Jennifer Zettler

Professor Georgia Southern University

  • Statesboro GA

Dr. Zettler investigates the ecological effects of red imported fire ants on native invertebrates and plants

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Georgia Southern University

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Biography

Dr. Zettler investigates the ecological effects of red imported fire ants on native invertebrates and plants. Along with Dr. Brofft-Bailey, she is determining if fire ant mounds serve as “hot spots for nitrification since they are enriched with oxygen and ammonia, conditions which should favor the growth of ammonia oxidizing Bacteria and Archaea.”

Areas of Expertise

Invasive Species
Entomology
Zoology
Ecology

Education

Clemson University

Ph.D.

Zoology

Clemson University

M.S.

Entomology

Articles

Consequences of Forest Clear-Cuts for Native and Nonindigenous Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Jennifer A. Zettler , Milton D. Taylor , Craig R. Allen , and Timothy P. Spira

2004

Currently, the southern United States produces more timber than any other region in the world. Entire timber stands are removed through a harvesting method called clear-cutting. This common forestry practice may lead to the replacement of native ant communities with invasive, nonindigenous species...

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Biodiversity of Fungi in Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Mounds

Annals of the Entomological Society of America

Jennifer A. Zettler , Thomas M. Mcinnis Jr , Craig R. Allen , and Timothy P. Spira

2002

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, became established in North America more than 70 yr ago, and it currently occupies most of the southeastern United States. Fire ants change the physical and chemical components of soil, which likely influence soil fungi in ant mounds. To determine the effects of fire ants on soil fungi, we sampled soil from fire ant mounds and the surrounding nonmound soil...

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Ant–seed mutualisms: can red imported fire ants sour the relationship?

Biological Conservation

JA Zettler, TP Spira, CR Allen

2001

Invasion by the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, has had negative impacts on individual animal and plant species, but little is known about how S. invicta affects complex mutualistic relationships. In some eastern forests of North America, 30% of herbaceous species have ant-dispersed seeds. We conducted experiments to determine if fire ants are attracted to seeds of these plant species and assessed the amount of scarification or damage that results from handling by fire ants...

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