John Niedzwiecki

Biography

I am primarily interested in population genetics, evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology.  I originally worked on the migration of Darwin's Finches between islands in the Galapagos. We  investigated the connections with ecology and the evolutionary consequences of migration as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Cincinnati.  A fairly recent summary of that work is in Ecography.

Lawson, L. P., Niedzwiecki, J., & Petren, K. (2019). Darwin's finches: a model of landscape effects on metacommunity dynamics in the Galápagos Archipelago. Ecography, 42(10), 1636-1647.

From my dissertation work at the University of Kentucky until the Present, I worked extensively with ambystomatid (mole) salamanders in the South and Midwest. This includes populations of salamanders discovered 25 years ago around Murfreesboro and now well documented throughout the Greater Nashville area.  My research showed that these salamanders were evolutionarily distinct from their relatives in Kentucky and central Ohio. I have worked with other researchers to assess the status of these salamanders in Tennessee, including a grant-funded study that led to a recent publication in PLOS One.

Hubbs, N. W., Hurt, C. R., Niedzwiecki, J., Leckie, B., & Withers, D. (2022). Conservation genomics of urban populations of Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri). Plos one, 17(6), e0260178.

Most recently, I spent my Fall 2023 sabbatical working in Dr. Donald Walker's research lab at MTSU, learning modern techniques in environmental microbiology, microbiomes, and wildlife disease ecology. That work has been presented to the Association of Southeastern Biologists, and a manuscript is in the works.

Belmont students who do research in my lab, tend to work either with Molecular Genetics or Behavioral Ecology. Most projects have been centered on Ambystomatid salamanders, but we branch out into other organisms if they are suitable to answer an ecological question. I enjoy working with students to develop projects investigating basic ecological and evolutionary theory and those that may aid in the conservation of local species. Some sample projects from past student projects include:

• Does fish predation lessen asymmetric intra-specific competition in salamander larvae?
• Can we use macroinvertebrate diversity to identify potential breeding streams for Ambystoma barbouri in central Tennessee?
• Is the intensity of the antipredator behavior a reaction of Ambystoma barbouri correlated with the relatedness of fish to its primary predator?
• Chemosensory-based Antipredator Behavior of local Freshwater snails to Crayfish predators.
• Constructing a multi-gene phylogeny of the family Ambystomatidae (in collaboration with Dr. Dave Weisrock at the University of Kentucky)
• Documenting the phylogeography of Tennessee Streamside Salamanders.
• More recently, we have been studying the Microbiome of reptiles and amphibians

Here at Belmont, I teach Biology 2, Genetics, Evolution, and Animal Behavior for Biology majors. I have, Since 2011, led 9 study abroad trips to Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Ecuador - including the Galapagos (Mostly Costa Rica with Dr. Panvini). My non- majors' courses often have themes centered on Ecology, Genetics and Behavior. I am also Belmont’s representative to our affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Lab, where all Belmont students can take summer field courses in Marine Biology.

Growing up in Eastern Pennsylvania, I have always been interested in outdoor pursuits and the natural world.  Since my dad took me on a multiday hike on the Appalachian Trail near my house when I was 7, I have enjoyed hiking, backpacking, climbing, SCUBA diving, and canoeing. I attended Shippensburg University, graduating with a B.S. in Biology. During those years, I spent my summers either at biology field stations or as a counselor for the nature/ ecology program at a Cub Scout camp. In college, I was most fascinated by classes in ecology and evolution and have pursued these interests ever since.

I live in East Nashville with my wife, Dr. Meg Streams, a Public Policy Professor at TSU, our Dog, and two cats. You might find me running through East Nashville or Shelby Bottoms attached to a Red Heeler. We enjoy living in Nashville and experiencing Central Tennessee's outdoor experiences.