3309 Gardner Hall
Box 7613, NCSU, Raleigh, NC USA 27695-7613
I am an integrative population geneticist/molecular ecologist addressing hypothesis-driven questions fundamental to furthering our understanding of gene flow, evolutionary patterns, and life history variation in a variety of organisms, including small mammals, invasive urban insect pests, social insects, and reptiles. In addition to experimental tests, field work, and breeding studies, I currently address these topics through the application of molecular markers. My research to date has spanned a broad evolutionary hierarchy ranging from the resolution of phylogenetic relationships within taxa, the determination of patterns of phylogeographic and population genetic structure within species, the elucidation of mating systems, and the determination of genetic relatedness among individuals within populations. My research involves the development and application of modern molecular methodologies, particularly microsatellite DNA profiling, in addition to RFLP and sequencing of both mtDNA and nuclear genes.
Education
- Ph.D. (2005) - Population & Evolutionary Genetics - The Queen's University of Belfast. Doctoral Thesis: DNA profiling in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus): a biological model system for the understanding of rapid changes in population genetic structure and dynamics. Advisors - Dr. P.A. Prodöhl & Prof. W.I. Montgomery.
- B.Sc. (with Honors) (2000) - Genetics - The Queen's University of Belfast Advisors - Dr. P.A. Prodöhl & Prof. W.I. Montgomery.
Current Projects
- Determination of sources of infestation and patterns of dispersal of bed bugs in urban and agricultural environments. Funding - USDA-NRI. PI Dr. Edward L. Vargo, Co-PI - Dr Coby Schal.
- Population genetics of agricultural and urban pest cockroaches. Funding - USDA-NRI PI - Dr Coby Schal, Co-PI - Dr Edward L Vargo.
- Population genetics and phylogeography of the Odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile. Funding - Pest Management Foundation - PI Dr Jules Silverman, Co PIs - Drs Warren Booth & Sean Menke. Collaborators - Drs Rob Dunn, Edward L. Vargo. & Coby Schal.
Publications
In Press/Published
- Booth, W., Montgomery, W.I. & Prodöhl, P.A. Spatial genetic structuring in a vagile species, the European wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). Accepted - Journal or Zoology, 279, 219-228.
- Booth, W., Youngsteadt, E*., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. (2009) Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the ant-garden ant Crematogaster levior (Forel). Conservation Genetics. 10, 1401-1403.
- Booth, W., Youngsteadt, E*., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. (2009) Characterization of 8 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the neotropical ant-garden ant, Camponotus femoratus (Fabricius). Conservation Genetics. 10, 639-641.
- Pfannenstiel, R.S., Booth, W., Vargo, E.L. & Schal, C. (2008) Blattella asahinai (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae): A new predator of Lepidopteran eggs in south Texas soybean. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 101, 763-768.
- Booth, W., Lewis, V.R., Taylor, R.L., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. (2008) Identification and characterization of 15 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the western dry wood termite, Incisitermes minor. Molecular Ecology Resources 8, 1102-1104.
- Booth, W., Montgomery, W.I. & Prodöhl, P.A. (2007) Polyandry by wood mice in natural populations. Journal of Zoology 272, 176-182.
- Booth, W., Bogdanowicz, S.M., Prodöhl, P.A., Harrison, R.G., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. (2007) Identification and characterization of 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. Molecular Ecology Notes 7, 648-650.
In Revision
- Crissman, J*., Booth, W., Santangelo, R.G., Muhha, D.V., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. Population genetic structure of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, within and among apartments. - Journal of Medical Entomology
Submitted
- Menke, S., Booth, W., Dunn, R., Vargo, E.L., Schal, C. & Silverman, J. Its easy to be urban: The convergent emergence of invasive life history traits in a widespread native ant. - PLoS ONE
In Prep
- Booth, W., Johnson, D.H., Moore, S., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. The first evidence for natural super-females - the case of non-clonal but fatherless constrictors.
- Booth, W., Harrod, C., Schunke, A., Montgomery, S., Montgomery, W.I. & Prodöhl, P.A. Habitat mosaic effects spatial genetic structure and counters distance and gene flow potential in a generalist mammal species.
- Youngsteadt, E*., Booth. W, Vargo, E.L. & Schal, C. Colony structure and nestmate recognition in parabiotic ant-garden ants: A behavioral, chemical, and genetic analysis of Camponotus femoratus and Crematogaster levior.
- Crissman, J*., Booth, W., Santangelo, R.G., Muhha, D.V., Schal, C. & Vargo, E.L. Global population genetic structure of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica.
* Student author