TEACHING INTERESTS

Ecology, Botany, Zoology, and Restoration Ecology

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Invasive species, community ecology, plant ecology, earthworms, ornithology, and entomology.

PUBLICATIONS

Serniak L.T., C.E. Corbin, A.L. Pitt, & S.T. Rier. 2017. The effects of Japanese Knotweed on avian diversity and function in riparian habitats. Journal of Ornithology 158(1): 311-321. doi: 10.1007/s10336-016-1387-6

Serniak L.T. 2016. Comparison of the allelopathic effects and uptake of Fallopia japonica phytochemicals by Raphanus sativus. Weed Research 56: 97-101. doi: 10.1111/wre.12199

Serniak L.T. The Effects of Earthworms on Carbon Dynamics in Forest Soils, Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10670-0

Serniak L.T., S.S. Chan, & K. Lajtha. 2022. Predicting habitat suitability for Amynthas spp. in the United States: a retrospective analysis using citizen science data from iNaturalist. Biological Invasions. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02947-8

PRESENTATIONS

Bickford L.S., D.D. Powell, & L.T. Serniak. How earthworms affect the growth and production of radish plants: a comparison of Lumbricus terrestris and Amynthas agrestis. Ohio Academy of Science Meeting, Findlay, OH.

Serniak L.T. Earthworms: friend or foe? Invasives 2020, Vancouver, Canada. 2020 Serniak L.T. The Asian jumping worm: an emerging threat to western North America. Invasives 2020, Vancouver, Canada.

Serniak L.T. & S. Chan. The bait that keeps on wiggling: vectors and outreach for the Asian Jumping Worm. International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species, Montreal, Canada.

Serniak L.T. & L.J. Kayes. The muddiest point in a biology laboratory: does low-effort feedback affect test scores and attitudes about learning science? Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research West Meeting, Irvine, CA.

Chan S., K. Preston, L. Tucker, T. Siemens, K. Martin. Working with the Fisheries Profession to Prevent the Selective Spread of the Asian Jumping Worm (Amynthas spp) by Anglers through Bait and their Recreational Activities. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL.

Serniak L.T., K. Martin, S.S. Chan, T. Siemens, D. Goodrich, N. Moen, J. Lam. What role might per owners have on unused pharmaceutical and personal care products entering the aquatic environment? SerPIE One Health Conference on Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products, Huntsville, AL.

Serniak L.T. & C.E. Corbin. The effects of Japanese Knotweed on avian diversity and function in riparian corridors. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Meeting, Indiana, PA.

Tucker L. Decomposition and Macroinvertebrate Colonization of Leaf Litter from Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Meeting, Bloomsburg, PA.

AWARDS & HONORS

Graduate Travel Award, Oregon State University
First Place Graduate Poster Presentation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists Meeting
Outstanding Graduate in Environmental Biology, Keystone College
Outstanding Research Award, Department of Natural Sciences & Mathematics,
Keystone College
Excellence in Research Award, Keystone College Research & Creativity
Celebration

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Ornithological Society
Association of Field Ornithologists
Ecological Society of America

ACADEMIC DEGREES

Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, Oregon State University (2021)
Graduate Certificate in College & University Teaching, Oregon State University (2018)
M.S. in Biology, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (2015)
B.S. in Environmental Biology, Keystone College (2013)