps and the use of stable isotopes to infer arthropod community interactions. Currently, my research focuses on investigations into the potential of developed landscapes (i.e. urbanized areas) to conserve beneficial insects, such as pollinators and natural enemies. In addition, I am interested in quantifying the ecosystem services of pollination and biological control within urban areas. The success of these investigations hinges on the support and active involvement of various stakeholders, such as private homeowners and nursery/landscape professionals. Thus, outreach, extension and education are inherently coupled with my research program.

The Potential for Pollinator Conservatories within Developed Landscapes

Due to the decline of the European honey bee, coupled with an increased awareness of the utility and necessity of alternative pollinators in agricultural and natural systems, several federal and non-profit organizations promote the protection of native pollinators and the ecosystem service of pollination that they provide. The importance of private homeowners and nursery/landscape professionals to the conservation of insect pollinators is recognized by non-profit organizations such as the Xerxes Society and federal agencies such as EPA and USDA. All of these agencies have highlighted the contributions that private individuals and the landscaping industry can make to pollinator conservation efforts. Given that much of the land in the United States is privately owned, it is wise to consider the role that the general public can play in conserving ecosystem services.

That ecosystem services can be conserved in developed landscapes may seem counterintuitive, since the prevalence of suburban and urban neighborhoods in many areas of the United States has generally had adverse affects on biodiversity. However, the proliferation of ornamental, flowering plants within urban/suburban gardens and parks suggests that these habitats may provide beneficial resources to native pollinators. A diversity of nectar-producing flowering plants can be found in many urban gardens and parks. The abundance and diversity of these plants may promote a diverse and abundant pollinator assemblage. Furthermore, urban planners may be able to contribute to the conservation of insect pollinators by incorporating more greenspace (i.e. urban parks and gardens) into developed landscapes. Because many bees nest in the ground or in cavities, such as hollow twigs and stems, an increase in greenspace may increase nest site availability for bees.

Ultimately, it is my intention to pursue a greater understanding of how developed landscapes may influence the ecosystem service of pollination. A more abundant and diverse pollinator community in the local area of a garden doesn’t necessarily translate into increased fruit/vegetable yield in gardens and improved native plant fitness in the vicinity of gardens. In fact, the extreme diversity of plants grown in gardens and parks may dilute the visitation of insect pollinators to plants that are grown by gardeners for the fruits and vegetables that they yield. Future research will focus on developing an understanding of how different garden configurations may impact fruit/vegetable yield, and how gardens may impact the fitness of native plants in adjacent habitats.

Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications

Langellotto, G. A. and R. F. Denno. 2006. Refuge from cannibalism in complex structured habitats: implications for the accumulation of invertebrate predators. Ecological Entomology. 31: 575-581.

Langellotto, G. A., J. A. Rosenheim, and M. R. Williams. 2006. Assessing trophic interactions in a guild of primary and facultative hyperparasitoids: stable isotope analysis. Oecologia. 150: 291-299

Rosenheim, J. A., K. Steinmann, G. A. Langellotto, and A. G. Zink. 2006. Probing the enigmatic impact of Lygus hesperus on cotton: is the insect, the plant, or the human observer a source of variability? Environmental Entomology 35: 1141-1153.

Langellotto, G. A., J. A. Rosenheim, and M. R. Williams. 2005. Enhanced carbon enrichment in parasitoids (Hymenoptera): a stable isotope study. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 98: 205-213.

Denno, R. F., M. S. Mitter, G. A. Langellotto, C. Gratton, and D. L. Finke. 2004. Interactions between a hunting spider and a web-builder: consequences of intraguild predation and cannibalism for prey suppression. Ecological Entomology 29:566-577.

Langellotto, G. A. and R. F. Denno. 2004. Responses of invertebrate natural enemies to complex structured habitats: a meta-analytical synthesis. Oecologia 139:1-10.

Denno, R. F., C. Gratton, M. A. Peterson, G. A. Langellotto, D. L. Finke, and A. F. Huberty. 2002. Bottom-up forces mediate natural enemy impact in a phytophagous insect community. Ecology 83:1443–1458.

Langellotto, G. A. and R. F. Denno. 2001. Benefits of dispersal in patchy environments: mate location by males of a wing-dimorphic insect. Ecology 82:1870–1878.

Denno, R. F., M. A. Peterson, C. Gratton, J. Cheng, G. A. Langellotto, A. F. Huberty, and D. L. Finke. 2000. Feeding-induced changes in plant quality mediate interspecific competition between sap-feeding herbivores. Ecology: 81:1814–1827.

Langellotto, G. A., R. F. Denno, and J. R. Ott. 2000. A trade-off between flight capability and reproduction in males of a wing-dimorphic insect. Ecology 81:865–875.

Denno, R. F., G. K. Roderick, M. A. Peterson, A. F. Huberty, H. G. Döbel, M. D. Eubanks, J.E. Losey, and G. A. Langellotto. 1996. Habitat persistence underlies intraspecific variation in the dispersal strategies of planthoppers. Ecological Monographs 66:389–408.

Peer Reviewed Publications, In Review

Matteson, K. C., J. S. Ascher and G. A. Langellotto. In Review. Richness and composition of the bee fauna or urban gardens in New York City (Hymenoptera: Apoidea). Submitted to Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

Book Chapters

Denno, R. F., Finke, D. L., and G. A. Langellotto. 2005. Direct and indirect effects of vegetation structure and habitat complexity on predator-prey and predator-predator interactions. In: Ecology of Predator-Prey Interactions P. Barbosa and I. Castellanos. Oxford University Press, New York.

Denno, R. F., C. Gratton, and G. A. Langellotto. 2002. Significance of habitat persistence and dimensionality in the evolution of insect dispersal strategies. In: Insect Movement: Mechanisms and Consequences I. Woiwod, C. Thompson, D. Reynolds (eds). CAB International, London.

Invited Talks

2007. Moderator, UNDP/The Nature Conservancy/Fordham University Lecture Series. “People and the Environment: (Mis)conceptions and Changing Perceptions –The Role of Markets, Education, and the Media” New York, New York.

2006. Lindbergh Legacy Program, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul, MN. “Assessing the dispersal of bees and butterflies among garden habitats in urban and suburban areas to preserve these necessary pollinators”

2006. Women in Entomology Seminar Series, Department of Entomology, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ. “Ecological value of urban gardens and greenspaces to insect pollination”

2006. Population Biology Seminar, Columbia University, New York, NY. “Assessing the ecological value of greenspace in urban landscapes”

2005. Simmons Invited Speaker, Michigan State University (chosen by the Entomology Graduate Student organization) “Where did they come from and what are they eating? Stable isotopes and ecological entomology”

2004. Critical Issues in Insect Agroecology Workshop, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand. “Insect Movement” (co-presented with Steve Naranjo)

2004 XXII International Congress of Entomology, Brisbane, Australia “Assessing insect dispersal with stable isotope techniques as a basis for making accurate IPM decisions” (co-authored by Jay Rosenheim)

2004. Biology Department, Lehman College, Bronx, NY “Where did they come from and what are they eating: stable isotopes in ecological studies.”

2003. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Cincinnati, OH. “Evaluating the effectiveness of potential biocontrol agents using stable isotope analysis.”

Professional Experience
EDUCATION:
2002 Ph.D., Entomology, University of Maryland College Park (Advisor: Dr. Robert Denno)
1996 M.S., Entomology, University of Maryland College Park (Advisor: Dr. Robert Denno)
1993 B.S., Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore County

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2007-Present. Assistant Professor and State Program Leader, Oregon Master Gardener Program. Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University

2003-2007. Assistant Professor. Department of Biological Sciences, Fordham University

2004-2006. Co-Principle Investigator. Baltimore Ecosystem Study

2002-2003. Post-Doctoral Research Associate. Department of Entomology, University of California Davis (Supervisor: Dr. Jay Rosenheim)

2000-2001. Coordinator. University Teaching and Learning Program, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Maryland

2001-2002. Gahan Fellow. Department of Entomology, University of Maryland

1994-2000. Graduate Teaching Assistant. University of Maryland

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Horticultural Society
American Society Horticultural Science
Ecological Society of America
Entomological Society of America

Extension Projects

My current work within extension focuses on developing solid, mutually-beneficial relationships between Oregon State University and (1) Master GardenersTM, (2) private homeowners and (3) landscape and nursery professionals within the state of Oregon.

Specifically, my work in extension recognizes that Oregon, like many other areas of the United States and the world, is becoming more urbanized. For example, the US Census Bureau estimates that the population of Oregon has increased 8.2% from 2000 to 2006. As previously rural or unmanaged lands become more developed, and as more individuals and households share land area, Oregon State University is well-situated to work with the Oregon Master GardenersTM (and other organizations and individuals) to educate the public about sustainable land management practices, and to further research on the sustainable use of private lands.

Extension and Outreach

2007. “Maximizing the Ecological Services of Insect Predators and Pollinators in Your Garden” 24th Annual Oregon State University Master Gardeners’ Mini-College. Corvallis, OR.

2007. “Beneficial Garden Insects” Lindbergh School District. St. Louis, MO.

2006-2007. The Pollinator Project Website. Lindbergh School District

2005. WFUV NPR interview, ‘Fordham Voices’, discussing the basic biology and value of native bees. (rebroadcast in April 2006)