Geoff Hosack

Postdoctoral Researcher

Aquatic Ecology Laboratory

Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology

The Ohio State University

Room 200S, Research Center

1314 Kinnear Road

Columbus, Ohio 43212

E-mail: hosack.8@osu.edu

Office (direct): (614) 292-3706

AEL: (614) 292-1613

Fax: (614) 292-0181

Research Interests:

My goal is to improve our understanding of ecosystem function while characterizing the uncertainty in model structure and parameters. I have worked with other researchers to develop novel modeling techniques for identifying critical feedback cycles that serve to maintain, or diminish, the resilience of complex communities. Working with disease ecology experts, I have developed a theoretical analysis that predicts the short-term behavior of host-vector epidemics. The underlying mathematics also can be used to evaluate the short-term response of ecosystems to anthropogenic or environmental inputs. Current projects include (1) using Bayesian statistics to develop probabilistic process models for biogeochemical fluxes in aquatic ecosystems and (2) modeling the response of fish communities to hypoxic events.

Education:

Ph.D. 2008. Oregon State University, Fisheries Science with minor in Ecosystem Informatics.

M.S. 2003. University of Washington, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.

B.S. 2000. University of Wisconsin at Madison, Zoology. 

Selected Publications:

Hosack, G. R., and P. M. Eldridge. In press. Do microbial processes regulate the stability of a coral atoll’s enclosed pelagic ecosystem? Ecological Modelling.        

Hosack, G. R., H. W. Li, and P. A. Rossignol. 2009. Sensitivity of system stability to model structure. Ecological Modelling 220:1054-1062.

Hosack, G. R., P. A. Rossignol, and P. van den Driessche. 2008. The control of vector-borne disease epidemics. Journal of Theoretical Biology 255:16-25.

Hosack, G. R., K. R. Hayes, and J. M. Dambacher. 2008. Assessing model structure uncertainty through an analysis of system feedback and Bayesian networks. Ecological Applications 18:1070-1082.

Hosack, G. R., B. R. Dumbauld, D. A. Armstrong, and J. L. Ruesink. 2006. Habitat associations of estuarine species: comparisons of intertidal mudflat, seagrass (Zostera marina), and oyster (Crassostrea gigas) habitats. Estuaries and Coasts 29:1150-1160.